The Forrest City times., 1907-09-27
Better Seed Bed For Field Crops.

0IuSh PdlCH UT garuen which are iT the main as follows, towit: Deer breaking blowing thoroughly pulyerized plenty of humus, yege- table mould or barn yard manure. and good drainage. These conditions are just as essential for profitable field crops as for the garden.
 The deep breaking for field crops should be done in the fall and should not be less than eight inches deep ultimately the progressive Southern farmer will try to average ten to twelve inches.
 The objection is urged that to turn up so much poor soil at once will ruin the land. It is not proposed to turn 1t up till 1t has been aired a few years. The way is to use common turning blow run at the usual depth: then in the same furrow run a second blow, a trifle narrower, just behind the first blow, using another mule or span of mules. If the first blow cuts four inches deep, the second should cut four more, making eight in all. If the land will permit. cross blow four inches deep thirty days later: then harrow. In dry sections the harrow should always follow the blow. Of course, cross blowing is not admiss able where ridge cultivation must be fol- 1 lowed.
 A better method than the double blowing above described is to use a sub-soil blow or disc blow, as neither of these implements throw any sub soil to the surface. The disc blow is more economical, because it does the surface and sub-soil stirring with one implement.
 The air penetrates as deep as we blow. The deeper We blow the more l plant food is prepared by the action Of the air and more moisture is car l ried in the soil to withstand droughts. Deep fall blowing then is a great aid in breaking up the compounds of the soil, in preparing plant food, in stor- ing moisture and in warming the soil for early planting. Where there is winter frost, deep blowing increases it's effect on the soil.
 A thoroughly pulyerized seed bed is long way towards good crop. On heavy soils the roller and disc har- | row are almost indispensable to crush the clods and pulyerize the soil. If this is done four or five inches deep, so that the young plant can get good start, with reasonable after care the crop is assured. A clod is like un- plowed land-it holds little moisture and yields scarcely any plant food. The best of seed has little chance in a poorly prepared seed bed. A finely pulverized soil aids germination, in- creaseS the amount of plant food available, stores more moisture and is more readily penetrated by the air and the rays of the sun. Even granite rock, if thoroughly pulverized, will support vegetation.
 A third requisite of good prepara- tion of the soil is to have plenty of vegetable matter in it. This is gen. erally secured by turning under cow peas, or green crops of any kind, or using leaf mould or barn yard manure. Vegetable matter makes soil porous, friable, eas ly worked, resistant of drouths. This vegetable matter called humuS, absorbs and retains the food prepared in the soil by the ac l. tion of air and heat, and gives it off to the plants as required. It warns the soil, adding frequently several de- grees of heat, and it facilitates the condensation of moisture from the atmosphere in dry periods. More vegetable matter is especially inn portant where the texture of the soil is so fine as to prevent the free circu- lation of water and water stands upon the surface or in the soil so long that it is an injury to plants.
 
 One of the most essential require ments for success in the production of field crops is drainage. Our soils are mainly of close texture and require plenty of open ditches to carry off the surface water and the surplus soil water. Frequently the plant food is vitiated and the soil kept cold and closed to the action of the air by the standing water in it. Whenever a freshly dug post hole fills with water until it stands within six inches or even foot of the surface, there is too much water in the soil. Field ditches for drainage should not be less than two feet deep, and should have good outlet.
 Drainage facilitates early planting and in large measure determines it's success by removing thel surplus water, and allowing the suns rays to warm the soil. Write it in capital let ters where you can see it every day the following;
 l. Deep fall blowing properly done.
 ,. Soil thoroughly pulverized.