2 7 



wheel and axle of the wheel hoe ; hence from thence forward 

 the scuffle hoe should be used. 



Farmers sometimes make their own scuffle hoes out of a 



piece of an old 

 saw, the teeth an- 

 swering a good 

 purpose in cutting 

 off the weeds. 

 The V-shaped hoe, 

 (see engraving,) called Howard's Patent, will do excellent 

 sen-ice if a weight of about two pounds be fastened around 

 the handle near the ground. 



In Eastern Massachusetts fourteen inches is the usual 

 distance between the rows ; while in Southern New England! 

 and parts of the West, twelve inches is preferred. 



Before planting the seed it should be carefully examined, 

 to see that it is perfectly clean from small stones, or any 

 substance that can possibly clog the hole of exit. Let it be 

 remembered, when regulating the machine, that the seed will 

 not be likely to fall so fast from a full hopper as they will 

 when it is nearly empty. The seed should be sown from half 

 an inch to large an inch under the surface. The lighter the 

 soil, the deeper the seed may be sown. It is thought that 

 deep sowing has the advantage of getting the plants so 

 deeply rooted that they will bear having the earth slightly 

 pulled away from them in the first weeding, without so much 

 injury as sometimes results when they are planted shallow. 

 While planting, as well as when using the hoe, our farmers 

 will find the advantage of having a finely pulverized surface 

 to work on, free of all clods, sticks and stones, as such will 

 continually vary the straightness of the rows, interfere with 

 the planting and covering of the seed, and, when the hoe is 



