Heating The Logs
The log beds are the one that I remember best. They were made ready by laying small cut logs end to end until they were about one hundred feet long and about ten feet apart. Then seasoned logs were first stacked on the small logs running the width of the bed,(the over-all dimension was about 12x12x4) then some less-seasoned ones were used as to build a very hot fire. After the fire had been burning a while and the ground was well heated, the logs were rolled to another section of the bed. This process was repeated until the length of the bed was covered, burning out all undesired seeds from the ground.

Rolling The Logs
Rolling the logs took some doing. As they were rolled the intense heat would burn one's face and clothes. Taking short breaks helped cool off before another roll. This would best be done at night, the fire gave light to work by and the heat from the burning logs kept the workers warm. After the fire died out, the plant bed was left until the next day or so. Then the ground would be cleared of all trash before plowing and seeding.

Sowing The Seed
The very small seed would be mixed with fine sifted ashes from the burned logs and broadcast over the entire plant bed. In a short time new poles were laid end to end to make a one hundred foot plant bed.

After the seed were sowed a cloth-canvas-like "cheese cloth" was used to cover the bed to keep the seed and plants warm until the temperature warmed up enough to uncover the plants when they were well established. When the season was right and the fields ready, the plants would be pulled and tied in small bundles, to be set in the fields and gardens. In the early spring, these long plant beds could be seen running along the hillssides of most small farms in Adair County. That the way we did it in the mid 1940s.