PREPARATION OF LAND FOR THE SEED 156 



the liini cultivation, for at that timo the potatoes 

 will have begun to form near the surface or in 

 the subsurface soil, according to soil conditions, 

 moistun>, climate and variety. Tlion, to throw h 

 mass of dirt on top of these underground strms, 

 after they have chosen the best position for 

 highest development, is to force them to adapt 

 themselves to new <'onditions. 



SUGGESTIOSS OX rriAI'TKIi A 



242a. In this chapter, the word seed is used in it8 general 

 sgricultural sense, to designate seeds or other parts (as tubers) 

 which are planted for field crops. 



243</. A 8<'ed-bed is the 8r»il in which the seed is planted or 

 sown. It may bo the size of a window box, a hotbed frame, h 

 garden bed, or ii field of wheat. 



244<i. The sprouts which appear on potatoes in cellars are 

 supplied from the nutriment stored in the tubvr. If a winter 

 branch of a tree is stood in water in a warm room, leaves and 

 ~ •metimes flowers will appear in the course of a few weeks ; and 

 lio growth is made from the nutriment stored in the twig. All 

 ■eds have stored nutriment, but the small ones have very little, 

 tind it may be exhausted before the plantlets can get a foothold in 

 tho soil. The better and finer the seed-bed, the sooner the plant- 

 let can establish itself. 



2.')0«i. Tho subsurface soil is that lying just below the surface, 

 iH'tween the surface and the subsoil. It is the lower part of the 

 - >il which has been loosened by the plow,— that part which is 

 )>elow the n<acb of the surface tilling. 



2506. The subsurface soil may bu compacted by rolling (102), 



after which tho surface is loosened by harrowing. When land is 



much surface tillage, as for wheat, the tnimping of the 



- cou)pactM tho under soil, l/oose, sandy lands may b«' 



piowed shallow in order to keep tho subsurface compact (94). 



