Tombstone epitaph. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-current, 1915-12-12
CROPS ON THE PLAINS
Moisture Is Considered Most I'm.
portant Factor.
Man on the Ground Must Decide Cues
tion Of Time When Field Should
Be Plowed-Fali ard Spring
Flowing Is Compared.

The average yields OF spring crops.
such as wheat, oats. and corn in the
great plains area. from spring and
from fall blowing, show that the blind
following Of a rule prescribing any
particular time of blowing might cause
reduction as often as ii does an in.
crease in the yields. The great varia
ton in the time and amount OF precipi
tation IL this region must he constant
ly kept in mind when considering the
time OF blowing. No dependence can
be placed on a heavy precipitation
in August and September. yet IL fire.
quently occurs. As moisture Is con
sidered the most important factor in
crop production in the great plains
area, its conservation is the primary
object in cultivation
Stubbe. weeds. and uneven ground
are common means OF retaining snow
and holding a large part OF the win
ter precipitation. In deciding when
a field should he plowed. the question
OF whether a great amount OF mois-
ture will be accumulated by holding
nc sIow that falls thai: %:m BE die
sipated by the growth of weeds Is par.
amount It must be decided by the
man on the ground. In answering this
question several factors must be con
sidered. namely. the amount of mOis-
ture already IN the soil that may be
lost through weed growth. the prob
able time before the weeds will be
L. ii sIsH gNs r,E
increasing the water in storage in the
soil by holding the snow that may
come, the danger OF soil blowing II the
stUthle and weeds are removed. and
the distribution Of farm labor. The
Importance Of these factors is consid.
cred in Department Bulletin No. 253.
The Effect Of Different Times OF Plow.
ing SDall-grain Stubble in Eastern
Colorado" The major portion Of the
bulletin is given to description Of
the time Of blowing for spring wheat,
but IS as applicable to oats and corn.
The experiments were performed at
Akron iColo) field station, but the de-
ductions are general and useful
throughout the entire great plains
area.
II was found that there was 4 wider
variation in the precipitation OF the
fall and winter when the moisture
should be stored. than during the grow.
ing months Rains in August and early
September invariably produce a
growth OF weeds. which usually ex,
haust the valuable moisture supply
The loss Of moisture which has pene.
trated TO a greater depth than three
inches. after the weeds are dead IN the
fall and before growth starts in the
spring, is almost negligible. Either
from land fall plowed or from that COW
cred with stubble light precipitation
evaporates unless 1t falls as snow
which is blown into drifts until a con.
siderable quantity has accumulated
As ten inches of light snow are equiva
lent 10 only one inch Of rain, and one
/ iIcE q raj. penetrates the sol! to a
depth Of six inches, 1t will be readily
seen that SHOWS of one TO two inches
! supply very Small amount of mois
/ ture, a greater part of which will be
/ lost by evaporation. Every effort
! should be made. therefore, to conserve
/ the moisture which falls either while
the crop is on the land or while the
land is lying idle.
Early fall rains will be used b!
weeds unless the land is cultivated
1 Heavy winter SHOWS may occur. bu
they are likely 10 blow off the fields
unless there is either stubble or al
uneven surface TO hold them. The tint
and method OF cultivation, then, shouIC
be planned to prevent weed growth
and still leave the soil or stubble il
1 such a condition that ii will hold tn
maximum snow. However, the perio,
when labor is available will also b.
an important factor in Determining
the time of blowing. When labor i
scarce. cultivation other than plowinl
which will kill weeds and can be don
rapidly may be resorted to II thi
cultivation leaves the stubble on tn
surface OF leaves the surface rougl
to hold the snow, it may be Of evel
greater value than blowing Diskin
or listing in the fall are the method