ARID AGRICULTURE. 



65 



of securing i nun unity from destruction by this 

 disease. * 



PLANTING 

 THE CROP 



THE PRESS 



DRIZ.I. 



Good seed, good land and good farming re- 

 quire good planting. Special machines for 

 planting are as important as plows or other im- 

 plements for preparing the ground. Grain sown 

 broad cast or potatoes planted by hand are at the 

 risk of the farmer and at the best can be ex- 

 pected to give only indifferent returns. Grain 

 that is broad casted and harrowed or cultivated 

 to cover, is never well planted. The work is all 

 unevenly done. Some of the seed is covered too 

 deep some not deep enough the soil is not 

 packed around the seed the plants do not have 

 the advantages of light, air and the cultivation 

 ilioy get in the drill rows. 



The press drill is an essential implement for 

 the dry fanner and will pay for itself in a single 

 season on any average sized farm of the West. It 

 plants the grain evenly, at a proper depth, puts 

 it in contact with moist soil and presses the soil 

 around the seed in a way which secures quick 

 and strong germination of the seed and the best 

 early growth of the seedling plants. A week or 

 ten days is gained in the season by this prompt 

 germination and quick growth. There is a large 

 saving of seed which is an important item. Forty 

 pounds of seed press-drilled is equal to sixty 

 pounds sown broadcast, a saving of 33 per cent. 



