298 



Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



FIG. 236. Weeder with seeder attachment. 



harrowing later unnecessary, which is often too late on account of the 

 changes in the weather. The weeder and the broadcast seeders equipped 

 with cultivator covering- shovels, cover the most ground. 



For the first few rounds it is a good plan to watch carefully the 

 amount seeded; the gauge may need changing. Working crosswise to 

 the direction of the harrowing, the seed will be planted at a more uni- 

 form depth. This also applies to drills. Other points to watch are the 

 clogging of the feed cup by some foreign substance and the amount of 

 seed in the hopper. 



Drills. 



When grain drills are used for sowing alfalfa cross-drilling is com- 

 monly practiced. Due to the inaccuracy of grain drills, depth of plant- 

 ing, and space between disks, alfalfa- and grass-seed drills were put on 

 the market. These drills are similar to the grain drills, only smaller in 

 size, and need very little description. 



Single-disk furrow openers, 4 or 5 inches apart and 20 or 16 in num- 

 ber, are used. Sometimes small press wheels are attached. Both wheels 

 should drive. 



OPERATION AND CARE. Hitch so the drill will run level. 



The importance of clean seed can not be overemphasized if inaccurate 

 feeding or twist'ed feed shafts are to be guarded against (not to men- 

 tion fields free from weeds). Feed cups are not built to handle straw, 

 nails, nuts, and similar substances. 



When through for the season be sure that all feed cups are empty. 

 Oftentimes seed left in the drill germinates and causes trouble later. 

 This is applicable to all drills. 



One or two gauges are always placed on the hopper. Even if accurate 

 when new the chances are that they will not remain so. For this and 

 another reason mentioned later it is well to test the accuracy in the fol- 

 lowing manner: 



