Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-07-09
Tor the LewisburS Chronicle.
Seeding in Grain.

at hand when the farmer will be busy seed
ing, provided he intends reaping harvest
next year and in order to reap good
harvest, it is important that the seed be
put in properly, and in the best manner.
That drilling in wheat is any better than
sowing broad cast, was subject of con-
troversy few years ago; very few were
willing to admit the fact until convinced
by ocular dcmonstrst; ;ou-secing with
their own eyes the increased number OF
shocks in the field 1t is therefore no
more mooted question, and almost uni
VERBALLY admitted in this cighbcrhood,
where sufficient experience has been had,
that drilling is decidedly the most expedi-
tious, best and surest mode of putting in
seed, less subject to suffer through open
and freezing winters, because the constant
working down of the soil from the ridges
made by the drill into the ravines or hol-
lows sufhc emily protects the roots from be-
ing exposed to the sun in the spring, SO
that there is nothing to prevent it from
starting up freely.
1t is not only the best mode because
more bushels and better wheat can be
raised to the acre, but because a good drill
costing hundred dollars will pay twelve
per cent. in the saving of seed, to any far.
mer who puts in crop of 80 acres one
peck less seed to the acre, drilled in, with
the right kind of drill, will make it
equally thick on the ground with the ad-
ditional peck sown broad cast.
1t is also an expeditions way, without
the risk of hav NJ field under way,
about half finished perhaps a field once
dragged over with the harrow, rainy
spell sets in, as is often the case, the field
must be left half done there is no alter
native. But not so with the drill When
ever you stop with the machine, no matter
what part of the field, it is finished to the
teeth Of the drill. So also when evening
arrives, you are, as the merchant, says,
"rosted up" the job is finished to the
spot where you stop, ready for every con-
tiugency.
Now, then, if drilling is the best mode,
the next question is, are all drills equally
good to perform the work? No one would
suppose that to be the case, unless we
adopt this mode of reasoning: Because all
black cows give white milk, therefore, a
drill is drill, and like results may be ex-
pccted from all This is not the case, be-
cause there is a wide difference in drills
and this accounts for the disappointment
of scme who have drilled in perhaps small
portion of field, or part of a crop.
They had selected what was thought to be
the most suitable ground for drilling.
Why, said they, We had selected the finest
part of the field; the ground was as fine
and as mellow as garden. Not knowing
that that was the most unfavorable ground !
could have been selected, unless they had |
the right kind Of drill. To plant with
drill without a gague to set it to proper |
depth, would, in ground in so fine condi- |
tion, deposit the seed five or six inches
under ground, perfectly buried, 80 that
perhaps one half never could germinate or
come up, especially if heavy rains soon
followed
There is TO dri | worth having which
has not something about its machinery by
which it can be regulated to proper depth,
to suit the taste Of the farmer, and not
just as deep as the drill pleases to stick it
down. Any one after moments rcfec-
ton must be satisfied as to the correctness
Of this position.
Another question is, How deep ought
grain to be drilled? Some say about one
inch where the ground is in very fine con-
dition and where not so good, 60 little
deeper, from ono and half to two inches.
Others say tw. inches is the most suitable
depth, for ground in any condition. These
are the opinions of men who have had con-
siderable experience; there are none who
have paid any attention to the subject who
advocate over two inches; my humble
opinion is, that drill set to deposite the
the,seed one and a half inch, is about what
it ought to be; one inch may do where the
ground is rather sandy and in very fine
condition, because the first rain that should
follow will naturally wash the loose soil
down from the ridges made by the drill
into the ravines or hollows upon the grain,
consequently adding nearly one inch more
soil upon the seed, making covering of
nearly two inches; thus every succeeding
rain would continue to add more or less,
as we'll as the freezing and thawing during
the winter BY this continuous process Of
supplying the roots from the ridges, pro-
lection will be afforded that will enable
the plant to start up vigorously in the
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