River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-16
1hDnU11n PREPAno1a0..
Value of Good Seed Bed and the Inn
portance of Early TilIage.

portance of Early TiIIage.
The Importance of securing a good
seed bed for farm crops cannot be
over-estimated, for the success of the
crop often depends upon the rapidity
and vigor with which the seeds start
into growth. All plants get better
start when the seed is sown in a fine,
mellow soil, rich in plant food and
supplied with moderate amount of
moisture. Seeds will not terminate
readily if they are placed in coarse,
lumpy soil. Under such conditions
the seeds cannot get enough moisture
because they do not touch soil on all
sides and the air spaces are too large.
II the seed falls in fine and mellow
seed bed termination takes place
quickly and the young plant gets plen-
ty of food because the roots come X:
actual contact with more of the fine
earth particles, on the surface of
which the moisture and plant food are
found. young plant SO situated is
better able to withstand adverse eli
matte conditions than one in a coarse,
lumpy soil. Good blowing and thor
ough narrowing helps to conserve
moisture and makes the soil warmer.
In preparing a seed bed for any crop
two factors must be taken into con-
slderation, namely, the character Of
the soil, and the needs of the crop to
be grown. Some soils, especially those
which are sandy in character, respond
very readily to the tillage given and
may be in a perfect garden-like con-
dition after single narrowing. A
heavy clay soil, on the other hand,
may not be in a good condition after
three or even more borrowings. No
hard and fast rule as to the number of
times to harrow for the preparation Of
the seed bed can be given. The farm
er must be governed largely by the
character of the soil. The soil may be
so much out of condition through lack
of humus, or from being plowed when
too wet, or from other causes, that
it cannot be made mellow and fine by
narrowing alone, no matter how nAany
times it is gone over. In such cases
planking or rolling should be tried.
The farmer will, in almost every case,
find that one or two extra harrOwings
after the seed bed seems to be in
good condition will, by the increased
yield obtained, repay him two or three
times for the extra time and labor in
volved. A fine, mellow seed bed also
makes it possible to cover the seed
evenly, thus giving 1t an even start
and insuring uniformity in growth and
maturity.
All of our farm crops are not alike
in their requirements; some do best
in a warm, deeply loosened soil, 9TH
ers in a rather firm, cool soil; very
small seeds require finely pulverized
soil. Larger seeds are not so exacting
and can get along in a coarser soil.
So that on the crop to he grown de-
ponds to a certain extent the amount
and character of the tillage necessary.
The preparation of the seed bed by
good blowing and thorough narrowing
helps to conserve moisture, ventilates
the soil, and makes the soil warmer.
Good tillage also destroys weeds, and
for this alone often repays the farm
er for the labor expended. Weeds are
strong feeders and rob the crop of
plant food and moisture. Weedy crops
are Improbable since it costs as much
to cultivate and harvest a weedy crop
with it's consequent low yield and poor
quality as it does Clean crop Of
heavy yield and good quality. Weeds
should be destroyed and buried by
cultivation of the soil and thus be
made to yield up their substance as
green manures toward the enriching
of the soil instead of robbing it,
Early tillage is especially beneficial,
says Prof. j. A. Hummel, in Farmers
Voice, because at this time the weeds
are small and are more easily de-
stroyed. Early tillage is important
because it prevents the loss of moist
ure from the subsoil by evaporation,
and makes the soil warmer at a time
when added warmth is very essen
tiaI. If the soil is a heavy clay and
inclined to be wet the early tillage
should be deep, for this increases per-
collation., lets in more air, thus helping
to remove the excess of moisture and
making the soil warmer. Care must
be taken, however, not to cultivate a
clay soil when too wet because it will
dry into hard Jumps which are brok-
en- up with difficulty. Early tillage is
necessary also to promote chemical
and archaeological action in the soil,
thus increasing the amount of avail
able plant food at a time when the
young plant needs it most
CATTLE STANCHION.