The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-04-20
PROFESSOR SHAW TALKS OF
NARROWING GRAIN In DRY
AREAS
CONDITIONS OF SOIL AND WEATHER WILL NOT PERMIT SAME
INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLY in EVERY INSTANCE.
BENEFICIAL TO CROPS '

In all areas where the rainfall is
light, the narrowing Of the grain af-
ter it has begun to grow should be
given that attention which it's i'm
portance demands. 1t is not easy to
give instructions that will apply in
every instance, as the conditions of
soil and weather are so various.
Much depends on the Judgment OF
the farmer. The instances are few,
however. in which the crop will not
receive benefit from being narrowed
once or oftener, during the period of
growth.
The objects sought in narrowing
the crop are two-fold. First, to con-
serve moisture: and second, to de-
stroy weeds. For both puposes, the
earlier harrowings given will prove
the most effective. A surface soil
mulch is most easily made while the
soil has not become much impacted
on the surface. 1t is less needed af
ter the grain has begun to shade the
soil, when weeds have just begun to
grow, they have a less firm hold on
the soil than at q later stage of
growth.
1t would seem safe to say that the
best time to harrow grain for the
| first time is when the blades begin to
.l, l. III
The farmer should not wait until the
field has a green tint as seen in the
distance. When the blades begin to
push through the soil as apparent to
the eye when walking over it, then it
is that the first narrowing should be
given. The harrow used should be
able, so that the back wand slant Civ
Ell to them will stir the whole sur
face of the ground without tearing
out the plants. The plants will thus
escape injury. a soil mulch will be
formed and myrjads of weeds just
starting to grow will be destroyed.
The Subsequent borrowings will be
modified by the conditions. The
second narrowing should not be Civ
ell as a rule until the grain reaches
the height, of say, four to five inch
es, unless the land has become ell
crusted i'm the meantime. IL grain
is narrowed when it is one, two, OIL
even three inches high, the hazard is
present that some and possibly
many of the plants will be buried in
the narrowing process. The harrow
teeth may cut more deeply the sec
and narrowing than the first, and the
same is true of subsequent harrow
ings. If third narrowing is given
it may usually take place when tn
crop is seven or eight inches high
> and if fourth narrowing follows i
should be when the crop is, say, tel
to twelve inches high. Some person
advocate narrowing at a later per
iod, but it is seldom indeed that j
will be necessary to harrow this late
The first narrowing should be Civ
ell to peas while hesprouts are yet ;
couple of inches below the surface o
the ground, as the sprouts of thi
crop are easily broken off. The dec
planting which should be given [,
peas will make such narrowing prac
ticable. After they are up, harrow
ing, if done at all, should be don
with great caution, lest the Gro
should be harmed rather thai
helped.
Alfalfa should not be harroWe,
until the plants have reached tn
} height of four to five inches, and TIL
: harrow used should be light. II hal
rowed when the plants are younger
many Of them may be buried or tor
out. One or two borrowings may b
! given with profit later. The GRO
/ may be greatly benefited by sue
treutment but the harrow shouI
not be used thus OH the crop when
has been hroadcasted,
= " neither tlaN may on may not b
+ narrowed win depend almost entire
Y ~ on the condition of the groUnt
. If. the ground is soddy OF if it ha
Y more or less of trash lying on i
narrowing may DO more harm tina