ADVANTAGE OF DRILL SOWING. 155 



is not only uniformly distributed, but may be sown in 

 drills, which has some decided advantages over broad cast 

 sowing, especially for wheat. Winter wheat sown in the 

 drill is less likely to be thrown out by the frosts, because 

 it is more uniformly covered and better rooted. 



501. Any concentrated manure may be put into the 

 ground with the seed, and the growth of the plant may 

 thus be promoted. A larger yield is secured in propor 

 tion to the quantity of seed sown, and a larger yield per 

 acre. Drill sowing, or sowing in rows, also allows culti 

 vation by a machine admirably adapted to this purpose, 

 if the crop needs it, during the early part of its growth. 



502. When seeds of any kind are sown broad cast by 

 hand, they may be covered by the plough, the harrow, the 

 cultivator or the roller. The larger seeds, like Indian 

 corn, are usually dropped by hand and covered with the 

 hoe, but they may be dropped and covered by seed sowers 

 made expressly for the purpose. When a large extent 

 of land is to be planted the machine is far more economi 

 cal. Indeed, it is often necessary to use it to save time 

 and labor. Seed sowers are used only on land properly 

 prepared by ploughing, manuring and harrowing. They 

 are made to drop the seed either in hills or in rows, 

 according to the wish of the farmer. 



503. If the machine is not used the ground is first 

 prepared by ploughing and harrowing, and furrowed three 

 or four feet apart, according to the kind of corn to be 

 planted, with a light horse-plough ; the manure is dropped 

 in the hills at suitable distances, and the seed then dropped 

 upon it by hand and covered with the hoe. 



504. It is generally found best, especially on late lands, 

 to spread and plough in a part of the manure, and to 

 drop the remainder in the hills. The manure in the hills 



14* 



