32 BULLETIN 214, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



yielding method, has been, however, only 1 bushel Der acre. In one 

 year of fair production, summer tillage for wheat was done at the 

 expense of a distinct loss in yield as compared with nearly all other 

 methods. 



While the differences noted are of value as indicators, the yields 

 are all so light and the average difference between the best and the 

 poorest method so small as to make them perhaps of little prac- 

 tical moment. Considering the apparent impossibility of materially 

 increasing yields by any method of tillage or management of the soil 

 and considering a thing not shown in this study — the greater adapta- 

 tion of winter wheat as shown by its higher and more certain yields 

 and its greater response to tillage operations — it would appear that 

 spring wheat has little or no place in the farm' economy of this section. 



The only method under trial that shows any profit is disked corn 

 ground. In spite of its low average yield the cheapness of this prepa- 

 ration leaves it with the nominal profit of 15 cents per acre. The 

 losses by other methods range from 86 cents for listing to $5.90 for 

 summer tillage. There being less differences in yield than in cost of 

 production, it follows that the least loss has been from the least ex- 

 pensive method. 



GARDEN CITY FIELD STATION. 



The work at the field station at Garden City, Kans., is on a high 

 upland. The soil is a light silt loam. With the exception of the ac- 

 cumulated humus near the surface it is practically uniform to a depth 

 of at least 15 feet. The development of roots is limited only by the 

 depth to which water is available and the physiological character of 

 the crop. The lighter character of the soil, however, makes it possible 

 to store in each unit of it but a comparatively small proportion of 

 water. This limited storage is not entirely overcome by the unlim- 

 ited depth of soil. The results in storing water have been deter- 

 mined largely by the limited quantity of water available for storage. 

 In no year, under any method practiced, has the soil been filled with 

 water to as great a depth as it is possible for the crop to develop roots 

 and to use available water. 



The results of five years with spring wheat are available from this 

 station, exclusive of 1913 when the crop was destroyed by hail on 

 July 4. In 1911, which is included in the averages, the crop was a 

 total failure from drought so extreme that it was not overcome by 

 any method under trial. 



The yields so far from any of the methods under trial have not 

 been sufficient to indicate any possibility of the crop being a profit- 

 able one. Neither do the results attending any of the methods, 

 which cover a wide range, indicate the possibility of sufficiently 

 overcoming conditions by cultural methods to make it such. The 

 work, however, has been of great value in the information it has 



