38 BULLETIN 214, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Table XIX shows a rather natural division of the stations into two 
groups. At the 10 more northern stations spring wheat has been 
grown at a profit by at least one method. At Belle Fourche the only 
profit was $1.41, from disked corn ground. At the 4 more southern 
stations the only profit realized from any method has been 15 cents 
an acre from disked corn ground at Hays. 
When tests on fall-plowed ground following corn, oats, and wheat 
are averaged together and compared with spring plowing following 
the same crops, the averages of the two methods at the 14 stations 
are the same for the years averaged. At only 3 stations — Scotts- 
bluff, Akron, and Hays — are the average differences greater than 1 
bushel per acre. At Hays the advantage is with fall plowing and 
at the other 2 stations with spring plowing. At most stations the 
average difference is too low to receive much consideration. The 
advantage of one over the other depends chiefly upon the season, as 
is shown in the detailed tables. The data indicate the importance 
of understanding the general principles that govern the observed 
seasonal variations and the importance of adjusting this work to the 
general economy of the farm organization. This subject is too broad 
to be considered here, and a separate publication dealing with it in 
detail is in preparation. The small difference in cost of the two 
methods makes relative profits and losses from them follow closely 
the differences in yields. 
Disked corn ground has given consistently high yields. This, 
together with the low cost of this preparation for wheat, has resulted 
in its uniform showing of the greatest profit per acre at those stations 
where it has been possible to raise wheat at a profit and the least loss 
at those stations where wheat has been raised only at a loss. The 
only exception to this is at Dalhart, Tex., where yields have been so 
low as to be of little practical moment. The realization of these 
profits depends, of course, upon the successful growth of corn as a 
general farm crop in competition with other crops. 
It should be borne in mind that at all stations disking corn ground 
as a preparation for all small grain crops has been done upon corn 
land kept free from weeds. If weeds were allowed to develop in the 
corn similar results should not be expected. To the extent that 
the weeds developed or were unhindered in their growth, the corn 
ground would approach a grain stubble in the condition of the seed 
bed. If the weeds matured seed, further damage might be done by 
their growth in the succeeding crop. Where moisture is the limiting 
factor, weed growth is decidedly detrimental. 
Subsoiling, as compared with similar wheat stubble fall plowed 
without subsoiling, has been of doubtful utility as a means of in- 
creasing yields. As a means of overcoming drought it is without 
value. Only at Judith Basin and Scottsbluff has it been able to 
