PREPARING THE SEED BED 25 
stored in the additional growth of clover. This plan igs very 
satisfactory if there be sufficient rainfall during May and 
June. In the case of a dry summer, the clover will have 
already used up a large part of the moisture stored in the 
soil so that there is but little left for the corn. Our own 
experience with early and late plowed clover sod showed a 
difference in the yield of corn of nearly thirty bushels in 
favor of the early plowing. This was in the spring of 1911. 
In 1911 there was ample rainfall during May and the first 
half of June. As a result, late plowed clover sod made a 
good showing. This year (1913) has been hot and dry, and 
corn planted on late plowed sod has been almost a failure, 
while some early spring plowed clover sods have made as high 
as seventy bushels. 
PREPARATION OF PLOWED GROUND BEFORE PLANTING 
An ideal seed bed, as stated in the beginning of this 
chapter, should be aérated and not run together. At the 
same time, the soil particles should be compressed closely 
around the seed in order to insure quick and even germina- 
tion. A maximum amount of moisture should be conserved 
in the subsoil by having a shallow dust mulch on the surface. 
Last, but not least in importance, a large number of weed 
seed would have sprouted, and all that show on the surface 
should be killed immediately before planting. When the 
greater part of the weeds are killed before planting and the 
seed bed is moist and free from clods it can safely be said 
that the crop is half provided for. 
Since the method of preparing the seed bed is determined 
largely by the local condition of soil and climate, we shall not 
attempt to give general directions for working the ground 
which might apply to one farm but not to another. Instead, 
we shall outline the methods followed on our own farms. 
