THE GENESEE FARMER. 



39 



I 



THE USE OF THE DRILL. 



I HAVE used for the past two seasons the Drill for 

 putting in the most of my wheat crops. Having 

 come to the conclusion that the principle of drilling 

 was the preferable mode of sowing grain, I, in the 

 fall of 184H, hired a drill of Rapaljke &, Briggs, 

 Rochester, one of Pennock's Patent. I did this for 

 the purpose of experiment. It was the first drill used 

 in this vicinity, and the result of its operations were 

 watched with a great deal of interest both by neigh- 

 boring farmers and myself. 



The lateness of the' season at which I procured the 

 drill rendered it impossible to sow but few fields ex- 

 cept my own ; and indeed, I did not sow all my own 

 wheat with it that fall, — using the gang and the 

 harrow in the same field w'ith the drill. The exper- 

 iment confirmed me in the opinion I had formed of its 

 utility, and I believe removed the doubts of a. great 

 many with regard to its usefulness, as is attested by 

 the purchase since of quite a number of wheat drills 

 in the neighborhood and vicinity ; and if they do not 

 come into general use, it will be owing more to bad 

 construction, or want of skill in their use, than to 

 any thing else. 



The grain sown by the drill spoken of above grew 

 and yielded handsomely. It was thought by some 

 as well as by myself, that there was a marked differ- 

 ence in some fields in favor of the drill over either 

 the gang or harrow ; in others I could see no 

 difference. Be that as it may, I again repeat my 

 confidence in the mode of drilling in grain as prefer- 

 able to any other now in use. 



I do not know that my reasons for that opinion are 

 new to any one, or different from the reasons of any 

 body else, whose views coincide with my own with 

 regard to the drill ; but as ray opinion has been fre- 

 quently asked with reference to its use and benefits, 

 its profitableness, fcc, and which has always been 

 expressed favorably, I will state my reasons for 

 that OPINION, briefly. 



Firs* — The quantity you wish to sow to the 

 acre can be determined, with great precision and accu- 

 racy ; so much so that you might almost measure 

 your land by the quantity of seed sown ; no guess 

 work about it. 



Second — When the exact quantity of seed to the 

 acre is determined upon, that principle of sowing 

 which will give the most reasonable assurance that 

 every grain sown will germinate and come to matu 

 rity, is most certainly the one to be adopted. The 

 mode or principle that gives that assurance, (practi- 

 cally compared with any other in use,) is that of 

 drilling ; because every grain is covered, and to 

 such a depth as to insure germination, growth, and 

 protection, till it is ready to yield up its 60 or an 100 

 fold. You see no seed lying scattered over the 

 ground unburied where the drill has been to work, as 

 is too frequently the case when sown broad-cast and 

 put in with the harrow and other methods. No seed 

 covered so shallow as merely to insure its sprouting 

 and coming up, to grow awhile and then perish at 

 last, for want of decent burial at first, sufficient to 

 give it nourishment and support to the end. The 

 drill in a great measure relieves you from these 

 painful calamities. 



Thirdly — On lands that are known to heave and 

 leavn the roots of crops exposed to the severity of 

 cold bleak winds and frosts, the benefit of drilling 

 must be apparent, owing to the reason, that the 



depth to which the seed is put in the ground, and the 

 close manner in which the roots become matted 

 together, before the frosty season comes round, give 

 to the grain such a power of protection and resis- 

 tance as greatly to overcome the evil. 



Fourthly — Will a less quantity of seed to the acre 

 drilled in, produce as much as the usual quantity 

 sown broad-cast ? (i. e., will 5 pecks, for instance, 

 drilled in produce as much as six, sown broad-cast ?) 

 I cannot answer that question from experience satis- 

 factorily to myself, and consequently to no one else. 

 I am experimenting on that point, and will cheer- 

 fully make public the results when known. I can 

 only say now that I incline to the opinion that a less 

 quantity than is usually sown broad-cast, will answer. 

 Why not, if a greater quantity of seed comes to ma- 

 turity, when sown by the drill ? 



Fifthly — Can we obtain an equal amount of yield 

 from the acre, by sowing the same quantity to the 

 acre with the drill as when sown broad-cast ? Most 

 assuredly. And, 



Sixthly — I would use a drill, whether 1 obtained 

 any g>-eater yield, or only as much, either from a less 

 or the same quantity of seed sown to the acre, as by 

 the usual method of broad-cast sowing, because it is 

 such a neat, clean, handsome, satisfactory way of 

 " seeding :" after your ground is properly prepared, 

 one operation being all that is necessary to finish up 

 in complete style both sowing and covering, saving 

 the labor and expense of the former. If the rain 

 comes down in the midst of your labur, you can bid 

 it welcome ; for it finds you with your work, so far 

 completed. If your field is ready to sow, and you 

 want to begin on a certain day, high winds need not 

 prevent. 



Seventhly — If my ground is suitably prepared, 1 

 can plant my corn, beans and peas, with a little extra 

 care, as well with the drill, as in any other way. — 

 Quite a saving of labor here. 



The above, then, are in brief, chiefly my reasons, 

 in favor of the principle of drilling. I have been 

 asked how the drill would do on lands that are 

 sweaty and spouty, where wheat is liable to perish on 

 that account. I answer that the drill is no remedy 

 against such an evil : and would advise such as have 

 lands of that description to thoroughly underdrain, as 

 the only remedy, and then the drill can be used upon 

 them with pleasure and profit both. 



Speaking of the drill, it is not to be supposed that 

 it is yet brought to perfection, and no doubt all kinds 

 have their faults and objections ; some of which are 

 vital, others of a less serious nature. We must be 

 careful to procure the best in use. In my remarks 

 on the relative value of drills, I shall speak only of 

 those with which I am acquainted, and of those of 

 which I have reliable information. 



I found in using the Pennock Drill, although it 

 executed its work sufficiently well and satisfactory, 

 so far as getting the seed into ground was concerned, 

 yet its complication, or perhaps I might better say, 

 the fixtures, employed to adjust the drill-tubes, 

 feeding-boxes, cylinders, inc., rendered access to 

 these same drill-tubes, feeding-boxes, cylinders. Sic, 

 the very parts most needing care and attention while 

 the drill was in operation, almost impossible, so far 

 as relates to ease, facility, comfort, and what is of more 

 value, profit — (time.) If any little accident occurred, 

 such for instance, as the breaking of the " Wooden 

 Peg," common to all drills, I believe, it was with 

 some considerable difficulty with which you could 



