182 SOILS AND PLANT LIFE 



120. Preparing a Seed Bed in Sod Ground. — If sod 



ground is to be prepared for corn, it should be (1) plowed 

 in the fall unless it is badly needed for fall pasture ; (2) al- 

 lowed to crumble and disintegrate tlirough the -ndnter 

 (Exercise 15) ; (3) disced well early in the spring ; (4) 

 disced and harrowed thoroughly and repeatedly later 

 when getting the seed bed ready for planting ; and finally 

 (5) harrowed until the ground is finely pulverized. 



Fig. so. — Getting the ground ready for corn. 



The advantages of fall plomng of sod, which should be 

 rough, or ridged, not .smooth, are : 



(fl) Crumbling and disintegration, due to freezing and 

 thawing, can take place. 



(6) There is ample time for decay, which makes plant 

 food available. 



(c) This disintegration and decay tend to restore capil- 

 lary connection so that moisture can rise more freely from 

 below. 



(d) The hibernating quarters of many injurious insects 

 are destroyed. 



