FIELD ROOT CROPS. 



117 



three ribbers attached to the frame of the stiff -tooth 

 subsoiler. This effects a great saving in labor. 

 One difficulty in using the ribbing attachment for 

 making drills for hoe crops is in keeping them 

 straight and even, which is important to the proper 

 regulation of the horse hoe (scuffler). See III. 6j. 

 This may be overcome by uncoupling the pole at 

 the castor wheel, and instead of the horses guiding 

 the drillers they are kept in place by the use of a 

 lever. See III. 6i. This is a ver>' useful implement. 

 It is first a subsoiler, second a stiff-tooth cultivator, 

 third a spring-tooth cultivator, fourth a ribber, 

 fifth a driller for making drills for mangels, turnips, 

 etc., also for opening drills for potatoes and covering 

 same three drills at a time. 



In making drills, have the mould-boards set 

 wide, so that the furrows will meet at the top, with- 

 out going deep, as the composition of the drills 

 should mainly be rotted sod and farm manure, which 

 makes a complete composition for growing roots 

 and com. The drills for m angel- wurzels and other 

 field roots should be twenty-eight or thirty inches 

 wide. The quantity of mangel-wurzels and sugar- 

 beet seed advisable to sow is four pounds per acre. 

 Less seed will do, but in order that there should be 

 no blank spaces it is better to sow plenty of seed. 

 With carrots, three pounds per acre is quite sufficient. 



As soon as the drills become dry after sowing, 

 roll them with a heavy land roller. This will assist 

 capillary action, so that the moisture from below 

 will rise to the surface. Then, to prevent evapora- 

 tion, the surface must be loosened. A very satisfac- 

 tory implement for this work is the Breed 

 weeder, which will cover four drills. It is advis- 

 able to raise the two teeth (about two inches) which 

 come in the centre of each drill, so that the seed 



Making Drills, 

 and Sowing 

 Field Roots. 



Cultivation 

 After Sowing to 

 Cause Soluble 

 Plant Food. 



