312 



THE WHEAT CTJLTUKIST. 



FIG. 46. Wheat Drilled In. 



age the roots ; nor will it cause perceptible diminution 

 of the crop. 



The accompanying illustration will furnish a practi- 

 cal illustration of the mode and advantages of putting in 



wheat with a drill. 

 It will be per- 

 ceived that the 

 ears of grain are 

 of a uniform size, 

 and all the straws 

 are of a uniform 

 height. The fig- 

 ure shows some of 

 ad vantages of drill- 

 ing-in the seed, 

 just as those points 

 are seen in a field 



of growing wheat. The drilled grain, figure 45, being 

 deposited at a sufficient and uniform depth to receive 

 the moisture and the nourishment of the soil, comes up 

 more uniformly at one time, is better fed and nourished, 

 stands a drought much better, grows more vigorously, 

 ripens earlier and more uniformly, is not so liable to 

 rust, and the heads are larger and better filled. 



When seed grain is drilled in, one man will complete 

 the operation, by simply going over the ground once. 

 If sowed broadcast, the ground must be harrowed twice 

 : after the seed is sowed. This, in addition to the time 

 consumed in sowing the seed by hand, will require about 

 three times longer than is necessary to drill it in. More- 

 over, the drill, if properly made and adjusted, will de- 

 posit every kernel at a uniform depth ; whereas, the 

 harrow covers some of the seed too deep, some not deep 



