PREPARING THE SEED BED 25 



stored in the additional growth of clover. This plan is very 

 satisfactory if there be sufficient rainfall during May and 

 June. In the case of a dry summer, the clover will have 

 already used up a large part of the moisture stored in the 

 soil so that there is but little left for the corn. Our own 

 experience with early and late plowed clover sod showed a 

 difference in the yield of corn of nearly thirty bushels in 

 favor of the early plowing. This was in the spring of 1911. 

 In 1911 there was ample rainfall during May and the first 

 half of June. As a result, late plowed clover sod made a 

 good showing. This year (1913) has been hot and dry, and 

 corn planted on late plowed sod has been almost a failure, 

 while some early spring plowed clover sods have made as high 

 as seventy bushels. 



PREPARATION OF PLOWED GROUND BEFORE PLANTING 



An ideal seed bed, as stated in the beginning of this 

 chapter, should be aerated and not run together. At the 

 same time, the soil particles should be compressed closely 

 around the seed in order to insure quick and even germina- 

 tion. A maximum amount of moisture should be conserved 

 in the subsoil by having a shallow dust mulch on the surface. 

 Last, but not least in importance, a large number of weed 

 seed would have sprouted, and all that show on the surface 

 should be killed immediately before planting. When the 

 greater part of the weeds are killed before planting and the 

 seed bed is moist and free from clods it can safely be said 

 that the crop is half provided for. 



Since the method of preparing the seed bed is determined 

 largely by the local condition of soil and climate, we shall not 

 attempt to give general directions for working the ground 

 which might apply to one farm but not to another. Instead, 

 we shall outline the methods followed on our own farms. 



