The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-04-07
Preparing for the Seed.

= Having determined what crops are to
be grown and just where the seeds of
each are to be planted, the first thing
that claims attention in spring is the
preparation of the soil for their recep-
ton.
Is the land properly drained is the
first consideration that presents itself,
for. if the season turns out wet one,
undrained fields will prove unproduc-
tive as a matter of course; if dry, drain
ace does no harm, and if under-drained
with tile or other blind ditch, air,
moisture and warmth are supplied to
the roots of growing plants, and they
are enabled to draw from earth's store
house the precise elements each needs
from that source, and the plants become
vigorous enough to appropriate from
the atmosphere such other food as may
be needed to perfect them. First then,
attend to drainage.
just when to begin the breaking up
of the soil and preparing the seed-bed
must vary with the season as well as
with the natural position and contour
of the field In general, other things
being right, most lands are bettered by
having received blowing in the fall.
hC lCbSOHS blN anu h''O bSSi
stated so often as to hardly need repe-
tition, especially as it is now too late to
remedy the matter if it was neglected
before winter set in. Work upon we'll
drained land may be begun some days
earlier than upon undrained. In either
| case rarely is anything gained by work.
ing in the mud, or before spring has
leone to stay," as the expression goes.
| no Ill 10 ho fret INN of
course, that the generality of farmers
put into the ground, though it is re-
! GREETED by many that more successful
implement has not been invented to
take its place. Flowing at the same
depth year after year, is thing to be
avoided in the preparation of the seed
bed. 1t is not always best to try to get
little deeper than the year before.
Sometimes a shallow furrow is prefer
able. Not all soils require deep plow-
inc: neither do all crops. A fertile sur
face of few inches, except for root
crops, is for the most part, what must
be aimed at. A thorough disintegra-
ton is to be sought for rather than
simple inversion, hence thorough STIR
ring and mixing are to be looked after.
If the ground is lumpy the roller should
lOllOW luC JlOns Iuio may
the soil too much and the cultivator may
be called into requisition to loosen and
still further mix. Too much narrowing
is to be avoided, as over use of the har-
row makes too compact and imper-
vious Il seed-bed, as any one may easily
test.
Whether manure is best plowed under
or surface-spread, is a matter about
which authorities differ, and it seems
likely they always will. 1t is necessary
only to remember that soil must be
naturally fertile or artificially made so,
, and that the seed-bed must be so pre-
pared that plants may take advantage
: of its properties.
To sum all up: Drain well; plow in
spring when well warmed up; break the
clods; pulverize thoroughly to proper
depth to meet the full requirements of
the plant roots; put in the seeds soon
after preparation, so that the plants
may have fair chance with the weeds
that will always spring up. All crops
; are lessened by an improper seed-bed
l even on the most fertile soils and in the
I best of seasons. No after labor in cul-
: tivation can make up for poor start.
d 1t is with vegetable as with animal life
(, "a well-bred soil, so to speak, is 8
i prime requisite and the plants must be
!. kept vigorous from the first.-Prdtrie
| Farmer