48 THE SEED BED 



earlier in the spring than it would be safe to plant 

 them in the open soil. 



Make a good seed bed. Much time, labor, and 

 seed are lost by planting seeds on poorly prepared 

 land. The best yield of a crop depends on the most 

 perfect stand of plants in the soil. If the planted seeds 

 do not grow, the farmer has lost not only his seed, 

 but all the time and labor spent in preparing the soil, 

 and he may lose the use of the land for the whole year. 



Small seeds, such as wheat, clover, or alfalfa, usually 

 grow better in a well settled and compact soil ; while 

 corn, potatoes, and peanuts do better in a loose seed 

 bed. 



QUESTIONS 



1. What is a seed bed ? 



2. What are the conditions that make a good seed bed ? 



3. In your locality how is the seed bed prepared for wheat? 

 How is it prepared for corn ? 



4. How is a hotbed made ? 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



1. Fill two tin cans with the same kind of soil. Drive several 

 small holes in the bottom of one can and plant seeds to the 

 same depth in each. Add water to each can until the soil 

 is saturated. Leave for several days. What is the effect of 

 saturated soil upon seed germination? What necessary thing 

 is excluded by the free water in the saturated soil ? 



2. Put clay soil into two flower pots and plant seeds of the 

 same kind. To one pot add much water and thoroughly puddle 

 the clay around the seeds. Moisten the soil in the other pot 

 and keep it loose and mellow. What difference in plant growth 

 do you observe ? 



