Preparation of Seed-Bed and Planting - 105 
beets. When left undisturbed for a number of years, the 
soil becomes compact and is not in the best condition for 
crop growth. It is necessary, therefore, to loosen it by 
the use of some tillage implement, preferably the plow. 
In cultivating the soil to improve tilth, attention must 
be given to the amount of moisture present. A soil 
plowed when too wet will become more compact than it 
was before plowing. 
Plowing should mean more than the mere turning over 
of the soil. If plowing is well done, every clod will be 
shattered and every particle have its relation to every 
other particle changed through the shearing action that 
should take place when the plowed slice is turned over. 
As the soil falls into the furrow, it should be a granular 
mellow mass of loose particles. The kind of plow that 
will best produce this condition varies with each soil. 
Sand or loam may be made mellow with any kind of plow, 
but a heavy clay without organic matter can be given a 
good tilth only when every condition is favorable. 
jf Organic matter accumulates at the surface of any soil 
that is cropped. In the orchard, leaves fall; in the grain 
field, stubble is left after harvest; and in meadows that 
are to be followed by another crop, a sod must be turned 
under. These plant residues cannot decompose readily if left 
at the surface; they need to be turned underand mixed with 
the soil in order to decay and give up their plant-foods as 
well as to assist in making available the mineral matter 
of the soil. Farm manure is constantly being applied 
to the land, and must be covered and mixed with the soil 
if itis to do the most good. Practically all of this cover- 
ing must be done with some kind of plow, although the 
