Alfalfa in Kansas. 299 



Jack up the machine so the wheels do not rest on the ground. Place 

 seed in the hopper; set the gauge at a certain amount per acre, and 

 then turn one of the wheels for 200 revolutions. Catch the seed in paper 

 sacks, and then weigh. If the cups sow at different rates it will be shown 

 up at this time, and then the necessary steps can be taken to remedy 

 the difficulty. 



The following example explains more clearly how the test is carried 

 on: t 



Conditions: 16 by 5 drill; 40-inch wheel; gauge set to sow 15 pounds 

 to the acre; wheels are turned 200 revolutions. The amount collected in 

 the sacks will be a certain part of the 15 pounds. The amount that 

 should be collected can be calculated thus: 



Circumference in feet = diameter of wheel in feet X 3 1 /?. 



= 40 y 2 x 3y 7 . 



= 10.5 feet.* 



Remember that the wheels were turned 200 times. 



Distance gone = circumference X 200. 



= 10.5 X 200 = 2100 feet. 



Width of ground seeded = number of disk X distance apart. 

 = 16 X 6. 

 = 80 inches, or 6% feet. 



Area in sq. ft. seeded = width seeded X distance gone. 

 = 6.67 X 2100. 



Per cent of an acre seeded = area seeded X 100. 



= 14,000 sq. ft. in an acre X 100. 

 - 14,000 X 100 - 32.2%. 



43,560 



As this per cent of an acre was covered, only 32.2 per cent of 15 

 pounds should be found in the sacks : 



32.2 X 15 = 4.83 pounds. 

 4.83 

 16 (number of furrow openers) = .302 pounds per feed cup. 



If the amount obtained in the test varies from this by an appreciable 

 amount it will be well to repeat the test and then set the gauge lever, 

 making the proper allowance. 



Drills are often used to reseed bare spots and old fields. 



The flute-feed grain drills can be adapted by shutting off the feed 

 entirely or almost so. On the double-run feed-cup type, reducers for de- 

 creasing the size of the opening are added. Such use of grain drills has 

 already been commented upon. 



It is necessary to keep all bearings oiled, boots and scrapers adjusted 

 properly, and to clean out the bearing if the disk fails to turn easily, and, 

 if need be, to replace with a new bearing. The spring tension on furrow 

 openers should be kept uniform. Never use the drill with a few of the 

 disks running deeper than the others. 



Without doubt the alfalfa- and grass-seed drill is best, but it is too ex- 

 pensive for small fields. Grain drills are next, probably, in point of use, 



* Slide-rule calculation. * 



