Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-29
HOW TO MAKE
A SEED BED
(By Dr. ". Il. Taylor.)


Mr.. Farmer, you know that your
crop is going to correspond very clos
ly to the character Of the bed or home
in which you plant the seed. You
know that poorly made seed-bed
will result in deficient crop, and you
also know that if the seed-bed meets
all the requirements of the plant you
have reasonable assurance of a good
crop.
Let us have a heart to heart talk
about these requirements, and see If
it will not pay to give them little
more attention.
First, we say the seed-bed should
be deep. But why? You know that
the roots OF the plant are very num-
erous and grow to great length. They
are ut their best when an abundance
OF room is provided. If the seed-bed
is shallow they, seeking the course Of
least resistance, which is not down
ward, except until they reach the
hard bottom of the furrow, but out
ward, and necessarily near the SUR
face. In case of even a slight drouth
they suffer for moisture and plant
food, for it must be remembered that
where moisture does not exist plant
food is not available. If the seed-bed
is deep. the roots take their natural
course, which is downward, and when
they have reached the bottom Of All
eight or nine inch bed, they have
strength and stability to penetrate
the more compact subsoil, where, as
4 rule, an abundance Of moisture ex-
lists. Again, If the seed-bed is shall
low, the roots are apt to bunch, 4
condition that results in a stunted
plant. Hence, to insure an abundance
Of room and deep penetration of the
roots, the secd-bed should be made
deep.
Again, the plant needs water. \
deep well-made seed-bed is like a
thick sponge in the matter Of absorb
ing water. In the event of Il very
heavy rainfall, such a seed bed re-
ceives and holds several inches of
water suntil&-it percolHyes into the
deeper soil. If, however, the seed
bed is shallow and hard pan exists,
and where shallow blowing is prac-
ticed, the bottom of the furrow is u.s.
ually very compact and often imper-
vious to water, only small amount
is absorbed, the most of it running
away carrying with it soil and fertil-
ity.
Plants require food. Available
plant food exists in the seed-bed, or
in that part OF the soil rich in hut
mus; hence, it stands to reason that
if the seed-bed is deep, u greater
amount Of plant food is available.
Plant roots require atmospheric
oxygen and without it they will per-
lsh; hence, if the seed-bed is SUR
charged with water it must be drain
ed out ii oxygen enters. Even though
water does not ill the air-spaces III
the seed-bed, the bed should be deep
and we'll titled. for that process is II
means Of giving the roots an abun-
dance of fresh air.
The benefits of tillage are very i'm
pOrtant in the matter of forming
plant food compounds or making
chemical combinations. Plant food
elements are useful only when COM
bined into compounds, which is ac-
complished by tillage or thoroughly
mixing the soil: hence the advantage
of using the disc harrow and other
pulver;Zers and mixers.
Water is stored in the subsoil to be
used during the growing season, but
II natures requirements are not pro-
vided, the stored water will fail to
rise; hence, in making the seed bed
the surface ground should be thor
oughly disced before it is pl0wed in
order that all Jumps are pulverized
and all trash worked into the ground.
This operation insures Il compact be-
tween the bottom Of the furrow and
the furrow slice. If the operation is
neglected, air spaces necessarily eN-
ist ut the break where the turned soil
meets the more compact layer. and
| capillary water will rise no higher