PREPARATION OF SOILS FOR CROPS 249 



the land slide." In the preparation of the seed 

 bed, it is economy to secure as much pulverization of 

 the soil by the action of the plow as possible rather 

 than to leave too much for subsequent treatment. 



332. Influence of Moisture Content of the Soil at 

 the Time of Plowing. The condition of the soil, 

 particularly as to moisture content at the time of plow- 

 ing, has much to do with the production of a good seed 

 bed. If soils are too dry when plowed they fail to 

 pulverize, and disking, harrowing, and in some cases 

 light rolling, making additional expense, must be re- 

 sorted to in order to produce a fine, mediumly compact 

 and well pulverized seed bed. If clay soils are plowed 

 when too wet, the pores of the subsoil become clogged, 

 a condition known as puddling takes place, and the 

 furrow slice dries and forms hard lumps and clods. 

 The condition in which the soil is left after plowing, 

 particularly in the case of clay soils, has much to do 

 with the character of the seed bed and the subsequent 

 yield of crops. 



333. Influence Upon the Seed Bed of Pulverizing 

 and Fining the Soil. If a soil is lumpy, and the 

 lower strata of the seed bed is not pulverized and 

 firmed, the soil readily loses water by percolation, 

 evaporation takes place rapidly and the crops are 

 poorly fed because the roots are unable to penetrate 

 the hard lumps and secure plant food. If a soil is in- 

 clined to be lumpy, the cultivation including the plow- 

 ing should be carried on largely with the view of 

 thoroughly pulverizing the soil. When a seed bed is 



