Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1912-04-26
PACKING THE soiL@To CONSERVE
!, !sMoisTUREEAND TO CONTROL +
5585I DISEASES. ...-TS
..fiF!fi 74T.E ~ -3I'.5 II u y
By H. l.. Kelley.

:. :, g.-sa .
n I have noticed the apparent fine CON
dition in which the seeding operations
have started Immediately following
the disappearance Of the snow. .is ..:
In looking at the work, one feature
impressed me greatly. In very many
cases the fall ploWed land was plowed
Just preceding the first heavy frost OF
winter. It had not time to settle and
no packing was done upon it following
the blowing. Il .;,,s
j: Much wheat has been seeded while
the: frost was still ID the fall plowed
land, the ice coming near to the sur
face. The farmers have narrowed
this land until it looks like a nice gar
den patch. The seed has been placed
in the ground in apparently fine CON
.dition. The ice, however, did not al.
low the unsettled soil to be packed
down by the narrowing operation. The
harrow only made ia nice appearing
surfec. The seed SO placed in close
to. the moisture, due to the melting ice,.
will start Immediately and give fine
appearance.
However, when the frost goes out,
such fall plowed land will be left loose
and poorly packed under the seed.
Unless heavy rains follow in the
spring, the top soil will be poorly CON
neeted with the subsoil. ss&
It il my belief that a heavy roller
or packer should be run over such
fields as soon as the frost is out down
to the bottom Of the furrow slice. /
believe that such packing by q surface
packer or clod crusher will result in.
great good to all the early soWn grain
which is seeded on fall blowing. II
the frost gets out before the grain
comes UP, this packing should be done
at once. The packing can be done at
ter the grain is up, tho It is best to do
ii before. s55j Il
This is the year to learn the les
sons taught by the experience of the
last; two years. Spring ploWed land
should be subssurface packed at once
behind the ploW and surface packed
imme diately behind the sub-surface
packer lowing the clod crlsher
OF surface packer. a peg-tooth harrow
viii do good work ahead Of the drill,
If properly; handled, using the teeth
sIanted well backward. These should
follow after the drill a heavy stone
boat, float or packer TO pack the loose
dirt firmly onto the seed.
Only heavy rains and mud should
prevent the farmers from carefully
carrying out this sort Of q process II
they wish the biggest possible crops.
lls After the wheat riley and oats are
/ up q few inches. usea Weeder or q
harrow to form a mulch whenever the
round begins to dry out, crack 81 81
bake This can be done until the
grain begins to run up to head. Never
4
] harrow grain when the surface is mud
1 dy O. sticky
2sI the case of hax, conserve the
moisture ID the ground before the flas
Isl seeded, BY means Of deep s,lb-sllrs:
1; face king, narrowing and BY plank
ling 81 cking after the drill "a the
case of this crop too much soil pack;
1 Ing cannot be done iff the work is done
while the ground Is il good tilth: n
4 good annual vine, to cover up the
I porch o. unsightIy stsiInps Is the wild
cucumber Trailing nasturtinms q
\ niorning glories are also aften used
Tor The same purpose.