Preparation of Seed-Bed and Planting 107 



up and mellowing of deep soil which winter-freezing will 

 make congenial to crops; it secures a more complete 

 decomposition of organic matter ; it breaks up a cloddy 

 and compact condition ; it allows more of the winter 

 rainfall to be stored ; it allows time to establish capillary 

 connection between the plowed portion and the subsoil; 

 it makes possible the earlier use of sod land for the beet 

 crop ; it exposes and kills many insects and fungous pests ; 

 and by giving better conditions for deca}^ it allows the 

 best use to be made of manure applied in the fall. 



The mellowing frosts of winter bring about changes in 

 the soil that would require a great amount of labor to 

 accomplish. This is especially true on heavy land that 

 is made friable only with great diflBculty. 



One decided advantage of fall plowing in regions having 

 heavy winter and spring rains is that the beet crop can 

 be planted much earlier with fall than with spring plow- 

 ing. If the farmer has to wait in the spring till the land 

 is well dried before plowing, the season is far advanced 

 before seed can be planted. Harrowing should follow 

 plowing, after which enough time should elapse for the 

 soil to settle before seed is planted. By this time the 

 surface soil is dry and the seeds have to be planted 

 deep in order to obtain the moisture necessary for ger- 

 mination. 



In many regions it is the custom to plow beet land 

 shallow in the spring after fall plowing. This has the 

 advantage of killing weeds that come up early in the 

 spring, and it leaves a mulch on the surface. It has the 

 disadvantage of drying out the surface; it also entails 

 considerable extra expense. Farmers in many of the 



