FARM MACHINERY AND IMPLEMENTS 723 



with a tube through which the grain passes, and these are connected 

 with the seed box by flexible tubes either of rubber or of steel ribbon. 

 Spaces between furrow openers vary from 6 to 9 inches, 7 inches being 

 the most common distance. 



Drills are provided with both fertilizer and grass-seed attachments 

 if desired. 



The drill compels the farmer to put his land in good condition before 

 seeding and this is another of its advantages. For oats, the drill has 

 very little advantage over broadcasting in wet seasons. On an average, 

 however, drilling oats has increased the yield about three bushels per 

 acre. It will save from one-half to one bushel of seed to each acre. 



Grass and clover generally do better with drilled grain than with 

 that broadcasted. The drill should be run north and south so the sun 



The Usual Type of Grain Drill with Single Disk Furrow Openers. 1 



can get into the grass. With winter wheat, north and south drill rows 

 generally hold snow better and heave less than rows running east and 

 west. All seed used in drills should be thoroughly cleaned to avoid clog- 

 ging and insure even distribution. Care should be exercised to adjust 

 the furrow openers so that the seed will be deposited at the most desir- 

 able depth. The smaller the seed, the shallower it should be covered. 

 Seed may be covered more deeply in a dry, loose soil than in a wet, 

 compact one. 



Corn Planters. — These are strictly an American invention and have 

 been developed within the last sixty years. They have reached the high- 

 est stage of development of any of the seeding machinery. The corn crop 

 is so important and is grown on land of such high value that the impor- 

 tance of accuracy in planting is greater than with the small grains. The 



■ l Courtesy of The International Harvester Company, Chicago, 111. 



