PEEPAEATION OF THE SOIL 147 



growth, then the farmer can not afford to spare 

 any expense or labor to secure that end, for it 

 means more and better farm products and better 

 prices for same. So the author contends that 

 many of the failures of crop growing are due to 

 the fact that the farmer does not properly pre- 

 pare his seed bed, even after he has drained, fed, 

 and broken up his soil. 



The author, from a long experience, has been 

 convinced that the old agricultural writers stated 

 a great truth when they said that "tillage is ma- 

 nure, " and every farmer, if he has any sense of 

 observation, and he has no business to follow the 

 business of farming unless he has such a sense, 

 has certainly observed that the better his soil has 

 been worked down for the seed bed, the better he 

 can plant his seeds, and cultivate his plants, the 

 better they will grow, and a greater eradication of 

 weeds will result. 



In the consideration of costs we must never for- 

 get results. If increased cost will result in more 

 and better products, and conserve and increase 

 the fertility of our soils, we should pay the price. 



Therefore, in the preparation of the soil for 

 the seed bed, we should not let cost prevent us 

 from the frequent use of the harrow, the roller, 

 the disc and the drag, if it will put our soil in 

 that condition that will produce the heavier bur- 

 den of crop growth, and the better product, for 

 such a result means the greater profit, besides the 

 glorious satisfaction of doing and accomplishing 

 something worth while. 



The results of better farming are what 

 every one must strive for who desires to make 



