SOWING OF THE SEED. 233 



plants not only stood the frosts which followed remarkably 

 well, but the produce was very much larger than that of a 

 field sown at the usual period. We ourselves have had 

 oats which brairded in the autumn before the frosts had 

 set in. and which stood its attacks when it set in fiercely 

 remarkably well. Early sowing is now rapidly on the 

 increase; and one reason, indeed, for the almost general 

 use of broadcasting in place of drilling, is the rapidity with 

 which the sowing is gone through, so that early sowing is 

 obtained. Moreover, the land may be in fair enough con- 

 dition for harrowing after broadcasting, yet not dry and 

 mellow enough for drilling. Where time will permit, 

 especially in the case of foul grass land, the drill should 

 be used, as the use of this machine will enable the weeds 

 to be destroyed by the after use of the horse-hoe, at least 

 to such an extent as not to injure the crop, weeds being 

 very noxious to it. 



33. The seed being got in either by broadcasting or drill- 

 ing, the harrowing should be well done, so as to cover the 

 seed completely. Some use the roller to smooth off and 

 slightly compress the land after the harrowing ; but as a 

 general rule, it will be better to leave the surface rough after 

 the harrow. The roughness thus given to the surface has 

 many advantages attendant upon it ; the inequalities pro- 

 tect the plants, affording, so to speak, little sheltered valleys 

 between them, in which the early plants can grow when 

 attacked by cold frosty winds ; further, that by the time 

 the oats are ready for the roller, the clods will be well 

 mellowed, and will be easily reduced by the action of the 

 roller to a fine tilth, which will thus aid the progress of 

 the plants by adding fresh soil to them. Upon blowing 

 sands, this roughness of the soil is essential, as it is often 

 the only means left for protecting the crop. Professor 

 Tanner states that he has known the greater portion of an 

 oat crop fairly blown off the land, through the surface 

 having been smoothed off by the roller after harrowing in 

 the seed. In such light soils, deep sowing two inches 

 is quite necessary. 



Q 



