SOWING-MACHINES. 



151 



tity of seed to be sown. As soon as the seed drops 

 from the revolving cyUnder, it falls down either through 

 a hollow coulter, or through a tube which opens just 

 behind a coulter, into the bottom of the furrow, and is 

 immediately buried by the earth falhng back upon it 

 after the coulter has passed. 



Drills for sowing small seeds are usually furnished 

 with a spindle having circular brushes, which press 

 the bottom of the hopper, and force the seed through 

 small holes made for its escape. 



For planting corn, beans, and other crops cultivated 

 in drills and hills, the machines are so regulated as to 

 drop either in hills or in uniform rows, and they do 

 the work more evenly than when performed by hand. 

 The coulters or tubes for depositing the seed should, 

 in all machines of this kind, be made sharp and not 

 rounded on the forward part, that the draught may be 

 easier. 



A simple grain-drill is represented in operation by 

 Fig. 127, and one of more finished construction by 

 Pig. 128, showing the cog-wheel gearing for regulat- 

 ing the quantity of seed, and the chains for lifting up 

 the discharging tubes from the ground when not in use. 



A very simple 

 machine for sow- 

 ing grass, as well 

 as other small 

 seed, by hand, is 

 shown in the an- 

 nexed figure. It 

 consists of a light 

 trough, contain- 



Fig. 129. 



