CHAPTER XXXIV 



SEEDERS AND DRILLS 



Utility of Seeders and Drills. The seeder should be used 

 only where the drill is impractical, as it is not a machine 

 adapted to the most improved methods of farming. The 

 drill enables all the seed to be covered at a uniform depth 

 and to be very uniformly distributed. The broadcast seeder 

 may distribute the seed uniformly, but the harrow or other 

 implement which follows it will not cover the seed at a uni- 

 form depth, meaning that a part of the seed is placed too 

 deep and a part too shallow. The saving of seed alone in 

 sowing a large field is often sufficient to practically pay for 

 a drill. There are certain seeds, however, that must be 

 covered very shallow, and the modern drill is not well adapted 

 for the purpose. At one time grass seed was broadcasted 

 on meadows to thicken the stand, but the drill has been 

 found to do this work more satisfactorily. 



SEEDERS 



Hand seeders are used on rough ground where horse 

 machines can not be used. A very satisfactory type is the 

 crank machine with a whirling distributor. It is not possible 

 to secure a very even seeding in 

 this way, but that is often quite 

 unavoidable. This type of machine 

 should have an agitator for feeding 

 the grain to the distributor. No 

 attempt should be made to use the 

 machine on a windy day. 



