r»4u THE FARMERS' handbook. 



Quantity of Seed. 



The quantity of seed applied varies widely with the method and the 

 district. In the Richmond River district heavy seeding, 15 lb. to 20 lb. per 

 acre, i> strongly nrnmmended. In the regular lucerne districts of the State 

 from 12 lb. to 15 lb., and even 20 lb., per acre is applied, and the hand- 

 broadcaster, known as the "fiddle/'" is employed. For dry districts, such 

 as the Eiverina, 10 lb. to 12 lb. will be found ample if evenly applied. 



It is not wise to run the risk of a thin crop through a little parsimony in 

 seeding. It is all-important, with a permanent crop such as lucerne, that a 

 good stand should be obtained at the outset. Re-seeding cannot be done 

 without again breaking up the land, and this means that a year or more is 

 lost. If re-seeding is not done, the yields are permanently affected through 

 the poor stand. Attempts are sometimes made to remedy unsatisfactory 

 stands by sowing further seed, but they are seldom successful. The soil is 

 not in a receptive condition, and what plants do grow have to contend with 

 established vigorous plants. 



At the same time it is a mistake to endeavour to remedy defects in pre- 

 paration, or in the state of the soil, by heavier seeding. Favourable con- 

 ditions are required to promote germination and to help the young plant, 

 and seeding should only be done after they have been obtained. If the 

 ground should happen to be dry at seeding-time, heavier seeding will not 

 secure a proper stand. 



Machines for Sowing. 



Farmers generally prefer to broadcast the seed where the area is small, 

 but sowing through the grass seed attachment of the wheat drill is a useful 

 method when the area is larger. 



A method of sowing that is well suited for wheat districts is to mix 

 thoroughly 70 lb. of superphosphate with 10 lb. to 12 lb. of lucerne seed, 

 put the mixture into the manure-box of an ordinary seed drill, and set the 

 drill to sow about 80 lb. of manure per acre. The discs or hoes of the drill 

 should not be set into the soil too deeply. Some drills, especially when new, 

 cannot be set to a shallower depth than 14 to 2 inches ; in such a case a good 

 plan to follow is not to set the lever of the drill into the first notch, but 

 to let it dangle. The cogs of the drill will be in gear, but the hoes will not 

 go down as deeply as if the lever had been set into the first notch. In this 

 way the seed will be sown about | inch deep. Special care must be taken 

 not to fill the manure-box right up. Not more than sufficient seed and 

 manure for 1 acre — i.e., about 80 lb. — should be put into the drill at one 

 time, and this should be stirred up occasionally to prevent the seeds rising to 

 the top of the manure. In order that the seed may be thoroughly covered, 

 it is advisable to either improvise a brush harrow at the back of the drill, 

 or to harrow with light poppy harrows after the sowing. 



A fine, level, rolled surface is required for sowing. The seed must be 

 covered not more than 2 inches deep, nor less than half an inch, and to 

 secure this, fineness is essential. An even distribution of the seed is 

 required, and although some men are sufficientlv expert to obtain it by hand- 

 towing, such a method is not recommended. Many good machines are avail- 

 able which do the work satisfactorily. 



If a farmer is compelled to resort to hand-broadcasting, half the seed 

 should be sown in one direction across the paddock, and the other half at 

 right angles across the first cast, so that strips missed the first time will 

 receive some seed. Select a calm day or early morning, as it is hard tc- 

 distribute the seed evenly on a choppy, windy day. 



