The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-08-23

TAis pear, on account Of drought "a
many sections and consequent grasa
and clover seed failures, there win b.
large breadths Of stubbls lands broken
for wheat.
The usual custom u to start the
plows ana keep them going until oil
the land 10 plowed, and then abandon
the fields to weed propagation till time
to harrow or roll It down for seeding,
The plan appears to be to do ns little
work on the land as possible. II the
land breaks up cloddy, In most cases
them.
There are few requisites necessary
to secure o perfect seed bed, II such
. thing Is possible. Going back a lit
tie, 1t is necessary, to get best results
from surface culture, that the land
have perfect drainage either natural
or artificial. Without this the ideal
surface preparation is a failure. When
stubble land IL to he prepared, other
tools than the plow should 20 to the
tield ut the beginning. Before start
Ing the pl0w, the harrow, drug and
roller should have attention aud be
put In shape to do the best work when
needed. They should he ready to hitch
to without annoyance or loss of time.
The plows should have jointers or
drag chains to put all stubble and
weeds out Of sight. Then, to make
the most Of the moisture in the soil
when first turned up, the plow should
be followed with the roller, working
down before noon what has been
plowed during the morning, and late
into the evening the blowing of the at
ternoon. This work can even Ike Inn
proved by following the roller with q
oil holes and smooth down uneven
places left by the plow.
The farmer does not like to be both
cred changing the team from the pillow
to the other tools and back again, and
regards the blowing as first and most
important. More often 1t Is equally
important to conserve the moisture In
the soil. Sometimes the expected rains
come. often they do not. II the soil il
cloddy and worked directly after the
plow, the moisture Is retained In the
soil, otherwise 1t is lost and the farmer
ls compelled to wait for rain, or seed
Ills land In improper condition. 1t
should ever be borne In mind that
wheat needs solid seed bed under
meath with fine surface. If the land
Is In proper condition to plow, not too
wet, the farmer need hnve no fear
that lie will get 1t too solid by contin-
nous working. The blowing should be
done as early as possible, and plans
should be laid to give the land rs fire.
quent workings as possible. The seed
bed cannot be too solid underneath,
nor too mellow on top. The imple-
ments that can be used to the greatest
advantage the farmer must determine
at the time, being governed by wealth
err and soil conditions. 1t ia not safe
to expect q wheat crop when the drill
hoes up clods continuously, nor is
good farming to depend ON frost action
to mellow the clOds and cover the
wheat roots during the winter. Since
1t has been demonstrated that first.
class wheat crops Gun be grown from
corn stubble, few lines US to how
they are secured will be In order here.
The corn should be grown on clover
sod, or land made rich by manures,
and should have frequent and contin.
uous cultivation. The corn may not
need so much, but 1t Is n necessary
preparation for the wheat to get all Il
needs In the way Of food from the soil.
Level cultivation for the corn will be
found great advantage when wheat
seeding is to be done.
Care should be taken not to have
this seed bed too loose. Shallow-work.
Ing tools will be best in its prepura-
ton. One or two inches of the sur.
face cannot be made too fine. II as
fine rs the dust on the highway, 80
much the better. There is more profit
In curtailing areas sown when perfect
tillage is given, than in expanding
areas with poor culture. At sowing
time a large acreage sown sounds
well, but at.harvest time the maxi
mum yield In bushels sounds bctter.-
7. NJ. Jamison in Prairie Farmer.