174 MARKET GARDENING. 



running over the surface of the ground, and in others 

 the dropping is accomplished by raising a lever at the 

 required distance^ by hand or by wires. Fertilizers are 

 also dropped in the rows by special attachments. 



Hand Corn Droppers are also extensively, used, 

 and there are many patterns of these machines. One of 

 the best is Fisk's Automatic ; it weighs between four and 

 five pounds, and is said to plant in all kinds and condi- 

 tions of soil as fast as a one-horse drill. 



Broadcast Seed Sowers, for sowing all kinds of 

 grain, grass and clover seeds, are made to operate by 

 hand or horse power. The hand machines are capable of 

 sowing from four to six acres per hour, and the horse 

 machines much more. The hand machines will cover a 

 swath of from fifteen to thirty-six feet, according to 

 weight of the seed being sown, the lighter seeds carrying 

 the lesser and the heavy seeds the greater distance. The 

 power machine will carry a little wider swath. They are 

 arranged to be attached to any ordinary farm wagon. 

 The Pearce's Improved Gaboon machine is believed to be 

 the best, but there are several other approved machines. 



The Potato Planter. — This is one of the most 

 important additions to modern agricultural machinery. 

 The old mode of droj^ping the potato cuttings, piece by 

 piece, is a very slow and laborious operation, and on large 

 areas is almost prohibitory. The introduction of the 

 planters have changed all this. They are being intro- 

 duced into all sections and seem to give universal satis- 

 faction. One man with a machine and team can plant 

 from six to eight acres per day. The machine can be set 

 to plant from ten to twenty-six inches apart in the drills, 

 the depth of planting being regulated by the driver. 

 The marking out, plowing furrow, dropping potato seed, 

 either whole or in pieces, drilling fertilizer and covering, 

 all constitute one operation. 



Rollers — Field and garden rollers are used at all 

 seasons whpJi the soil is not wet, to crush clods and com- 



