9 March, 1908.] A Compact and Cheap Seed Drill. 



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A COMPACT AXD CHEAP SEED DRILL FOR THE 

 SMALL HOLDER. 



A. S. Kenyan, C.E., Engineer for Agriculture. 



A good market exists for a reliable and cheap seed drill, iparticularlv 

 so in the case of maize, peas and other Large sized seeds which ai'e specially 

 the crops of the small holder. The ordinary hoe or disc drill is too ex- 

 pensive and requires considerable strength ; while it cannot be said that it 

 sows maize and similar grains as satisfactorily as might be desired. Mr. 

 Tipton, of 499 Swianston-street, Melbourne, has patented a manure and 

 seed drill combined which may be readily attached to a single or multiple 

 furrow plough or to any of the ordinary makes of cultivators. It is not 

 novel in principle unless for the manure attachment ; but is a practicable 

 appliance. Its working is controlled by a small driving wheel, provision 





A CO.Ml'ACT AND CHEAP SEED DRILL. 



being made for passing over bumps and rough ground without affecting 

 Its action. The body is divided into two compartments, one holding 

 seed and the other manure. Distributing plates of various sizes may be 

 fitted in to sow seeds of any size from lucerne to beans, and in varying 

 quantities. The amount of fertiliser is also under the control of the 

 culti\'ator who may allow it to run in every furrow, while cutting off the 

 seed for any required number of furrows so that the drills will be the 

 proper distance lapart for cultivating. The sowing of the maize grain in 

 the bottom of a furrow with the considerable cover given by the furrow 

 slice sod turned over it, is held to be good practice by many agriculturists, 

 and has in actual work given very good results both as tO' percentage of 

 germination and as to strength of growth of the young plant. For the 

 sowing of smaller seeds which is done at any desired height on the slope 

 of the previous furrow slice, it appears to give good results, the germina- 

 tion of such seeds as the millets being particularly good. 



Although as a general rule, the sowing of the seed at the same time 

 as the ground is turned over, cannot be advocated, yet for the require- 

 ments of the small holder, of the suburban dairyman and others, this 



