THE WHEAT CIJLTUKIST. 



317 



by drilling-in half the desired amount per acre, bj driv- 

 ing the drill in one direction, and the remainder by run- 

 ning the drill at a right angle to the first direction. 

 Some of our wheat-growers repose so much confidence 

 in this manner of drilling-in seed wheat, that they be- 

 lieve it increases the amount of the crop from twenty 

 to twenty-five per cent. But, if any one will take the 

 trouble to decide this controverted point by a few well- 

 conducted experiments, he will satisfy himself that there 

 is really nothing gained, but a loss sustained, by putting 

 in winter wheat in that manner. 



The chief objection to cross-drilling of winter wheat 

 is, that the feet of the teams — especially when the soil 

 is mellow and deep — will force much of the seed two 

 or three inches deeper than it was deposited by the 

 drill. Planting a portion of the grain two or more 

 inches deeper than the seed should be covered, and 

 deeper than the larger proportion of the grain is cov- 

 ered, will be found to be decidedly objectionable for 

 winter grain of any kind. Indeed, such an uneven 

 manner of covering the seed will be found more objec- 

 tionable for any kind of winter grain, than for spring 

 grain. Another objection to cross-drilling winter wheat 

 is, much of the seed that was drilled in the first time 

 will be displaced by the drill-tubes and left partly un- 

 covered. And some farmers contend that the second 

 drilling destroys the little ridges made by the tubes. 

 But this theory amounts to nothing in a practical point 

 of view. Its abettors contend that the ridges made by 

 the drill-tubes are washed down to a level by the snows 

 and rains of winter, thus tending to the accumulation 

 of more soil over the roots of the wheat plants that have 

 been lifted out by the frost. 



