116 Implements of Husbandry. 



perhaps equals any hitherto constructed, for simplicity and 

 usefulness. 



The simple drill machine for sowing turnip-seed, cannot 

 be too much recommended. It has been the means of rapid- 

 ly extending the culture of that valuable plant. - Various 

 useful machines for drilling pease and beans have likewise 

 been constructed ; and an implement has also been invented, 

 which not only sows grain, or turnip-seed, but also gives out 

 at the same time the pulverized manure to be used with 

 them. 



Connected with the drilling system, are the various im- 

 plements used for hoeing ; in particular, a machine invented 

 by the ingenious Mr Blaikie, called " The inverted horse- 

 " hoe," which tends greatly to improve the system of sowing 

 turnips on ridges ; the soil being thrown inwards, instead of 

 encumbering the young plant. The principle is adapted at 

 pleasure, to single, double, or treble rows of turnips ; and 

 to wheat, drilled, at nine inches interval ; as well as to 

 pease and turnips at eighteen, or twenty-seven inches. ( I7<s ). 

 These hoes were first used at Holkham, in 1816. They 

 have now spread all over the country, and are found much 

 superior to any horse-hoes hitherto invented, for the pur- 

 pose of cleaning all crops, sown in rows, whether at wide 

 or narrow intervals. 



Among other machines calculated for the row-culture, 

 the drill-barrow ought not to be omitted, being peculiarly 

 adapted for small farms. It is very simple, and may be 

 used in two ways: 1. Either a box or barrow is attached 

 to the plough, by which the seed is deposited in the furrow 

 as the plough goes along, and it is covered by the next fur- 

 row slice ; or, 2. A boy, with a barrow, follows the plough, 

 depositing the seed in the bottom of the furrow ( l77 ). 



3. Dibbling. This practice has many admirers, and was 

 for some years much used in Norfolk, for wheat, till the 

 price of labour rendered it too expensive. On the whole, it 

 is rather on the decline, being found minute and troublesome. 

 The tools used are simple, being merely an iron dibble, 

 about three feet long, with the point of which, holes are 

 made for the reception of the seed. The dibbler walking 

 backward, holds one in each hand, with which two holes 

 are made at the same instant, about four inches from each 

 other, and one or two inches deep; while women or child- 

 ren follow, and drop in the seed( 178 ). In light soils, this 

 plan seems to be well calculated for clover leys, the pul- 

 verization of which is unfavourable to the culture of wheat; 



