storing and Utilizing Water 



Water is stored just in proportion to the permeability of the seed-bed 

 and the texture of the subsoil. After the plants have utilized the water 

 which adheres to the particles of soil in its passage downward, they 

 then begin to draw by the process of capillary attraction, upon the 

 water which has been stored in the subsoil. In order to insure perfect 

 capillarity, there must be no large air spaces either at the bottom of the 

 fuiTow or in the body of the seed-bed. In other words, there should be 

 a medium compact condition of the soil particles. Before the plow 

 turns surface trash and surface lumps under, the disc harrow should be 

 used. Trash on the bottom of the seed-bed acts as an insulation, on 

 account of the large air spaces, which effectually stop the upward 

 movement of water. The disc harrow not only pulverizes lumps which 



'j#'viJJ»**^..'^-'^.**«>' 



Disc Harrow .. This Implement Is an Insurance Against I 

 Used Before and After Deep Plowing 



from Drouth if 



may be on or within three or four inches of the surface, but it chops up 

 and works into the soil stubble and all trash on the surface so that when 

 the plow turns the slice of earth, the contact is compact between the 

 plowed gi'ound and the bottom of the furrow. After the ground is 

 plowed, it should be again disced in order to insure pulverization and 

 compactness of the portion of the soil which has been turned up by the 

 plow. Again, the seed-bed should be disced and harrowed so as to alter 

 the position and condition of the soil particles in order that changes in 

 their chemical composition may be brought about by contact with each 

 other, by the action of air and water and by micro-organisms. 



Furthermore, the seed-bed should be mellow and at the same time 



