PREPARATION OP LAND FOR THE SEED 149 



3. The Preparing of the Seed-bed 



250. Nearly all plants thrive best when fur- 

 nished with a full and continuous supply of 

 moisture. Fine, loose earth, which contains a 

 moderate admixture of humus, is capable of 

 holding much moisture (73, 74) ; but the soil 

 may be so loose and light as to admit too 

 rapid movement of air, in which case the mois- 

 ture will be carried away. If the particles of 

 earth are separated too widely, capillarity is 

 weakened. In such cases the subsurface soil 

 should be slightly compacted, while one to three 

 inches of the surface is left loose to form an 

 earth -mulch, which tends to prevent loss of 

 moisture by evaporation. The particles of the 

 loose surface earth -mulch should be so widely 

 separated that the moisture can climb only to 

 the bottom of it, for if it comes to the surface 

 the air will carry it away (83). The earth -mulch 

 shades the ground in which the plants are grow- 

 ing, prevents the soil from cracking, and saves 

 moisture. 



251. The seed-bed should contain no free 

 water ; but it is impossible to secure this con- 

 dition at all times. No serious harm may come 

 when the soil is over -saturated at planting time, 

 if the free water is quickly removed. If the 

 soil contains more water than it can hold by 



