Campbell's 1902 Soil Culture Manual. 



57 



simply into dust but these minute lumps made from slightly moist soil 

 when dry will never blow. 



Having had 15 years experience in the northwest I am well aware of 

 this blowing difficulty on the lighter soils, which can be entirely prevented 

 by care with reference to the condition of the soil as above stated. It is 

 very desirable in following this plan to keep the weeds entirely clean from 

 the field. Don't for a moment harbor the idea that weeds are valuable to 

 turn under, for there is so little value to them that it is not worthy of con- 

 sideration, but the water drawn out of the soil by these weeds while grow- 

 ing is far more valuable to the coming crop. Watch it carefully. In the 

 springtime try to catch this gronnd as early as possible with the harrow, 

 Acme preferred, and put in your seed, not to exceed one-half bushel to the 

 acre. This quantity is ample. When the wheat begins to stool or send 

 out the additional shoots go over your ground with the weeder to again 

 loosen the surface to prevent evaporation, as well as to destroy the few 

 weeds that may then make their appearance. The long flexible teeth of 

 the weeder will ngt destroy the grain when at this stage of growth, but will 

 kill the young tender weeds. Then await results. If you have followed 

 the plan fully you are simply sure of a big crop. In raising spring wheat 

 continuously without the summer culture plan the same question with 

 reference to storing and conserving the water should be constantly kept 

 in mind. 



If you will give close attention to this point you will simply be 

 astonished at the results obtained. When a crop has been taken off, get 

 onto this ground as quickly as possible with the disc harrow. Double 

 discing is exceedingly valuable. The small size disc 14 or 15 inch, set at a 

 good angle will quite thoroughly pulverize the ground, but with the larger 

 disc it is impossible to get a good condition without double discing. 

 Remember that the object is to thoroughly pulverize the surface two or 

 three inches, to not only prevent the loss of any moisture we may have 

 below, but to have the ground in the best possible condition on the surface 

 for the rapid percolation, or getting of the rain waters down into the soil. 

 Lose no time after any rain in again loosening the surface, (especially upon 

 any ground that you may have already plowed). After the discing, plow 

 and pack and harrow, as stated with reference to summer culture. Should 

 you get any heavy rains late in the fall lose no time in loosening the sur- 

 face to save the water, for you may need it the following year. When 

 spring time comes get over your ground as quickly as possible with the 

 harrow, aiming if possible to do this before the surface gets dry, put in 

 your seed, not too thick, and await its developments when it reaches the 

 stooling point, which" it will do early in the season if your ground is in the 

 condition that such work as outlined above will make it, and you have 

 been careful in conserving the moisture. At this point of growth, that is 

 when the wheat is begining to stool or sucker, go over your ground with a 



