224 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



&quot; The shafts are readily altered and attached to any part of 

 the frame, so that the horses may either walk in the furrow, or 

 in any direction, to avoid injury to the crop. 



&quot; Each hoe, or each pair of hoes, works on a lever independ 

 ent of the others ; so that no part of the surface to be cut, however 

 uneven, can escape ; and in order to accommodate this imple 

 ment to the consolidated earth of the wheat crop, and also the 

 more loosened top of spring grain, roots, &c., the hoes are pressed 

 in by different weights being hung upon the ends of each lever, 

 and adjusted by keys or chains, to prevent their going beyond 

 the proper depth. 



&quot; That which has hitherto been an objection to the general 

 use of the horse-hoe, in this is avoided by adopting a mode of 

 readily shifting the hoes, on a plan similar to that of the steerage 

 adopted in drills, so that the hoes may be guided to the greatest 

 nicety. This implement is so constructed that the hoes may be 

 set to a width varying from seven inches to any wider space ; 

 the inverted hoes are preferred, when the distance between the 

 rows is sufficient to admit a pair of them ; otherwise, triangular 

 or arrow-shaped hoes may be substituted, or any other form that 

 may be considered best for the purpose. 



&quot; Two points in this hoe are worthy particular notice j the 

 one being that the blades of the hoes are made entirely of steel, 

 and are attached to the stalks so readily that, as they may 

 become damaged or worn out, they may be replaced, by the 

 operator, without difficulty ; the other, that the position of the 

 frame admits of easy adjustment, so that, according to the tex 

 ture of the soil, the cutting edges of the hoes may assume a 

 position more or less inclining to the work.&quot;* 



Wheat is drilled when it is sown in a continuous line, and in 

 general the distance of these drills or rows from each other is 

 about nine inches. A greater width is preferred by some persons. 

 When the ground is marked out by a seam-presser, as before 

 described, the seed then comes up in continuous rows, as if it 

 were sown by a drill-machine ; but there are several machines in 

 operation expressly for the drilling of wheat and for depositing, 

 at the same time, in the drill, such fine manure as it may be de 

 sired to sow with the grain. Indeed, to such perfection have 



* Ransome s Implements of Agriculture. 



