SEEDS AND SOWIXG. 171 



over a sufficient number of extra ones to answer the 

 same purpose ; but in answer to this we would state 

 that this operation is done rapidly, and it would be 

 impossible to bestow sufficient care in extracting the 

 young roots. In sowing by hand the farmer can make 

 use of a small hoe, with which holes are dug in a given 

 direction and spot, indicated by strings having knots 

 on them, which are placed the entire width of the field. 

 A woman now comes and places about five seeds in 

 each hole, and covers them with earth, after which she 

 slightly comiDresses it. As for the various mechanical 

 devices for sowing, we will not attempt to describe 

 them, as they have but little interest when compared 

 with our American machines, which surpass in most 

 cases anything of the same kind existing in Europe. 



The general principles of these machines are alike, 

 and differ but little from Garrett's first idea, the problem 

 being to open the soil to a certain depth and place the 

 seed in this at given distances, then to cover them, after 

 which the ground is slightly compressed by a roller. 

 Of the most important we may mention those of Dela- 

 haye, Leferre, Fossier, Pellot-Schunz, etc. We do not 

 consider that in climates where the weather is wet and 

 changeable it is advisable to use rollers, as these hav- 

 ing too great a weight will compress the soil, if damp, 

 to such an extent that the young plant will fail to 

 appear above the surface; if, on the contrary, some 

 days are allowed to elapse, before passing the roller, it 

 will pulverize the surface above, thus having a most 



