274 



that's it ; 



mould, and drag earth over the 

 seed, which is thus covered. 

 There are other and improved 

 methods of sowing, such as 

 dibbling, in which the seeds are 



11 



15 



set into holes made at regular 

 distances ; and drilling, in which 

 the seed is laid regularly in the 

 furrows of the plough, either by 

 hand or by drilling machines. 



691. 



The effect of drilling, 17, may 

 be observed in the turnip fields, 

 where these important roots grow 

 in regular rows, and at even 

 distances : each plant, therefore, 



692. 



obtains its due amount of air, 

 earth, and moisture, and acquires 

 larger size and more valuable 

 properties. 



Hoeing, 18, is the process of 

 earthing up, and clearing from 

 weeds, and from sickly or im- 

 perfect plants, by means . of a 

 hand instrument called the hoe. 



In hoeing turnips, the labourer 

 places a foot on each side of the 

 drill next to that about to be 

 hoed, so that the side of the 

 worker is presented to the drill, 

 or row of turnips to be hoed. 



The season for haymaking, is a 

 time, not only of great importance 

 to the farmer, but of interest to the 

 country visitor. The fields are 

 generally dry, and fragrant with 

 the ripe or newly mown grass, 1. 

 Hay is made of natural meadow 

 grass, and also of artificial 

 grasses, such as clover, rye-grass, 

 &c. The implement used for 

 cutting grass for hay is the 

 common scythe. The person 

 who cuts the hay is called a 

 mower. Scythes being well shar- 

 pened, and the mowers prepared, 

 two or three men form a gang, 

 or head of mowers, and other 

 gangs follow them, each gang 

 cutting a strip of a given width, 

 and following each other. The 



