METHOD OF SOWING. 



When sowing Teff-seed on a small scale, some farmers mix the 

 seed with dry sand or sandy loam, in the proportion of 1 to 20, or 

 even 1 to 40, in order to ensure even sowing. The seed may be 

 sown with a " fiddle," Cahoon broadcast sower, barrow drill, or a 

 seed-drill having a grass-seed attachment. The seed must not 

 be buried ; it is usually sown broadcast behind the tooth-harrow ; 

 after sowing it is a good plan — on some soils — to follow with the 

 Cambridge roller, which presses the seed into the ground and 

 crushes the clods not broken by the harrow. 



Mr. Wentworth Sykes writes : — " As a large grower, I use a 

 Cahoon broadcast sower — a little machine which costs £l — carried 

 on the breast and worked by turning a handle. Half an hour's- 

 experience will teach the farmer how far to open the little gate 

 through which the seed falls into the revolving wheel which spreads 

 it, and with this machine I can comfortably sow 20 acres in a 

 working day." (19.) 



It is important that a thorough harrowing be given at the time 

 of sowing, to kill any weed seeds that may be germinating ; 

 if seeds of weeds such as mest-bredie (^Amarantus panicu- 

 latus and A. Thunherqii) and stink-blaar Datura Stramonium and 

 O. Tatula) get a start of the Teff seedlings, they keep ahead of it, 

 but if the Teff gets the start of the weeds it usually smothers them 

 by giving them no chance for light or air ; a day or two between 

 harrowing, and sowing the Teff, may be enough to give the weeds 

 an undesirable start. 



Mr. Wentworth Sykes never harrows the ground after sowing; 

 " latterly I have found that the first rain does all the harrowing 

 necessary." (19.) 



Mr. Gillespie (24) finds " broad-casting by far the best way of 

 sowing, much quicker and more satisfactory than by machinery. 

 Mix 6 lbs. of seed per acre into as much sand as you would sow to 

 an acre. In sowing I have a knotted line, carried by two natives, 

 knots 4 yards apart ; for each man who may be sowing a knot is 

 given, and each man sows to his mark. Thus: | .... | ... .|. 

 The dots represent the sowers and the upright dashes the line 

 bearers ; an umfaan (a small boy), about the middle of the line is 

 advisable. Use the same size of can for each sower, so that a check 

 can be made on the regularity of sowing (I use 14 lb. grease cans), 

 and let all throw simultaneously ; the first finished whistles, and 

 all stop for re-filling ; 100 actes or more can be sown in a. day 

 by ten boys. Line-bearers hold the line only two yards beyond 

 the outside sowers._ The one line-bearer erects small beacons, or 

 places pegs, to indicate line of ground covered, the other bearer 

 takes this line on the next lap. The seed being fine, can only be 

 sown evenly, down wind." 



SEEDING PER ACEE. 



The quantity of seed to be sown to an acre of ground depends 

 on the purpose of the crop. If it is for hay only, the sowing 

 should be lighter than if it is intended also as a "smother 

 croi) '' for weeds. 



It is possible to grow a hay-crop with only two. pounds of 

 seed per acre, but this is too little to give the best results. Mr 

 owr. sowing. is usually seven pounds of seed, ba^ed on -the recom- 



