PLANTING THE SEED, ETC. 31 



the seed fall. For a beginner, the first test is the better 

 one. 



Of the sower which drops the seed in hills, I will treat 

 presently under the head of " Onions with Carrots." 



PLANTING THE SEED AND HOEING THE ONIONS. 



TTAVING SELECTED our seed-sower and regulated it, the 

 * -^ next step is to plant the seed. It is exceedingly ne- 

 cessary that the first row planted should be straight, as this 

 becomes a measure of straightness for all the others. A 

 steady hand and a good eye are of great value here ; but 

 with but a little practice, a degree of accuracy can be ob- 

 tained by most persons, though a few will always find it for 

 their profit to hire some experienced hand. Three or more 

 stakes may serve to mark out the first row, and, by keeping 

 these bearing on each other as the machine is pushed along, 

 the first line must be a straight line. In some machines the 

 chains which drag from the handle, and in others the wheels, 

 serve to mark 

 out the rows. 

 As the Scuffle 

 Hoes (see en- 

 graving) and 



Wheel Hoes (see engraving) to be used will be of a con- 

 stant width, it is important that the distance between the 

 rows should be kept constant, particularly that they should 

 not be brought nearer together than the distance fixed upon. 

 The distance between the rows varies in different sections 

 from twelve to fourteen inches : when seed are planted for 

 sets, ten inches is the usual distance between the drills. 



The various hoes used in weeding are pushed before the 

 operator, and again drawn quickly back, the operator taking 



