Show HOLD SOIL MOISTURE Summer fallow Is best and practically only method in sections where rainfall Is rather light Conier conservation of such Is of utmost importance solution of weed problem atas it Is generally agreed I 1 think that as the west la is usually subject to only a rather light rainfall which means briefly A lack of moisture the conservation of such la is althe of abo utmost importance experiences have found abat the summer allow fallow Is th the obest beat and practically the only method by which we can hold the surplus moisture of one season over for the berie benefit fit of a crop in the following season beason one might liken the fallow unto a reservoir the water holding capacity of which Is in determined only by lust just that amount of work and tillage it may receive and also by doing this work just at tho the proper times such a fallow will provide at least seed and bread in the criesi driest of seasons beacons that we have experienced in the past twenty five year it has baa been said eald that our western system of constant fallowing following fal lowing Is as aa hard on the soil as if it had been continually cropped nevertheless many old fields through the province which have been worked under this system are showing up good today says saya a writer in the winnipeg farmers advocate no one can hardly dispute the fact that our older soils are lacking la in fiber and are also lacking a certain amount of fertility at the same time the sum system sets seta free fertility just how long this may continue without the addition of manure and fertilizers la is a question which will probably be only answered by actual test and demonstration we know that bolls of different localities differ that some come lands will stand crop bearing for a longer period than others but cornmon nonsense sense which Is founded on fact and practice and not a simple matter of theory tells us that the day must come when our lands must be replenished pleni plent shed in the meantime so BO long as the fal lowing system brings forth the yield it should wo we would consider that ive we have no better method unless we have a revolution in climatic conditions I 1 use all the manure available and am seeding 4 down own to grass my oldest land and intend that all ahe land will take its turn under this system but I 1 am not going to drop the tallow fallow unless it drops me the system of sum combined with spring and fall cultivation la Is the most practical method at the present time of controlling the weed problem which goes hand ln in hand with the conservation of moisture one cannot grow weeds and conserve moisture at the same time probably weeds and plants are more fatal than the sun and wind toward depleting an area of the moisture contents for we can prevent evaporation to a very great extent by a mulched surface or dust blanket but weeds are working above and below the e surface and keep up a continuous pumping on the moisture supply until their maturity the low Is conducted for the purpose of exterminating these plants and also for the purpose of coaxing tho the seeds which lie ile in the soil to germinate that they may be killed off by the cultivation ti the latter purpose being perhaps the more important of the two to consider when we are discussing the advisability of e erfal lowing many of our noxious weed seeds have an abominable habit babit of lying dormant in the soil for all manner of periods until conditions are just suitable to their particular whims the lack of moisture and heat no doubt having much to do with this yet among wild oats buckwheat and some of the mustards must ardc a goodly proportion of these seeds seem to ignore any condition and ito he over for a season T |