56 



Campbell's 1902 Soil Culture Manual. 



WHEAT. 



In discussing the question of growing wheat it seems almost neces- 

 sary to divide it into two headings, winter and spring. 



SPKING WHEAT 



in the northern sections and on ujj into Canada, has become a very import- 

 ant crop. In preparing ground for this crof) little attention has been given 

 in the past to the all important question of storing and conserving the 

 rainwater. It has been simply a question of plowing at any time when the 

 farmer was ready to plow, the seeding and harrowing likewise, without 

 reference to the condition of the soil, or the storage of water. In the more 

 arid yjortions of the wheat belt in the northwest there is no question but 

 what summer culture, commonly termed summer fallow, would be found 

 exceedingly profitable. While we have thoroughly discussed this question 

 under another heading referring especially to that of summer culture, yet 

 its work is of such great importance, and the additional expense so little 

 compared to results that we cannot resist a repetition. If the work is prop- 

 erly done the returns are large. Begin first in the early spring, just as 

 soon as the frost is out of the ground, and the soil sufficiently dry to per- 

 mit of discing without the soil adhering to the disc, lapping half so as to 

 thoroughly pulverize the surface, thus putting your ground in condition 

 to prevent evaporation, as well as to admit of the rapid percolation of the 

 early rains, you will be surprised at results. Then keep the surface har- 

 rowed or loosened by the use of some tool to the depth of at least two 

 inches, plowing in June or July, the time when other work is least press- 

 ing, to a depth of G or 7 inches, following the plow closely with the sub- 

 surface packer and let the packer be followed closely with the harrow, 

 keeping in mind that all-important point of working the soil when it is in 

 the best condition to most thoroughly pulverize, continuing this surface 

 cultivation after the plowing through the entire season. In this work 

 again the Acme harrow is most desirable because each time over it brings 

 the soil from below up and to a large extent turns the soil from the ex- 

 treme surface to the bottom of the portion stirred by the Acme. In this 

 kind of work in the northwest, as well as in any portion of the semi-arid 

 belt, it is very important to do this surface cultivating, whether it be with 

 the common harrow or the Acme harrow, spring tooth or disc, at a time 

 when the soil is in the best possible condition; that is, simply moist, not 

 dry or wet: Then you have a fine even soil mulch composed of minute 

 lumps, a condition you cannot get if the soil is dry or wet. It is when soil 

 is in this condition that the particles seem most readily to separate, not 



