CAMPBELL'S SOIL CULTURE MANUAL 199 



PREPARING THE SOIL 



The preparation of the soil is, in growing potatoes as 

 in almost everything else, the chief matter for considera- 

 tion. In the chapter on sub-surface packing will be found 

 illustrations of the different ways of preparing the soil for 

 the root and seed bed, from which the reader may gain 

 a good idea of what is meant. While we have said much 

 upon the importance of a proper condition of the soil when 

 all work is done, we must almost repeat it again, because 

 so very much depends upon this to secure fineness, firm- 

 ness and moisture in the. soil such as may be most favor- 

 able to a rapid and full development of roots such as will 

 lead them to permeate every part or portion of the soil. 



In the ideal root and seed bed as shown in the cut the 

 soil was plowed eight inches deep, after having been thor- 

 oughly disked to a depth of fully three and a-half inches; 

 the disking having been done early our soil was moist and 

 was in the best possible condition to plow; as the furrow 

 rolled over the fine, dry top soil went under, the moist soil 

 coming to the surface in an ideal condition, and while 

 moist the particles seemed to readily separate one from 

 the other and adjust themselves without material resist- 

 ance to the desired compactness, as the packer wheels 

 rolled over the plowed ground, which was done quite close 

 to the plow. 



In the illustrations given we have been able to show 

 only the main lateral branches of the roots. The little 

 hair roots or feeders may be found in such soil running in 

 every direction, so completely filling the soil as to draw 

 moisture and plant food from every portion. 



In the cut in this chapter, where the soil and roots are 

 shown highly magnified, is something that will bear study 

 by every farmer. It represents at the right a section of 



