Wheat 1/7
ideal seed bed is one finely divided and well compacted, as
stated, with about an inch of loose dirt on top, so that when
the seed is drilled it will lie on a firm bed, covered by loose
- soil. This kind of a seed bed is necessary for all small seed,
' for the reason that small seed cannot come in contact with 4
sufficient moisture in a loose rough seed bed; besides, such a 4
seed bed soon dries out. Small seed are sown shallow, and
" stand very great chances not to rest on a firm stratum of.soil
that will bring them sufficient moisture. This condition
explains, in our judgment, so many failures to get a stand f โ€˜ _
of the small seed crops. โ€˜ T
Q The seed bed must have a good contact with the subsoil
for the reason that it must be largely supplied with moisture
from the subsoil. The soil water rises through the soil by '
capillary attraction just as oil rises in the wick of a lamp. It
is evident that if clods are turned under in the preparation of A
the seed bed, there will be spaces that will prevent the rise
of water from the subsoil. Dry weeds and stubble will
produce the same result.
โ€” The methods to be pursued and the implements to be used ยป
to produce such a seed bed as has been described will depend
upon the nature of the soil to be prepared. Many different
implements may be used to accomplish the same result. _
Some of them are of course more effective and economical l
than others. ` _.
If the ground to be sown to wheat needs only to be disked,
such as tobacco, corn, soy bean, or cowpea ground, this
operation should be performed as soon as possible after the 4
crop is removed, and should be thoroughly done. If neces-
sary to disk more than once, double disk back and forth
rather than round the field or in large lands, and then cross
at right angles in the same way. A spike tooth harrow may
complete the operation. It may require the use of a heavy
drag, which is much more efiicient than a roller for crushing
clods. Preparation should not cease until the seed bed is
good enough to plant a garden in. More horse power should
be used in the preparation of the soil. Four horses hitched
to a disk harrow or to a drag, well weighted down, will