FARMER'S ASSISTANT. r* 



Lots for tillage should always be square, or at least of 

 equal sides; those for mowing or pasture may be irregular f 

 without any inconvenience. 



DRESSING. A dressing differs from a manuring only 

 in this, that the former is intended merely for one crop^ 

 while the latter is intended for several. Some dressings, 

 such as gypsum, ashes, salt, Sec are to be laid on the soil ; 

 ethers again, such as composts, 8cc. are to be slightly buri- 

 ed in it, and mixed with its surface. 



DRILL. A machine for sowing seeds, by opening one 

 r more furrows, at proper distances from each other, of a 

 depth suitable to the seed to be sown, and at the same time 

 droping the seeds, and covering them, all at one opera- 

 tion. It is to be drawn by one or more Horses, according 

 to its size ; or it may be drawn by hand, or pushed for- 

 ward, something similar to the manner of pushing a wheel- 

 barrow, where a small machine for drilling a row at a time 

 is to be used. 



Of this latter description may be those for drilling in the 

 seeds of Indian corn, beans, turnips, onions, and generally 

 all seeds which may be cultivated in rows, or drills, to 

 advantage, and which have seeds of such shape as can be 

 properly droped at suitable distances with this implement 

 of husbandry. 



Where wheat, or other grain, that is usually sown in 

 the broadcast, is to be drilled, the implement for the pur- 

 pose is to be of such dimensions as that several rows are 

 drilled in at once. Mr. Rutherford makes mention ot one 

 used in Newjersey, for drilling in wheat in rows, at the 

 distance of about thirteen inches between each, which is 

 drawn by two Horses, and with which about eight acres 

 may be drilled in a day. 



The cost of this drill he states to be about ten dollars 5 

 and he adds, that, where the seed is drilled in with this 

 machine, less seed is requisite, and a larger crop is to be 

 expected. 



It is certain, that as much as one-third of the seed may 

 be saved by drilling in wheat, and some other grains, which 

 are usually sown in the broadcast; but we are not so confi- 

 dent, that an increase of crop, to any essential amount, is to 

 be expected from this method of commiting wheat to the 

 earth ; as we do not find this insisted on by the agricultural 

 Writers in Greatbritain, where the drilling-husbandry is 

 well understood. 



Still, however, the effects of drilling in wheat may be 

 found more advantageous here, than in that Country; and, 

 at all events, the mere saving of seed will ap>ply repay the 



