34 



Campbell"^ 1902 Soil Culture Manual. 



SUMMER CULTURE. 



COMMONLY CALLED SUMMER FALLOW. 



The question of summer fallowing is another part or portion of soil 

 culture that has been brought from the east to the semi-arid west, and 

 applied with the same rules and ideas that prevailed in Michigan, Ohio, 

 and the eastern states. Its purpose was to give the land a rest. It 

 has been applied to many portions of the semi-arid belt, and the advan- 

 tages generally derived have been so meager that the plan seems to be los- 

 ing favor. We have given considerable attention to this, and we believe 

 brought out some valuable yjoints or ideas to be practiced in the semi-arid 

 belt. In treating the land as we would suggest we do not think the name, 

 summer fallow, applies. Therefore term it summer culture; beginning 

 the work as early in the spring as the frost is suflBciently out of the ground 

 and the surface dry enough to permit the use of Ihe disc harrow without 

 the soil adhering to the disc, going over the ground twice by lapping the 

 disc one-half. This produces a mulch which prevents evaporation; also 

 opens and loosens the surface, so that the later rains readily and quickly 

 percolate into the soil, goin? over the ground after each subsequent rain 

 with a harrow, or if the rain is too heavy so as to dissolve and pack the 

 surface, a second discing may be necessary, especially so if the season is 

 advanced far enough for weeds to start freely. Don't at all hazards per- 

 mit the weeds to grow or the surface to become crusted, bearing in mind 

 our main object is to store the water in the soil below. Plow in June or 

 early July about seven inches deep. Do not leave the field at noon until 

 that which has been plowed during the forenoon has been gone over with 

 the sub- surface packer, if such a tool you have, if not, use the harrow. 

 (If you have no packer, borrow one.) Then at night the same, and if you 

 use the packer follow it with the Acme harrow at night, going over the en- 

 tire day's plowing. The common harrow produces very fair results or con- 

 ditions, but the Acme once over will put this ground in better condition 

 than two or three times over with the common harrow. In June and July 

 weeds are quite persistent and great care should be taken not to let them 

 get the start of you. In fact there is but little danger of weeds if you take 

 care to lose no w^ater by evaporation. All weeds are easily killed when 

 small, but after the tap root has gone down and become firmly imbedded, 

 the harrow, even the Acme, is not sure to destroy it. Watch the condition 

 of your field, going over it as soon after a heavy rain as the soil will per- 

 mit, using the Acme if you have one, and set it to cut about two inches 

 deep in the solid soil. This will make you a light, loose mulch from 2^ to 

 3 inches deep. Continue this persistent care through the season; in case 



