50 THE SEED-GROWER. 



the screen serves to wash the pulp from the seed and 

 carry it away. The operation is assisted by stirring 

 seed with a stick or a rake. As the force of the water 

 will carry seed towards the end of the box, seed must 

 constantly be put back to the upper end. When seed 

 is considered clean, it is scooped out into barrels pre- 

 paratory to drying. 



Seed may also be washed in a machine, which may 

 be readily made by a carpenter. One that is used by a 

 large grower is made out of a disused fanning-mill. 

 This has been covered with zinc and punched full of 

 holes. At one side, opposite the crank, is the spout; 

 from which the washed seed passes into a box fitted 

 with handles on each side. Four large pails of pulp 

 are poured into the washer at a time. While one per- 

 son turns the crank, another pours in clear water; six 

 or eight pails of clear water usually cleans the seed, 

 and a second washing is not necessary. Never use lye 

 for cleaning, it will discolor the seed. 



Drying. The barrels or boxes to receive the washed 

 seeds should have holes punched around the bottom to 

 drain the surplus water. 



Drying is done on screens or drying frames. These 

 are made of three by four scantling, three feet in width 

 by fourteen in length; burlap is used for the screen. 



Seed is spread on the screen very thinly at first, 

 several seeds deep. The screens are then set in the sun 

 and air for drying, either on benches or supported by 

 posts driven into the ground with cross-pieces nailed on. 



After the first moisture is drained or dried out, seed 

 is transferred to fresh, dry screens. In the evening the 

 screens must be carried indoors and racked up, as 

 seed should not be allowed to become damp even from 

 dew. 



