34 CIRCULAR 17 8, U. S. DEPARTHEKT OF AGRICULTURE 



Since in range reseeding the principal item of expense is usually 

 the seed, it is often sound economy to employ some inexpensive 

 method of preliminary tillage that will insure a satisfactory propor- 

 tion of the seed getting into proper contact with the soil and will 

 reduce the native vegetation sufficiently to free the seedlings from 

 unnecessary competition. In the case of sweetclover some preparation 

 of the seed bed is absolutely indispensable. 



Methods of soil preparation include full tillage by plowing, plow- 

 ing of contour furrows, harrowing with a steel-tooth, wooden-peg 

 A, or brush harrow, and trampling by sheep. The method to choose 

 depends upon the accessibility of the area to be seeded, the avail- 

 ability of the implements or other means, the thoroughness of plant- 

 ing that is justified, and the local soil and vegetative conditions. 



The most economical practice under customary range conditions 

 is to go over the ground once with a harrow after sowing. Plowing, 

 whether or not it is followed by harrowing or other intensive meth- 

 ods of tillage, is justified only on the very best range areas where 

 early returns and heavy yields may reasonably be expected. 



AYhere such intensive treatment is employed, a higher germina- 

 tion of seed is usually obtained and a good stand becomes established 

 earlier than where methods are less intensive. Where plowing is 

 justified, a heavy soil requires deeper plowing than a light one, and 

 annual vegetation or most perennials with rootstocks are obliterated 

 by a shallower cultivation than is effective for deeper-rooted species. 

 As the seed must not be too deeply covered, it is advisable to use a 

 j^ress drill or similar equipment where seeding is done on fully 

 tilled soil. 



Plowing contour furrows 3 to 4 feet apart at right angles to the 

 slope of the land, followed by harrowing or brushing in the seed 

 after sowing it over the furrows, has been employed occasionally on 

 the range. Where tried on sagebrush land this method has been 

 found to be satisfactory and relatively inexpensive. Such plowing 

 can be done in spite of a fairly heavy stand of shallow-rooted brush 

 species, open stands of more persistent shrubs or trees, or considerable 

 rock outcrop. The furrows should be plowed parallel to the con- 

 tour of the slopes, in order to catch and hold the run-off from heavy 

 rains and melting snows ; otherwise, instead of being retained on the 

 ground, the water will gather in the furrows, run off, and cause 

 erosion. If properly done, the plowing prepares a good seed bed, 

 opens up the stand of native vegetation, and enhances the moisture 

 supply. This method results in only a partial stand the first two 

 or three years, since the unplowed portion is not sown but must 

 be filled in by the spread of the plants from the furrows. Conse- 

 quently plants that mature and disseminate seed or spread vegeta- 

 tively must be used. 



On the average or less desirable range sites thorough plowing is 

 seldom, if ever, economical. Although the seed may germinate bet- 

 ter, this temporary benefit is outweighed by other considerations. 

 In the first place the stand of cultivated plants soon thins out to what 

 the soil naturally can support, and the eventual density is fre- 

 quently no greater than if less intensive methods of cultivation had 

 been followed. Furthermore, such thorough tillage requires total 



