PLANTING 159 



soils which have just been freshly spring plowed, the roller, if heavy, 

 is valuable in ) e-establishing the capillarity of the surface soil. In 

 the hands of one who looks upon the roller as an implement for 

 smoothing only, it is often a very unprofitable tool, because, if the 

 surface, is left without a light harrowing the evaporation of moisture 

 soon dries out the soil. 



Corrugated rollers which leave the surface slightly ridged prevent 

 rapid evaporation of the soil moisture. 



First. The uneven surface reduces the velocity of the wind near 

 the groimd. 



Second. The dust mulch thus formed breaks off the upward dis- 

 charge of the capillary tubes. Furthermore, this type of roller also 

 grasps and crushes the larger clods instead of simply burying them 

 unbroken. The sub-surface packer invented by H. W. Campbell to 

 meet the demands of the more arid districts, settles by excessive 

 weight the sub-strata of soil, but leaves the surface loose to conserve 

 the moisture which is present at greater depths. In districts of con- 

 stant winds of high velocity, this point is essential. 



PLANTING WITH CHECK-ROWER. With the growing in- 

 terest in the selection and breeding of seed corn, together with the en- 

 deavor for higher yields, the farmer demands of the corn planter more 

 accuracy of dropping. When tested seed fails to appear and a poor 

 stand results, the planter is usually to blame. For many years the round 

 hole plate has been almost exclusively used. The opening was large 

 enough to hold the total number of kernels for an entire hill. The 

 check wire caused the drop, turning the plate to the next opening 

 with each click of the machine. The one advantage of this planter 

 was the fact that this hole being so large, kernels of varying sizes 

 could be accommodated. Little attention has been paid to the grading 

 of corn until within the last few years. In seeking to secure accuracy, 

 this larger hole was reduced until it admitted but one kernel. More 

 holes were made in the plate, which was continuously turned by the 

 main axle of the planter. This formed a cumulative drop which, when 

 sufficient kernels had been counted out, were checked ofif by the wire. 

 For growers who produce corn of a uniform type and who grade the 

 seed closely, the edge drop plate has proved of greater accuracy. How- 

 ever, in planting kernels of different lengths the plates must be cali- 

 brated closely. 



Every farmer knows the tendency of planters to carry the kernels 



