Plowed field, disked and harrowed. 

 There is a deeper seed bed on the sur- 

 face, but many hard clods and air spaces 

 are in the bottom of the furrow 



Disked stubble plowed and disked before 

 harrowing. Observe the compact con- 

 dition of the soil, that the air spaces are 

 completely filled up, and that the ground 

 is in first-class condition 



A plowed and harrowed field with corn 

 and wheat planted upon it, showing that 

 the corn and wheat are too deep in the 

 ground. The runner broke through the 

 clod and deposited the seed deeper 

 than the farmer really intended. Maybe 

 the next hill is too shallow. This sort 

 of a seed bed accounts very largely for 

 the unevenness of the stand of all 

 kinds of crops, and also explains why plants 

 will grow and prosper for a while, then 

 suddenly become weak 



This illustration represents the field in 

 the above scene, showing that in a seed 

 bed of this kind the farmer can regulate 

 his seeding machine to a certain depth 

 and feel assured that the grain is being 

 deposited at that depth. The corn is 

 planted where he wants it, and the soil 

 is compact and fine, so that the rootlets 

 can reach out and assimilate the neces- 

 sary amount of plant food, thus insuring 

 a vigorous, healthy growth. The same 

 thing is true of the wheat plant 



