42 BULLETIN 214, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
At some stations the yields have been so nearly practical failures 
that it is evident that the growing of spring wheat is not a profitable 
practice. At other stations one or two crops show a profit, while 
the remaining ones are practical failures. They indicate that the 
farmer may not find spring wheat profitable on the average even 
though some years show a profit. That a certain locality is not 
favorable to the growing of spring wheat does not mean thafrit is not 
a farming section. It simply indicates that soil and climatic con- 
ditions are not favorable to the production of this crop. Other 
crops may find their most favorable environment at such a place. 
Only one crop is herein discussed. At every station some crops have 
been grown that have given good returns. At the southern stations, 
for example, the grain sorghums have done well and should be con- 
sidered the main crops. 
Where work has been carried on for several years with no material 
difference in yield obtained from the various methods, it indicates 
that more freedom may be used by the farmer in planning his opera- 
tions. If spring plowing, fall plowing, or disking after some inter- 
tilled crop gives practically the same yields, the rational thing to 
do is to take advantage of this fact. It is desirable to plow when 
it can be done most economically for men and teams. If the crop- 
ping system includes intertilled crops and disking is as effective 
and can be done at less labor cost, it is advisable to disk the land to 
prepare for wheat. Unless there is a gain from some certain method 
of tillage or crop sequence, one should adjust the work from the 
standpoint of economical operation. The farmer can then give his 
thought to procuring better seed, keeping ahead with his work, and 
preventing the growth of weeds. 
CONCLUSIONS. 
These conclusions apply only to the yields of spring wheat as 
affected by the cropping and cultivation of the one year immediately 
preceding their growth. 
(1) Some seasons are so unfavorable as to result in failure of the 
spring-wheat crop without regard to the cultural methods under 
investigation. Extremely unfavorable climatic conditions can not 
be overcome by cultural methods. 
(2) It is only in those seasons when the rainfall deficit is so small 
that it can be overcome by moisture stored in the soil that the 
cultural methods under investigation have shown important effects 
upon yields. 
(3) When the differences in value of the yields are less than the 
differences in cost of production, then cost becomes the determining 
factor. 
