The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1913-04-11
PREPARE GROUND FOR WHEAT
Desirable 70 Double Disk Immediately
Aster Wheat = Oats Have Been
Taken on the Fle!e.


A. soon ~ the oats or wheat have
been taken on the field, it In desirable
to double-disk the ground ut once 1t
viii pay well to disk Immediately be-
hind the binder or header II after the
binder. the bundles would be thrown
on on disked ground. The sooner this
work 10 done after harvest the better:
every days delay means that more
moisture II lost.
In case the disking has been done
N time. the ground can be plowed
1t any time later. Some will say
Why not begin blowing at once. In
stead OF wasting time disking?" This
would be all right II we could hold the
moisture long enough. but usually one
or two weeks of hot, dry weather
after harvest will dry out the ground
too much for blowing. The disk will
cover the ground quickly, and will
insure holding the moisture until we
have time to complete the blowing
There 10 no question but that wheat
ground should be plowed early. For
this reason summer titled land near
y always outyielding land that IL
plowed just before seeding time.
Wheat requires a Arm seed bed. On
account Of this early preparation
should be deeper than later work.
Deep blowing just before seeding time
IL not desirable. As the ground win
not have time to become well settled.
Early deep preparation Is very IA
vorable to wheat production. especial
~ Where the ground has had enough
moisture to settle 1t properly.
The wheat roots penetrate this
packed soil very readily and are not
damaged by gradual settling later, or
from an undue loss of moisture on &C
count of too loose soil.
The following data on results Of
tillage methods on wheat in 1911 on
the Kansas experimental farm, as
quoted In part from Bulletin No. 176
OF that station, can be well applied to
southern conditions
Land plowed July is tthe right
time) seven inches deep (the right
depth gave yield of 38 1-3 bushels
per acre. After paying for the cost
of preparation there was left $25.74
per acre.
Land plowed July Is three inches
deep (plowed at the right time. but
too shallow produced 33 1-3 bushels
per acre-a net return of $22.32
Land plowed August Is, seven
inches deep. not worked until Sep
TENDER Is, showed a yield Of 20 90
bushels per acre and net return of
1884 per acre, after deducting the
cost Of preparation.
Land plowed at proper depth, seven
inches. September is (too late) pro-
duced 15A bushels per acre and
gave net return OF $9O8 per acre.
Land plowed three inches deep (too
shallow September is too late}
gave a yield of 141a bushels, a net
return of 1882 per acre. after deduct
ing cost of preparation
Land disked, but not plowed. cost
1895 per acre TO preparation and
produced Az bushels per acre. The
crop when sold returned $1.47 per
acre over the cost OF preparation of
ground
After the seed bed had been pre-
pared. whether before seeding time or
after, the surface should not be al
lowed to crust The common peg
tooth harrow or weeder should break
this crust as often as 1t forms, I'M
I'll the wheat gets too large to work
Do not let the ground get too dry be-
fore narrowing. as it is likely to work
up too fine and make 1t liable to
blow.