130 THE BUSINESS OF FAEMING 



pulled their loads easily and economically as to 

 fuel and operating expenses, but when greater 

 depths of plowing were required, say nine or ten 

 inches, then most of these plowing outfits were 

 even unable to pull their loads, or if they did, it 

 was at too great expense for fuel, or too slow a 

 speed for economy. Yet some were a success. 



Eecently the author went to a State adjoining 

 the one in which he resides to see the operation of 

 a large and much advertised gasoline tractor, 

 with an eight twelve-inch bottom plowing outfit. 

 It was plowing an old blue grass pasture field 

 and the sod was heavy. They attempted to plow 

 this heavy sod with the eight bottoms at an aver- 

 age depth of five inches, and failed. They took 

 off one bottom and again failed. Another bottom 

 was removed with like failure, until finally, pull- 

 ing five bottoms, they could make fair progress. 

 But the job of plowing was such that the sod was. 

 not overturned to a sufficient depth, and the soil 

 was so broken up that the sod would not be well 

 turned under so it would be destroyed or would 

 so rot that the blue grass would be killed and the 

 field be put in fit condition for cultivation. 



But why do we plow? To loosen up the soil 

 and prepare a seed bed in which plants will grow 

 and develop and reproduce their kind. 



The proper development of the plant into that 

 condition that will cause it to give its maximum 

 yield of matured fruit, grain -and produce, is the 

 consummation desired by every one who tills the 

 soil, but plants will not do this unless the seed 

 from which they sprang has been sown in a 

 properly prepared seed bed which is stocked with 



