238 Our Farming. 



In regard to use of seed-sower, I do not measure the distance 

 at ends, but pace off seven paces for clover and five and one-half 

 for timothy. It is well, however, for one to examine the seed on 

 the ground before deciding just how wide to sow. Difference in 

 speed and weight or plumpness of seed will make a difference in 

 the cast. I have a large tin pail, holding about seven gallons, 

 that I empty my seed into from the bags, and have a quart dipper 

 in it. Then, beforehand, I estimate how much land I will sow 

 in once passing through field and back. I measure seed into the 

 machine, and w r hen I get back, can tell just how much per acre 

 I have put on, and change to put on more or less, as need be. 

 Then, afterwards, I can measure in just a little more than enough 

 to go down and back each time. A little skill will save one from 

 carrying an unnecessary amount of seed. It is hard enough work 

 without carrying a pound more than one wants. If a field was 

 very long, it might pay to have seed at each end. In sowing 

 Hungarian or millet seed, I would do this on my farm, as it takes 

 much more per acre. 



I raised a good many tons of Hungarian when keeping stock. 

 It makes good hay and is an excellent crop to precede wheat. It 

 used to pay me far better than raising oats, and then it is a good 

 crop to put on the sod. If I kept stock now and did not want to 

 raise corn and potatoes on my clover sod, I could grow Hun- 

 garian nicely, and then seed to clover again with wheat. As a 

 feed, it has seemed to me fully equal to timothy hay for cows. 

 Horses did not like it as well. It must be cut in bloom to make 

 the best hay. There are several good reasons for liking this crop. 

 It can be put in later than oats. That is one great objection to 

 oats, that one is apt to work the ground too early for them before 

 it is dry enough. In this latitude, Hungarian should not be put 

 in before last of May or first of June. (I have put it in as late as 

 July 4.) Then the soil is apt to be settled and dry, and the thor- 

 ough tillage which is needed does much good. It grows very 

 quickly. Fifty-five or sixty days from sowing, if it gets a good 

 start and is not sown too early before weather gets warm, it is 

 ready to cut. Then there is plenty of time to prepare the ground 

 properly for wheat. It is not a difficult crop to cure. On good 

 land it will yield three tons per acre, easily. For myself, I prefer 

 the Hungarian to the other varieties of millet. 



The soil should be very finely pulverized for Hungarian. 

 The seeds are small. No crop needs a more thorough prepara- 

 tion in order to do well. I used to roll and harrow alternately 

 until the land was about as fine as it could be got. Of course, 

 this must be done when quite dry or it would do harm. When 

 dry, you can hardly overdo in preparing for Hungarian. I have 

 raised a good deal of it, and always had good success, and the 

 secret you now have. My next neighbor once wanted me to put 

 a piece of four or five acres in .on shares for him. I declined, 



