Progressive Agriculture 29 



lined some years ago, emphatically so to the new 

 beginner and to the man who has hogs and cows. 



In discussing this topic what we wish to consider 

 first is how to most successfully and economically 

 conserve as far as possible all the rainfall. Second, 

 how to utilize this moisture to the best advantage 

 in building up the soil and increasing the available 

 plant food. Third, how to get the seed and root 

 bed in the most ideal condition possible for 

 quick germination, and a rapid healthy growth. 

 We hold to the importance of keeping the surface 

 soil loose and allowing no weeds to grow, that the 

 same moisture may be held in the top firm soil 

 until not only this soil has become well wanned, 

 but the weather has settled down to a more steady 

 warm temperature, when a much greater per cent 

 of plant food will be continuously available. 

 Then during the prolonged period of spring tillage 

 there may be added more spring moisture, and by 

 holding this condition for 4 to possibly 8 weeks 

 before planting, depending on both the kind of 

 crop and location, you can produce three to six 

 times the growth as has been the common ex- 

 perience with the same rainfall, the result of a 

 more complete utilizing of the soil water and a 

 greater increase of available plant food. 



All cultivated land especially if intended for 

 the spring crop should receive attention just as 

 early in the spring as it is possible to do anything. 

 Fall plowed land should be loosened rather shal- 

 low, but land not fall plowed should be double 

 disked as early as soil conditions will permit. 



The tandem or double-disk, (See Cut No. 23.) 



