Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-10-01
AMONG THE FARMERS
"sPssp TIE rIow.~

"sPssp TIE rLow."
Corsspondenos on prsosacal aezieuhnraI topic
tended for shis Department 10 HIHSr d
Il HAMMOND, Agricultural Editor Oxford pem-
ocras. Paris. Ne.
Seed Bed Preparation.
Soils either fertilized or unfertilized
never produce those large crops which
are now q military necessity unless the
seed bed is properly prepared. Proper
seed bed preparation means the right
kind of distribution of the fertilizer, the
right kind Of plowing, the right kind of
narrowing or diseing. and therlght kind
of pulverizing and packing. All these
must be done in the right way in order
that the seed may germinate and the
TO obtain the food and water which are
in the soil. The food In Jumps and clods
is largely unusable and represents .
wasts of land.
Plants must have their food In the
liquid form, and most of the food is
taken from the plowsd layer. . This
means that water must continually rise
from the sabsoil into the plowed layer
TO dissolve more food and supply the
plant. While water may be obtained
from the subsoil by deeper roots, yet II
the plowed layer becomes too dry the
plants main food supply is cut of.
When the seed bed is properly prepared,
water rises to the plowsd layer by capil-
lsrity like oil In . lamp wick, from
depths as great as four or five feet.
When bupches Of manure or straw are
plowed under or the plowed layer 10 not
packed sufficiently, there result numer-
ous breaks in the capillary ladder which
prevent the rise OF the water from the
subsoil to the plowed layer where 1t is
needed. Not only do plants need water
to dissolve plant food but they also re-
quire enormous quantities for other pur-
poses. In the production of . bushel Of
corn $50 barrels of water pass up through
the plants that produce this corn. In
the case of oats It's barrels are required
per bushel. 1t is only after proper seed
bed preparation that the soil is capable
of storing and then delivering these
large quantities of water needed by all
plants.
THE PRIMARY ESSENTIALS.
The essentials of good seed bed are
q thoroughly pulverizsd and compacted
plowed layer provided with q dne loose
surface or mulch about two inches deep.
Many farmers make the grave mistake
iu thinking that the whole plowed layer
should be loose and mellow. Only the
surface mulch should be in this condi-
ton in order to prevent evaporation,
baking, and cracking. The soil below
the mulch where seed Is planted should
be a firm, uniform mass in order that
the seed may be in close contact With
the soil and thus get the water needed
for termination. The plant roots must
also come in close contact with the soil
10 order to get the water and food needed
for growth.
In general, TO prepare good seed
bed proceed as follows: III manure has
been applied this. shoald be thoroughly
scattered before plowing. Discing be-
fore plowipg 10 often very beneficial
when farm manure or green msnuring
crops are plowed under since IL greatly
helps TO mix the manure with the soil.
This mixing prevents the formation OF
loose layer between the surface soil and
subsoil which would act ~ break In
the capillary ladder. The plowing
should be 90 done that all the soil is cut
and turned. As soon as possible after
blowing the soil should be pulverized
and then compsetsd, preferably with
corrugated roller. A mulch should then
be provided for by narrowing. The
earlier the blowing can be done the
better, since this gives the soil chance
to settle aud also gives time for killing
weeds which 10 especially important In
seed bed preparation for corn. The
general principles which have been
given apply to all soils. The dinerent
kinds of soils, however. have certain
peculiarities which make 1t necessary 20
handle them somewhat differently AZ
will now be indicated.
TREATMENT FOB DIFFERENT SOILS.
Farmers generally know that clay soils
should not be plowed or worked when
thew are too wet, since that causes .
breaking down of the much desired
crumb structure which results In
puddled condition and later In . lumpy
and very hard condition. When soil
| has once gotten into this condition u
takes several years to bring II back to q
good physical state. Incorporation OF
organic matter and lime when needed
greatly help the physical condition OF
these soils. Aside from danger OF pud-
ding, proper seed bed preparation WHO
clay and silt loan soils is easily accom-
plished by following the general prin-
ciples which have already been outlined;
Proper plowing, thorough discing ano
dragging, aod compacting with heavy
corrugated roller or lti-pscker are she
important factors in the preparation OF
the seed bed for both marsh and sanoy
soils. Many farmers realize the I'm
portsnce of these factors,> but others
plant their crops, especially on the light
or soils. with as little labor ss Is neces-
sary to cover the seed with little SOIL.
/ II Ia sometimes said that "if the average
farmers wife prepared her husoand.s
he'd "a poorly as the farmer prepares DIS
seed bed be would sue ber for divorce,
vet the farmer expects Mother Nature
to produce bountifully w'thQus any
assistance on his part.
FLOWING. ~
On the lighter sandy soils spring piow-
inc IA preferable to fall blowing. On
these soils a cover crop should protect
the soil during the fall, wister, and
spripe. This cover crop may be- clover
.od. fall sown rye, or . new seeding OF
clover or alfalfa. Corn or potatoes
should always be planted on sod, u
possible, and the field plowed two or
three weeks before planting the corn or
/ potatoes. The depth of the plowing on
sandy soils will vary with local condi-
lions. As q rule do not plow deeper
than Ave or six inches and maintain .
l6rmly packed soil beneath the piow,
that il. do not break up the hardened
lsysr by blowing deeply one year ano
.halIoT the next year. On the sandy
soila uuderlsid by clay or on sandy loam
coils fall blowing 10 sometimes preter'
II ahla