The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-09-09
Government Finds
Spring Flowing Best

yield 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 rule
prescribing any particular time OF
blowing might cause reduction as
often as it does an increase in the
kields. However, in this region, where
the precipitation is cratic, there are
very few farming operations which can
be done successfully by rule of thumb,
and this is especially true of any rule,
for time, depth and method of blowing.
The time of blowing is one of the most
frequently discussed subjects, and one
on which very few authoritative fig
ures can be obtained. Yet the time of
blowing is one of the most important
of the comfortable factors in crop pro-
duction @
The great variation in the time and
amount of precipitation in this reg
ion must be constantly kept in mind
when considering the time of blowing.
No dependence can be placed on a
heavy precipitation in August and
September, yet is frequently occurs.
AS moisture is considered the most
important factor in crop production in
the Great Palms area, its conservation
is the primary object in cultivation.
BY many who have had little or no ex-
perience in actual farming in the semi
arid regions of the West, annual plow-
ing is considered as the most neces-
sary of the cultural operations, but this
is not substantiated either by the ex-
perience of many successful farmers,
or by the records from experimental
work The smooth, deeply-plowed,
well-harrowed surface looks we'll and
gives the impression of carefully con.
Quoted farm operations, but may prove
detrimental to crop production. The
smooth, finely pu'verized surface is
readily subject to blowing, and the
loose unpacked seed bed may be quick
ly dried by the rather free circulation
of air through it. Stubble left on a
field may give it an unkempt appear
ance, but at the same time it may be
of value in catching snow or in pre-
venting the soil from blowing.
Stubble, weeds and uneven ground
are common means of retaining snow
and holding large part of the winter
precipitation. In deciding when field
should be plowed, the question of
whether greater amount of moisture
will be accumulated by holding the
snow that falls than will be dissipated
by the growth of weeds is paramount
1t must be decided by the man on the
ground. In answering this question
several factors must be considered
namely, the amount of moisture al
ready in the soil that may be lost by
weed growth, the probable time before
the weeds will be killed by frost, the
possibilities of increasing the water In
storage in the soil by holding the snow
that may come, the danger of sol
blowing if the stubble and weeds are
removed, and the distribution of farm
labor. The Importance of these fac
tors is considered in the new United
States department Of Agriculture Bull
letin No. 253, "The Effect of Differen
Times of Flowing Small Grain Stubblt
in Eastern Colorado" The major por
ton Of the bulletin is given to de
seription of the time of blowing To-
spring wheat, but is as applicable t
oats and corn. The experiments were
performed at the Akron, Colo, fiel,
station, but the deductions are genera
and useful throughout the entire Grea
Plains area. The experiments extent
over period Of six years, from 1870
to 1914, inclusive, and during thos,
years the fluctuation in rainfall wa
as great as would be expected through
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