148 SOILING CROPS AND THE SILO. 



where moisture is less than normal, the 

 germination of the seed will be much more certain if 

 sown on the level. The seed is usually sown in 

 raised drills by the ordinary turnip drill, drawn by 

 one horse. Two rows are thus sown at once. But 

 the hand drill can be used in the absence of a horse 

 drill. When sown on the level the land may be 

 marked out and the seed sown with the hand drill, or 

 it may be deposited with certain of the grain drills, 

 when driven by a driver sufficiently skilled to make 

 rows straight and evenly distant; varying widths 

 between the rows and crooked rows greatly lessen 

 the effectiveness of the subsequent cultivation. The 

 most perfect machine for doing this work has prob- 

 ably not yet been invented. The seed should be 

 buried from less than one inch to two or even more 

 in depth, according to the character of the soil and 

 climate. When sown broadcast the seed may be 

 scattered by hand, or sown with a hand grass seed 

 sower. In either instance it is covered with the 

 harrow, whether the seed is sown in drills or by 

 hand, unless when the ground is quite moist, it 

 should be rolled before and also immediately after 

 sowing the seed, to hinder evaporation near the" 

 surface. Rolling the land thus in dry weather is 

 greatly important, but there may be instances when 

 a light harrow should follow the last rolling given 

 the land. 



The quantity of seed to be sown will depend 

 upon varying conditions, usually from one to two 

 pounds per acre will suffice when the crop is grown 

 in drills. When broadcasted the quantity will vary 

 from three to five pounds per acre. The first men- 



