The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-04-15
SEED BED PREPARATION

II 1.e hhSN
The importance Of a we'll prepared
seed bed cannot be over estimated
lTime and labor spent in the prep
aration Of good seed bed for any
Hof our cultivated crops yields a
large profit, yet this source OF profit
is the one most often neglected.
4 Plants obtain their food in solu-
ftion in the soil water surrounding
soil particles. The roots exert a SOL
vent action on plant food materials,
therefore, the finer the soil is pull
4 verified the more soil particles we
will have for the roots TO come in
contact with 30 obtain plant food
II the seed bed is hard and cloddy,
or has large open spaces in II, tho
roots will be restricted in their
feeding space. The plant food IL
made available largely through the
action Of bacteria or small living
organisms in the soil. These organ
isms require air. moisture, and
warmth in order 10 do their work
and these conditions are at their
best only in a well prepared seed
bed.
Last week I had the pleasure OF
visiting i3 farmers in theiI own
fields in parts Of Madison and Rock
castle Counties. In every case with
the exception Of seven, the farmers
fwsre making splendid seed bed
- oats and corn. The gar
den was being neglected in many
eases. The garden should have the
best preparation. The garden re-
ceives the least Of all farm seeds and
generally get worst cultivation. Let's
change this. and give the garden o
thorough preparation this year.
A well prepared seed bed will
absorb and retain much more water
available for plants than one poorly
prepared Much Of the available
water is brought up from below and
IL the soil is not we'll pulverized and
does not make a good contact with
the subsoil, the water from below
will be restricted in its movement
upward.
A well prepared seed bed is one
that is deep, well pulverized and well
packed down. There are various
implements that may be used in Sc
curing this condition. For late plow-
ing when soil is likely 10 be hard
say from April 1 throughout the
summer. IL is q good practice 10 disk
before blowing. This will insure a
good contact between furrow slice
and subsoil.
The implements 10 be used after
the breaking pillow must be determ-
ined by the condition Of the soil.
Frequently the drag is the most ef-
fective, or the spike-tooth harrow
may he hest, and IL the ground is
lcToddy or not in the best condition,
the disk must In used. Ones judy
ment will tell him what 10 do next
! IL a deep well prepared seed bed is
kept in mind. Through preparation
and frequent tillage OF seed bed be-
fore planting are more effective than
tillage after planting. Surface TIL
age conserves moisture anG makes
more plant food available. The
chief object Of tillage. after the crop
is well started. is TO keep down
weeds. II weeds are killed before
planting. then less cultivation will
be needed after planting.
Summing up, the reasons for good
preparation are as follows:
4. The seed bed is the storehousc
for moisture which acts as carrier
OF plant food.
2. II is the layer OF soil from
which most plant food is obtained
3. IL is the layer Of soil in which |
The organisms are most active In
rendering plant food available.
4. II is the layer OF soil in which |
most OF the feeding Of plants are
developed.
%. II kills weeds and reduces the
hount OF cultivation necessary after
planting.
@. II puts the soil in condition
10 absorb some moisture which
would otherwise run Off the surface.