The Agricultural Papers of George Washington 55 



of holes, and those adapted for the planting of Indian corn, 

 only eight inches apart in the row ; but, by corking these, the 

 same barrel may receive others, of a size fitted for any other 

 grain. To make the holes, observe this rule; begin small 

 and increase the size, till they admit the number of grains, 

 or thereabouts, you would choose to deposit in a place. They 

 should be burnt, and done by a gauge, that all may be of a 

 size, and made widest on the outside, to prevent the seeds 

 choking them. You may, in a degree, emit more or less 

 through the same holes, by increasing or lessening the quan 

 tity of seed in the barrel. The less there is in it, the faster it 

 issues. The compressure is increased by the quantity, and 

 the discharge is retarded thereby. The use of the band is 

 to prevent the seeds issuing out of more holes than one at a 

 time. It may be slackened or braced according to the influ 

 ence the atmosphere has on the leather. The tighter it is, 

 provided the wheel revolves easily, the better. By decreas 

 ing or multiplying the holes in the barrel, you may plant at 

 any distance you please. The circumference of the wheels 

 being six feet, or seventy-two inches, divide the latter by the 

 number of inches you intend your plants shall be asunder, and 

 it gives the number of holes required in the barrel. 



By the sparse situation of the teeth in the harrow, it is 

 designed that the ground may be raked without the harrow be 

 ing clogged, if the ground should be cloddy or grassy. The 

 string, when this happens to be the case, will raise and clear 

 it with great ease, and is of service in turning at the ends of 

 rows ; at which time the wheels, by means of handles, are 

 raised off the ground, as well as the harrow, to prevent the 

 waste of seed. A small bag, containing about a peck of the 

 seed you are sowing, is hung to the nails on the right handle, 

 and with a small tin cup the barrel is replenished with con 

 venience, whenever it is necessary, without loss of time, or 



