•sure and use those seeds that are raised without irrigation if it is possible 

 to obtain them. It is most important to get seed which is thoroughly 



■clean, free from weed seeds, and all other impurities. The cost of such 

 seeds is of very little importance compared with the results which the 



•best is sure to give. 



Cultivating. 



Under this system of farming a soil mulch must be maintained, 

 □lot only on the fallow ground, where frequent harrowings will be all 

 that is necessary, but also on the land which is raising the crop. In the 

 spring thoroughly harrow your winter grain (or use a weeder), and 

 remember that to do this properly the narrow teeth must be 

 sharp. Harrow teeth like the top of a broom handle cannot do 

 effective work. There are a large number of farmers who are actually 

 .afraid of harrowing their grain for fear of tearing out too much. We 

 can only say, try it. The man who once harrows with a good team and 

 sharp harrow teeth will not only have no cause to regret it, but will see 

 that it is always done in the future. I wish to emphasize the importance 

 of cultivating growing cereals with the harrow. Alfalfa (lucerne) and 

 •grass meadows should be thoroughly disced. After the second year there 

 .is little or no danger of injuring alfalfa with the disc, even though the 

 .surface soil is pulverized into a comparatively good seed-bed. Because 

 lucerne permanently occupies the land, discing and harrowing is the only 

 method by which the soil moisture can be properly saved, and this is one 

 of the secrets of success in this kind of farming. Potatoes, corn (maize), 

 and other rowed crops should be harrowed up to the time they get too 

 large, and after that shallow level culture should be followed until the 

 -crop is laid by. 



Harvesting. 



Of course the harvest may be carried on by ordinary methods, but 

 the soil should not be neglected at this time. Where our rainfall comes 

 during the summer, discing the stubble after harvesting grain is 

 important. After harvesting potatoes or sugar beets the drag harrow 

 should be used to break up the lumps and re-establish the soil mulch. 

 Barley or other grains that can be used for feed without threshing should 

 be harvested when in the stiff dough. This prevents, in a measure, re- 

 seeding the ground through the grain shattering out, for in this country 

 all the ripe grain which drops on the ground in the fall comes up the 

 next spring as a volunteer crop. If the grain can be fed without thresh- 

 ing it is marketed in the best possible way from the farm and saves the 

 cost of threshing and handling. 



Crops to Eaise. 



Those crops which are grown in rows and only occupy a part of the 

 ground, like potatoes and corn (maize), where the season is long enough, 

 will mature with the least use of moisture. Among our small grains the 

 •drought-resistant sorts are very important. Macaroni or Durum wheat is 

 one of the best. Polish wheat is a drought-resistant sort and is good 

 Mhere it is to be used for stock feed. Spelt or emmer is a most excellent 

 stock food and one of the best drought-resistant sorts. Barley, either 

 the bald or hulless or the beardless brewing barley, for feed, is a short 

 season crop which will mature with a minimum amount of moisture. 

 Oats do well in all parts of Wyoming, the earlier varieties being best 

 where moisture is scarce. Lucerne will succeed, and it is important to 



