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BULLETIN 270, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ROD ROWS. 



Previous to 1912 the rod rows were planted by opening a furrow, 

 distributing the seed as uniformly as possible by band, and then 

 covering the rows. In 1912 each row was planted with 210 seeds 

 1 inch apart in the row. These rows were 17J feet long, but the 

 plants from 6 inches at each end of the row were discarded to reduce 

 as much as possible the border effect. Only 16^ feet were harvested. 



The writer has devised a planter for placing the seeds at uniform 

 intervals in the row. This device, which was first used in 1912, is 

 fairly satisfactory as compared with the method formerly used in 

 planting. The planting device consists of a V-shaped trough 171 

 feet long made in two sections of 8f feet each. It is made of boards 

 3 inches wide and 1 inch thick. Transverse grooves were made 1 



Fig. 5.— View of the cereal nursery at the "Williston substation in 1912. 



inch apart on the inside of one wing of the trough. A seed is placed 

 in each of the notches and remains in its position until the planter 

 is. tipped into the opened furrow. Each of the 210 seeds then rolls 

 down the groove and drops into position in the row. 



The trough may be raised on supports 3 or 4 feet from the ground 

 while the seeds are being placed in the grooves. The seeds are placed 

 in the grooves quite rapidly by shaking them from the open end of 

 an envelope held in the hand. Those that fall out of place are 

 quickly moved with a pair of tweezers. 



The row is opened with a small hand plow. The trough with seeds 

 in place is then lifted from its supports, the seeds turned into the 

 opened furrow, and then covered. Very uniform stands have been 

 obtained in all rows during the years the planter has been used. 



The rod rows have contained sowings of the varieties used in field 

 tests, newly imported cereals obtained through the Office of Cereal 



