56 AGRICULTURE. 



because small seeds will not vegetate at a depth 

 greater than three inches. 



III. The Roller is a cylinder of heavy wood, turn- 

 ing on gudgeons or on an axle, and placed in a 

 frame, to which is attached a shaft ; it is of differ- 

 ent dimensions, but need not exceed that which 

 may be drawn by one, or, at most, by two horses or 

 oxen. This instrument is indispensable in good 

 husbandry, yet it is rarely used in ours. Its offi- 

 ces are threefold ; to render loose soil more com- 

 pact, to break the clods on stiff ones, and, on both, 

 to compress the earth after seeding, so that it be 

 everywhere brought in contact with the grain. It is 

 also usefully employed in reinstating the roots of 

 meadow grasses, loosened and raised by the alter- 

 nate freezing and thawing of the ground, and, with 

 a similar view, may be passed over winter crops 

 early h} the spring. 



Its clod-breaking and pulverizing property is 

 much increased by surrounding the roller with nar- 

 row bands of iron, two inches broad, three inches 

 thick, and six inches apart ; or by studding it with 

 iron points resembling harrow teeth, and projecting 

 three or four inches. 



IV. The Threshing-machine is of English inven- 

 tion, and may be well enough adapted to the taste 

 and circumstances of rich amateurs, but not at all 

 to those of farmers in general. Our objections to 

 it are three : the first cost, which is great ; the 

 quantum of moving power employed, which is equal 

 to that of six horses ; and the number of hands re- 

 quired to attend it, which is not less than four.* 

 We have seen, in France, a machine for the same 

 purpose, but of much simpler structure, called the 

 *' Rouleau de depiquer" which is only a fluted cylin- 

 der ; yet, simple and cheap as this was, it could not 



* This opinion of the value of the threshing-machine will, 

 we presume, meet with but little favour among our wheat 

 farmers. 



