FARM MACHINERY 225 



so much in passing over uneven ground, and for most condi- 

 tions is to be preferred. The box may be placed low, and 

 only distributing funnels used to spread the seed, or the box 

 may be placed higher and the distributing funnels placed at 

 the lower ends of seed tubes. The latter has not been very 

 satisfactory, as the tubes are either easily broken or lost. 

 The seed, of course, 

 should be released quite 

 near the ground so as 

 not be interfered with 



by the Wind. This type * ig> 136 ~ A broadcast seedeT with ' a" 



of seeder may have 



either the agitator feed previously described, or a force 

 feed. The first type consists of a stirring wheel over an 

 opening through which the grain is allowed to flow. The 

 force feed is by far the more accurate, and will be described 

 under drills. 



DRILLS 



Furrow-openers. Grain drills are now equipped with 

 four types of furrow-openers, the single-disk, the double- 

 disk, the shoe, and the hoe. An idea of the construction of 

 each may be obtained from the accompanying illustrations. 



The single-disk is the best for most conditions. It has 

 better penetration and will cut through trash better than 

 any other type. Furthermore, it has only one bearing per 

 disk to wear out, whereas the double-disk has two. The 

 single-disk must have one half of the disk turned in the oppo- 

 site direction from the other half in order to keep the machine 

 balanced. This is a disadvantage, as it causes the ground 

 to be left slightly uneven, which necessitates that the drill be 

 followed with a harrow on rolling ground to prevent soil 

 washing. The single-disk furrow-opener may be provided 



