The Spectator., 1915-10-15

ment of Agriculture)
 Moisture is one of the most impor- tant factors in crop production in the Great Plains area and it's conservation primary object of cultivation. The CTS and experiments conducted by the United States department of agricul- ture indicate, however. that there is no hard and fast rule for attaining this object. The right time to blow a field of small grain stubble for spring crops is a question of judgment for the man on the ground to decide.
 Conserve Moisture.
 Early fall blowing keeps down weeds and therefore conserves the moisture these would otherwise consume. On the other hand, it leaves the ground in 8 less favorable condition for the win ter. Stubble, weeds and uneven ground may be unsightly, but they aid in re- taining snow and in checking the blowing of the soil One great ques- ton for the farmer to decide is. there fore, whether 0 greater amount of wa ter will be accumulated from snow than will be lost through weeds. If the rainfall in August and early September is heavy he will probably decide to conserve it by fall blowing or some other cultivation: if the rainfall at this time is light, he will be inclined to leave the stubble on the field through out the winter.
 Encourages Weeds.
 Another disadvantage in fall plow- ing is the opportunity afforded weeds to start before the crop in the spring. Flowing in the spring, on the contrary, thoroughly eliminates the weeds, and If done immediately before seeding gives the grain crop start before the weeds commence to grow. The ideal cultivation would prevent weed growth in the fall, leave the land in such con- dition that 1t would retain the maxi mum snow in the winter and thorough ly destroy small weeds Immediately before seeding. Possibly this may be accomplished by disking in the fall and blowing in the spring, or listing in the fall and bursting the ridges in the spring may be more practicable. Early fall blowing is effective in that 1t destroys weeds which use the early fall precipitation. but it does not leave the land in condition to retain the snow in the winter. and 1t gives the weeds an opportunity to start before the crop.
 Labor Factor.
 The labor factor must, of course, De taken into consideration. In fact. the only advantage in late fall blowing is the saving in the labor required in the spring to prepare the seedbed. Where labor is scarce in the fall, cultivation other than blowing which will Kill weeds, and can be done rapidly, may be resorted to. If this cultivation leaves the stubble on the surface, or leaves the surface rough enough to hold the snow, it may be of even great CT value than blowing.
 Bermuda Grass.
 Bermuda or wire grass is at the same time valuable forage plant and a serious weed pest, depending upon where it is growing. It is the Doctor Jekyll and Mir. Hyde of the grass fam1' fly. Bermuda is perennial planf, spreading rapidly by rootstocks, which send out shoots at frequent intervals, thus forming a close sod. The very qualities, therefore. that make Bermu- da such a desirable forage plant also make it a formidable weed.
 Bermuda Grass as Forage Plant.
 As forage plant, this grass is utilized largely for pasture purposes, although it is cut for hay to some ex- tent. It is resistant to heat, drought and trampling by live stock, but is quite susceptible to frosts. Hence this grass finds its chief field of usefulness in the southern states as far north as Virginia and Kentucky. Propagation is largely by sowing or planting small sections of the rootstocks. These sec tions or cuttings, about an inch long, are sown broadcast and narrowed in. Some farmers prefer to plant cuttings in shallow furrows about three feet apart, the plants being set about eight cen inches apart in the furrows. A corn marker or Q shovel cultivator may be used for opening the furrows. After the cuttings are dropped they should be covered at once with soil. The covering may be done either with the foot or . hoe. Bermuda is some times sown with hairy vetch, lespe- deza, or other crops in permanent pas lures. thus improving the quality of the pasturags. On Bermuda and vetch pastures the live stock are kept on