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



At some stations the yields have been so nearly practical failures 

 that it is evident that the growing of spring wheat is not a profitable 

 practice. At other stations one or two crops show a profit, while 

 the remaining ones are practical failures. They indicate that the 

 farmer may not find spring wheat profitable on the average even 

 though some years show a profit. That a certain locality is not 

 favorable to the growing of spring wheat does not mean that it is not 

 a farming section. It simply indicates that soil and climatic con- 

 ditions are not favorable to the production of this crop. Other 

 crops may find their most favorable environment at such a place. 

 Only one crop is herein discussed. At every station some crops have 

 been grown that have given good returns. At the southern stations, 

 for example, the grain sorghums have done well and should be con- 

 sidered the main crops. 



Where work has been carried on for several years with no material 

 difference in yield obtained from the various methods, it indicates 

 that more freedom may be used by the farmer in planning his opera- 

 tions. If spring plowing, fall plowing, or disking after some inter- 

 tilled crop gives practically the same yields, the rational thing to 

 do is to take advantage of this fact. It is desirable to plow when 

 it can be done most economically for men and teams. If the crop- 

 ping system includes intertilled crops and disking is as effective 

 and can be done at less labor cost, it is advisable to disk the land to 

 prepare for wheat. Unless there is a gain from some certain method 

 of tillage or crop sequence, one should adjust the work from the 

 standpoint of economical operation. The farmer can then give his 

 thought to procuring better seed, keeping ahead with his work, and 

 preventing the growth of weeds. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



These conclusions apply only to the yields of spring wheat as 

 affected by the cropping and cultivation of the one year immediately 

 preceding their growth. 



(1) Some seasons are so unfavorable as to result in failure of the 

 spring-wheat crop without regard to the cultural methods under 

 investigation. Extremely unfavorable climatic conditions can not 

 be overcome by cultural methods. 



(2) It is only in those seasons when the rainfall deficit is so small 

 that it can be overcome by moisture stored in the soil that the 

 cultural methods under investigation have shown important effects 

 upon yields. 



(3) When the differences in value of the yields are less than the 

 differences in cost of production, then cost becomes the determining 

 factor. 



