The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-10-21
GREAT PLAINS WHEAT
Dlsked Corn Land Gives Most
Satisfactory Results.
little Difference Noted Following Fall
and Spring Plowino-oreen Ma.
nurlns Is Most Expensive
Method Under Trial.

when the differences in value OF
the yields OF spring wheat are less
than the difference in cost of produc-
tion, then cost becomes the determin.
ing factor" is one OF twelve conclu-
siors drawn from extensive expert.
mental work carried on by IA stations
over a series OF years and dealt with
at length in United States department
of agriculture Bulletin No. 214,
Spring Wheat in the Great Plains
Area.-Relations of Cultural Methods
to Production" The Great Plains
area includes parts OF ten states, 40.-
900 square miles OF territory, taking
in much of North Dakota, South Dako-
Ia. Montana. Nebraska. Kansas. Okla
homa, and parts OF Colorado. Wyom.
ing, New Mexico and Texas In these
states IA stations have worked on
these spring-wheat problems.
Among the general conclusions
brought out by study of the results
at the IA stations is one that shows
the average difference in the yields OF
spring wheat following fall plowing
and spring plowing is very small. At
most stations the advantage OF one
over the other depends upon the sea.
son. The data obtained indicate the
Importance of understanding the gen.
eral principles that govern the oh.
served seasonal variations and the i'm.
portance OF adjusting this work to the
general economy OF farm organization.
Disked corn ground has given con.
sisteltly high yields. This. together
with the low cost of this preparation
for wheat, has resulted in its uniform
showing Of the greatest profit per acre
at those stations where II has been
possible to raise wheat at a profit and
the least loss at those stations where
wheat has been raised only at loss.
The realization Of these profits. how.
ever. depends upon the successful
growth OF corn as general farm crop
in competition with other crops. ac
cording to the deductions drawn in
this bulletin.
Subsoiling, as compared with wheat
stubble fall plowed without subsoiling,
has been Of doubtful utility as a means
OF increasing yields. As a means of
overcoming drought It is without
value.
Green manuring is the most expen.
sive method under trial. II resem.
bles a fallow in that II requires the
use OF the land for two years for the
production of one harvested crop
with the added expense of seed and
seeding. There is saving of cultiva
tion during the spring while the green
manure crop is growing, but this IL
Offset by the necessity OF plowing To
turn the crop under and is not SUN
cient to make up for the cost Of seed
ard seeding. Yields have not been
commensurate with the increased cost
OF production. II is hardly fair tc
charge the whole cost OF green
manuring to the one crop that i'm
mediately follows II as is done in this
bulletin. II should have cumulative
effect in building up the soil or rem
edying its deficiency in organic mat
ter The evidence shows that on nor
NAL soils in the Great Plains at least
In the first years OF the work little
effect from green manuring is showr
on other than the first crop
One fact standing out PROMINENT,
is that cultivation is not an unfailin,
solution OF the problem of drought
1t will doubtless alleviate II to som,
extent but can never fully overcom,
1t. At different times and in differen
sections certain methods have beer
exploited as to the solution OF tn,
problem Of dry farming. Each OF thes,
y systems may have merit. but any an,
all fall far short of the panacea unde
. all conditions.
; Where work has been carried on TO
several years with no material dii
ference in yield obtained under th
various methods. the bulletin indicate
, that more freedom may be used b,
the farmer in planning his operations
II spring plowing. fall plowing, o
i disking. after some intertilled cror
gives practically the same yields tn
rational thing to do is to take nd
o vantage OF this fact. II is desirabl
d to plow when II can be done most eco
l. nomically for men and teams. Tn
Q same way in disking the land.