to CULTURE OF ANNUAL PLANTS. Part L 



each of the twelve. Drive a peg into each of thefe holes : then, in 

 that fort of ground vv^here you intend to plant, make a row of twenty 

 holes with the half-inch gauge; put therein twenty good feeds; cover 

 them up, and (lick the gauge at the end of that row ; then do the 

 like with all the other eleven gauges : this will determine the depth 

 at which the moft feeds will come up, and the drill mufl be fet ac- 

 cordingly. 



A R T I C L E IL 



Of the quantity of Seed proper to be fawn. 



1 T frequently happens in fowing by hand, that one handful is larger 

 •*■ than another ; that the grains being fmaller, the fower takes a 

 greater number of them into his hand. If the field is rough and 

 full of clods, the greateft part of the feed is colledled in the hollows, 

 whilft but little remains on the higher parts. By this means the 

 feed is diftributed very unequally. 



Befides, too much feed is employed in the common way of fow- 

 ing : becaufe, as it is buried at different depths, what is buried too 

 deep, does not rife at all ; whilft that which remains uncovered, is 

 eat by birds. 



Thefe inconveniencies are prevented by the drill. For, i. It 

 makes the furrows at any diftance you pleafe, and at whatever depth 

 experience hath fhewn to be moft proper for the feed that is fown. 

 2. As the drill fills all the furrows with earth, none of the grain 

 remains uncovered. 3. The drill drops into each furrow the exadt 

 quantity of feed that is found to be moft proper. 



Every feed is therefore placed fo properly in the earth, by means 

 of the drill, that we may depend they will all do well, unlefs they 

 are hurt by infers. 



But as the drill fows only the quantity of feed that is abfolutely 

 neceffary, one ought to be certain of the growth of every grain j 

 becaufe it often happens, that part of the feed is imperfedl, and 

 does not fprout at all. As the eye cannot diftinguilh its quality, 

 we fhould affure ourfelves of it by experiment, by fowing fifty or an 

 hundred grains taken by chance, but exactly numbred ; and, when 

 they fpring up, the number of plants will fhew whether a tenth, a 

 fixth, or a third part be deficient, and the quantity of that which 

 is fown fliould be increafed accordingly. 



It is farther propofed to fow the feeds in rows. Thefe rows 

 ihould be fingle, double, triple, or quadruple, according to the 



different 



