THE WHEAT CULTURIST. 309 



forming the Y-shaped ridge on the surface of a broad thin 

 rim, say five inches wide. This style of rollers would 

 leave the surface of the ground more even, as all the 

 clods would be crushed when they are more than one 

 inch in diameter. If the periphery of the rollers were 

 of this form, the channels made by the Y-shaped ridges 

 would all be of a uniform depth ; whereas, when con- 

 structed of the present form, were the soil very mellow 

 and light, the channels would be made too deep. As 

 this roller drill deposits the kernels of grain about one 

 and a half or two inches deep, the roots of the growing 

 plants spread out nearly in a horizontal direction, more 

 in a mass, and thus withstand more effectually the influ- 

 ences of freezing and thawing of the soil, and the con- 

 sequent upheaving of the plants in the winter. 



I think that all practical wheat-growers, who under- 

 stand the habit of the wheat plant, and who appreciate 

 *the importance of having the seed put into the soil at 

 a uniform depth, will agree that this drill operates on 

 principles strictly scientific, and in perfect harmony 

 with the habit of the growth of the wheat plant. 

 "Where there are stones and roots in the soil, to prevent 

 the operation of this drill, a tube drill is preferable. 



Practical Advantages of Dkilling-in Wheat. 



There is great advantage in having seed wheat cov- 

 ered deep and uniformly in dry weather, in order to 

 insure more perfect germination. When wheat is sowed 

 broadcast and harrowed in, in dry weather, much of the 

 seed will never vegetate ; but the kernels will absorb a 

 little moisture during the night, which will all be dried 

 out during the daytime. By this alternate wetting and 



