Preparing a Seed Bed With Modern Machinery, S. Dak.

The first thing to be looked to on the farm is proper drainage. The next in order is the fertility of the soil. With these two requirements met, the actual cultivation of the land begins. Deep ploughing is essential for the proper rooting of the crops, and for their later cultivation. When the ground is plowed, or "broken up," as it is called, the making of the seed bed follows. A good seed bed, even in the loamiest ground, can be made only by cultivation. If the field has been in grass the year previous, the sod should be cut into bits. The best machine for this is the disc harrow. But the disc leaves the ground in ridges, and a seed bed should be smooth. The disc should be followed by a leveler. Some farmers use drags or floats, but drags should be used only where there is scant rainfall. Otherwise, heavy rains will pack the over-leveled surface so the young plants have difficulty in breaking through the surface crust. The best leveler is the toothed harrow. This farmer is well equipped with tools. He has all the power he needs in his tractor. His disc will cut the soil several inches deep, and thoroughly pulverize it. The toothed harrow makes the surface level without packing it. The disc harrow is made up of sharp steel rotating discs that do their work by cutting. The toothed harrow is a steel frame with sharp spikes bolted to it. This harrow is merely dragged over the ground. Levers on it allow the teeth to be set to various slants that regulate the depth the teeth cut. The "tooth" harrow is made in sections. Three of these are here being used side by side. When ground has been worked in the manner shown, a good seed bed results. Whatever is sown will grow rapidly. Keystone ID: 16734 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.