62 A MANUAL OF 



onion or turnip seed-drill. We have used both 

 Matthews' and Comstock's seed-drills, and 

 think the former the best instrument for sow- 

 ing seeds simply, and the latter the best we 

 know of that has a cultivator attachment. / 

 These machines will sow any kind of seeds, 

 from mustard up to corn and peas, with much 

 more regularity than can be done by hand, at 

 the same time with much greater rapidity, and 

 with an exactness that allows any given num- 

 ber of pounds of seeds per acre to be sown. 

 They cost from $8 to $12 each, and can be pro- 

 cured through any seedsman. With these ma- 

 chines the seeds are sown in drills lengthwise 

 of the beds, four rows being placed upon each 

 bed. This brings the rows about ten inches 

 apart, with a space of one foot between each 

 two beds, which is used as a path. 



Cabbage seeds require but little heat to 

 germinate freely, and, if the weather is favor- 

 able, they should begin to show themselves in 

 one week. We have frequently had cold 

 weather, and even snow, after our earliest sow- 

 ing was up, but never have had them injured 

 by it. We make our first sowings as soon in 

 spring as we can get the ground in suitable 

 condition, which is not until from the 1 2th to 



