SEEDING IMPLEMENTS 111 



abundant tillering, especially in the drier and warmer soils. 



215. Seeding Implements. Oats are now sown with a 

 broadcast seeder or with the grain drill. Up to a few years 

 ago large acreages of oats and of other grains were sown broad- 

 cast by hand and the seed covered with the disk harrow, 

 spike-tooth harrow, or cultivator. This practice is still quite 

 common in some sections, except that the broadcast seeder 

 has been substituted for the old method of scattering the 

 seed by hand. Seeding with the grain drill is usually re- 

 garded as the most profitable and satisfactory method of sow- 

 ing oats, for all the seed is covered to a uniform depth, less 

 seed is required, and the yields are usually better. Uniform 

 depth of covering is an aid to uniform germination and 

 growth; in broadcast seeding, some of the seed may not be 

 covered at all, some may be at the best depth, and some may 

 be covered too deeply. Less seed is required for sowing with 

 the drill, since there is no loss from seed which fails to grow 

 on account of too much or too Httle covering. The yield is 

 usually better on account of the more uniform stand and 

 growth and the more uniform distribution of the plants. It 

 is claimed that drilling produces two to six bushels more 

 per acre than broadcasting. 



216. The proper depth to cover the seed depends to some 

 extent on the nature of the soil and the climatic conditions. 

 Seed should be covered somewhat more deeply in loose, 

 sandy soil than in compact clays or clay loams. In semi- 

 arid regions where the surface soil is likely to diy out, deeper 

 seeding is necessary than where plenty of moisture is avail- 

 able. In general, covering to a depth of from 1 to 2 inches 

 will give best results. 



217. Harrowing. Harrowing oats after they are up is 

 often recommended as a means of saving moisture by break- 

 ing the crust and lessening evaporation, and also as a means 

 of destroying weeds. Harrowing is most profitable in the 

 drier portions of the country, and on. drilled oats. Harrow- 



