14 



The roots of the drilled wheat as they came from the stool of the plant were 

 double the number of those from that sown broadcast. The latter were only 

 half the length of the former; either without branches, or Avitli very weak 

 ones. But the drilled root branched once, often twice, strongly. Altogether 

 the mass of roots from the drilled wheat was, in bulk and weight, more than 

 double those from broadcast sowing. 



The roots of the drilled wheat also curved downwards, and this clearly 

 showed the source of their sap to be the uprising sub-soil moisture, for the roots 

 of plants always turn in the direction from which their sap is derived. The 

 roots of the wheat sown broadcast were in an almost horizontal direction, and 

 this direction as clearly indicates their dependence on the surface moisture 

 derived from dews and slight showers. As these in a dry fall are inadequate 

 to the AA^ants of the plant, its growth is checked, and winter finds it unable to 

 endure the cold. The surface roots are soon laid bare, many entirely so, some 

 still have a feeble hold by the ends of one or more of the roots, and there is 

 scarcely a plant but can be raised up from the place of its growth, whilst the 

 drilled-in wheat presents a plant firmly fixed and immovable. 



2. To have an equal growth each plant should have an equal space in the 

 soil. Drilling gives this, but in broadcast sowing some places receive too much 

 seed, others too little. It collects in furrows and holes, leaving ridges and all 

 the higher parts nearly naked. Crowded roots obtaining but a weak growth, 

 possess so little vitality that an intense cold kills them in the ground, and the 

 first thawing and freezing brings most of them on the surface of the soil 

 to perish. 



3. Incidental to drill sowing is the fact that the ridges made by the drill 

 teeth lie considerably above the crown of the plant. These settle down, from 

 the winter freezing and rains, around the plant, covering that part of the roots 

 nearest the surface. This protection is not found in broadcast sowing. 



4. Although in the United States spring cultivation of wheat is unpracticed, 

 except when harrowed in a few cases, yet, as in England, so it will be here, 

 when labor is more abundant ; it will be found highly advantageous to run a 

 cultivator between the drilled rows, to loosen the soil, that weeds may be 

 desti'oyed, cracks closed, and such pulverization and depth of soil had as will 

 enable the roots to more rapidly enlarge. Such cultivation could not be given 

 to wheat plants sown broadcast. 



Thus Ave have these four things from wliich the superiority of the drill may 

 be readily inferred. And it is the first three of these which have led to the 

 general expression in behalf of drill sowing, which Ave find in the foregoing 

 extracts from the letters of correspondents. 



It remains only to add, that in portions of the United States, as in the eastern 

 States, where the fields of Avheat are small, and, in consequence, each farmer 

 does not Avish to incur the expense of a drill, it would be found advantageous 

 for farmers either to club together in the purchase of one, or ^se to hire the 

 drilling of their fields, as in many places in the west it is done, in past years 

 at from 40 to 50 cents per acre. The seed saved Avill almost pay for the drilling. 



STATE OF THE FOEEIGN GRAIN MARKETS AND CROPS. 



The state of the foreign grain markets, as influenced by the foreign crops, 

 is, at this time of the year, Avhen the foreign harvests are just completed, a mat- 

 ter of much interest to our farmers and dealers in produce. We therefore take 

 from leading English papers the following statements of the harA'ests, as they 

 progressed during the month of September in Great Britain, 



The Mark Lane Express of September 5 says : 



" Potatoes here have been much lessened in quantity, the bulk this year being 

 small, though generally healthy. Prices yet rule high compared Avith wheat. 



