PLANTING 33 
the kernels for one hill in each hole. Another advantage of 
this planter is the fact that the hole, being so large, accom- 
modates kernels of varying sizes. This planter is the best 
for poorly graded seed; but in our opinion poorly graded 
seed has no place in good farming. 
Cumulative Edge Drop: The edge drop planter is a later 
invention than the hill drop and is very popular in the Corn 
Belt, since by using uniformly graded seed it will plant with 
a greater degree of accuracy than the older style hill drop. 
This style of planter has a number of smaller holes around the 
outside edge of the plate. Each hole or slot holds just one 
grain which is admitted on edge. The plate, revolving almost 
continually, makes a quarter of one revolution for each hill 
planted. When the proper number of kernels have been 
counted out they are checked off by the check wire. Since. 
graded corn varies less in thickness than in any other dimen- 
sion, it can easily be seen that the edge drop planter should 
plant graded corn with a higher degree of accuracy than the 
hill drop planter, or the cumulative drop planter, which 
take the kernel flat. 
We have used several different makes of cumulative edge 
drop planters on our farms during the last fifteen years. 
Until recently the weak point seemed to be in the dog which 
causes the plate to turn exactly one-quarter revolution while 
the planter is moving from one wire link to another. This 
defect has been overcome and today an edge drop planter 
with graded corn, in the hands of an intelligent driver, is 
almost as dependable as a gang plow. 
Kernel Spaced Checking: A new method of planting corn 
is known as kernel spaced checking. This method requires 
a special planter which has been gotten out in the last few 
years. In kernel spaced checking the kernels are placed at 
the corners of a five-inch square or triangle instead of being 
bunched, as in other methods. Since each stalk stands singly 
