Z IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The President : The first paper upon the Program is en- 

 titled, "Preparation of the Seed Bed for Planting of Corn," by 

 Jas. Atkinson, Editor of "The Homestead." 



PREPARATION OF THE SEED BED FOR PLANTING CORN. 



[ JAMES ATKINSOX, DES MOIXES, IOWA. 



The character of a soil has much to do with the method employed 

 in preparing a seed bed for corn. There is not time on this occasion 

 to take up and discuss the different kinds of soil, so that I shall have 

 in mind just the average corn land of the state, most of which is some- 

 what loamy in its nature. 



Taking first a soil that has been fall plowed, it is an excellent prac- 

 tice to harrow the surface of such land just as early as possible in the 

 spring. This breaks the hard crust and prepares, as it were, a seed bed 

 for weeds. In other words, it favors to the greatest possible extent weed 

 germination, while in addition it tends to conserve moisture which may 

 be highly useful later in the year. It is true that during the last three 

 years we have had more rainfall than was desirable, but, generally 

 speaking, culture methods that are used to conserve moisture are not 

 far out even should heavy rainfalls prevail. Under some circumstances 

 it may pay to harrow fall plowed land more than once. By the first of 

 May weeds are generally starting, and if not showing through they are 

 at least sprouting. This is the ideal time to bring about their com- 

 plete destruction, and I know of no method by which this can be so 

 well done as by the use of the disc. Whether the land is firm or mellow, 

 the practice of double discing, lapping half the disc each time, is much 

 to be preferred to that of giving a single stroke. Even though the sur- 

 face soil is thoroughly cut by one discing one can hardly ever com- 

 pletely harrow down the ridges and furrows made by one discing. After 

 making a thorough job of disking the harrow should be used once or 

 twice. This shakes apart all root clumps, and it also brings about 

 what might be called a firm, fine seed bed. So much the better if the 

 planters can be put on immediately after harrowing, and just as soon 

 as possible after the soil is disced. This gives the corn an opportunity 

 to make a strong start before the weeds come on. I am a strong believer 

 in bringing about as much weed destruction as possible while it may 

 be done with four good horses on a disc, and the method I have described 

 Is almost ideal in this respect. 



In the case of stalk ground that must be spring plowed I strongly 

 favor the practice of discing as early as possible in the spring. Usually 

 it will pay to double disc. I have recently had it called to" my attention 

 that better work can be done by discing diagonally across the field than 

 can be accomplished in any other way. but I simply speak of this for 

 your benefit, though not from experience. It appeals to me as being 

 exceedingly practicable. If stalks have been thoroughly pastured usually 

 double discing will cut them up sufficiently so that they will plow under 

 and never give further trouble. Unless this can be done I would have no 



