46 SKETCHES OP RURAL AFFAIRS. 



entirely unknown or but little practised, the utility of 

 the system, and the profit to be derived from it. By 

 the extension of drilling, inferior soils might soon be 

 made nearly as productive as those naturally more 

 fertile. In many cases, also, by the introduction of this 

 system, naked fallows might be abolished, where at 

 present they are unnecessarily practised ; and, by these 

 means, a treasure of solid and permanent wealth, in 

 useful and valuable produce, might be rapidly spread 

 over the whole surface of the country." 



It must also be reckoned one of the great advantages 

 of the drill system, that manure can be applied to the 

 earth in a very economical manner by the same machine 

 which sows the corn. Indeed, the use of the manure- 

 drill, and of those artificial fertilizers which are ex- 

 pressly prepared for its use, are reckoned among the 

 most important acquisitions to the upland farmer, who 

 is, perhaps, at a great distance from the supplies of 

 ordinary manure, which others obtain. The drilling- 

 machine in general use can be easily adapted to this 

 purpose by adding a manure-box to it. Within the 

 last few years, however, a great improvement has been 

 made by the use of separate coulters for manure and 

 seed. When the seed and manure were deposited at 

 the same time down one funnel, they were often closer 

 together than was desirable, especially with the more 

 powerful manures ; and it sometimes happened that 

 the manure was not deposited in its best position, which 

 is under the seed. But by the present plan, the first 

 set of coulters make a deep furrow, and the manure is 

 thus placed two or three inches deeper in the ground 

 than the seed, and also nearly a foot in advance of it, 

 so as to give the soil time to cover the manure before 

 the next coulter deposits the seed. 



The great cost of the drill- sowing machines has led 

 to a practice in some parts of the country of letting 

 them out to hire, in the same manner as thrashing- 

 machinery, &c. The owner of a drill-machine, there- 



