The Keota news., 1912-06-14
Proper Preparation Of Seed Bed
Has Many Advantages.
System Of Culture Outlined to Favor
Conservation Of soii Moisture
and Adapted to Regions OF
Limited Rainfall.

tendent Western Kansas Experiment
9tAtion.)
In dry climate the proper prepara-
tion OF the seed bed has several I'M
portant advantages. The cultivation
of the land after harvest tends to con-
serve the moisture already stored IN
the soil The furrowed land - In
good condition 10 catch and store tne
rain and the later cultivation clears
the land OF weeds and volunteer wheat
and leaves a mellow soil mulch to
conserve the moisture which has been
stored in the subsoil The early ana
continued cultivation OF the soil IL
vors the action Of the bacteria and the
development OF available plant food.
BY practicing this method the farm
er may cultivate a larger area early IN
the season when the soil II In good
condition to cultivate. when. II IT had
been necessary to plow the whole area.
some OF the land might become too
dry to plow we'll. Likewise the later
plowing leaves the soil too lose and
not in good seed bed condition.
In preparing land for corn or other
intertilled crops the listing may DO
done late In the fall or during the win
ter or carly spring. Tho usual plan
being to split the ridges with tho lister
later in the spring. when the corn Is
planted. or the corn or kafir corn may
be planted by listing In the same fur
row. II 10 advisable to harrow the
listed deld once or twice before plant
ing to destroy weeds. or prevent soil
drifting and to preserve . mellow soil
,1rk ~ hA
been stored In the subsoil. In prepar.
Ing land for corn. the early listing has
proved equal to early plowing and su-
perior to early disking as shown By
the experiments At the Kansas sta
tion
In the drier portions Of the great
plains area. where the annual rainfall
II not SUFFICIENT to produce crop
every year. It becomes necessary to
practice . system Of summer fallowins
every third or fourth season. or In al.
ternate years In localities OF least rain.
fall, In order to store moisture and de-
velop plant food and thus insure the
production Of . profitable crop each
year.
Deep blowing either in the fail or
ton ~ described above. Is the method
Of summer following which has given
the best results at the Montana, west
srn Nebraska and western Kansas ex.
pertinent stations.
Another good method where the sou
10 inclined to blow II to list the ground
into furrows in the fall. leveling the
ridges early In the spring and plowins
about the nrst Of June. giving sum
cient cultivation during the balance Of
the season to destroy the weeds and
prepare . good seed bed.
The weeder II better adapted for has>
rowing wheat and other small grains
Than the common harrow. but the har.
row may be used when the ground 10
arm. The writer questions whether 1t
II necessary or advisable ~ rule TO
harrow wheat II due precautions have
been taken In preparing the sssd
bed.
Under certain conditions. where
heavy rains arm and puddle the soil. It
may be advisable to harrow. but very
young grain may be injured by harrow.
ing, and after the wheat covers the
ground. narrowing 10 unnecessary. The
narrowing Of wheat At regular inter
walls At the Kansas, Nebraska and
Montana experiment. stations has not
resulted favorably. Without question.
the proper preparation Of the sesd bed
10 . much moro important factor In the