Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-08-27

is in suitable state for the drill ;-indeep a
good drill will perform the operation and cover
the wheat much better in dry rough land, thar
the harrow and it will also come up much bet
ter
If the land is broken up when moist, and vel
ploughed, the harrow may often be dispensed
with; or at most, light narrowing is sufficient
under such circumstances to prepare it for the
drill: but if dry, and rough from clods the rol.
Ter should follow the harrow, and precede the
the drill. The objection to the roller on stiff
clay soils, is entire Y obviated, by the state the
land is left in,-by the comding of the drill be-
it materially aids in giving fine tilth,-better
than any other implement. The seed being
covered deeper and of Uniform depth, renders
the fine soil less liable to be washed off and Of
the plants washed up across the rows, as the
stalks and roots form no inconsderable barrier
to the free passage Of the water; nor is drilled
wheat half as liable to be thrown out by the
frost There is still another advantage attend
ing the drill, which a neat and systematic far
mer will appreciate it measures very accurately,
and registers the contents of each field in the
operation of seeding thus enabling him to ap-
portion his seed, manures, DC. with precision,
and obviating all necessity of guessing at what
should be known with certainty.
No good practical farmer however, will at
tempt to seed his land until it is properly pre-
pared to receive and nourish the grain that is
destined to furnish him with his daily bread,
and reward him for all his toll If seeded in
a slovenly manner, on land only half prepared
and immatcrial which way seeded, he should not
be surprised if at harvest, he can only reap a
meagre and sorry crop.-1f he waits for nature
to do his share Of the work, the clods to be
broken and pulverized by frost, he will be very
likely to find much of his seed destroyed in the
interim, by the same active and powerful agent; !;
and all for want of little extra care, and pro-
lection to the tender plants.
The Drill is not calculated to work in new
ground tho a stump occasionally is readily
passed round. Fast rocks, cause few moments
delay by breaking a wooden pin,-used and in
tended to be broken by such Instructions, and
without at all deranging the machine otherwise.
II well constructed and made in durable man
ner, it will last many years, by merel renewing
the steel points and brushes and these will
seed 200 to 800 acres, or more perhaps in some
light soils, without renewing.
There is considerable diversity of opinion as
to the proper width apart of the drills and af-
--f:ns ;,',mnarine The crops nl T.. .aS
If the land is poor, Or of only medium quail
ty, this space is not too wide; and if rich, the
grain will branch sufficiently to fill the interve,
ming spaces above ground, and afford none too
much room for the grass seed; again, if the
growth Of straw is very luXurant, and drilled at
much less than nine inches, the young grass is
liable to be smothcred out. Some advocate and
laud the improvement of having two lines OF
drills alternating the dcpositing tubes, so as to
form zg-zag; and thus alord more space for
stones, codS, and rubbish to pass between them.
1t may aid in this particular, but on the whole
I consider it disadvantage, and no improve
mcut whatever; rs about half the wheat Is cov-
cred at unequal dcpts,--thc hindmost drills not
having an opposing one, throws OIL the earth
too far, to fall back and coverts wheat sufficient
"; and at the same time places too much soil
on those that prcccdc it on each side. Illus
half the crop only, has the advantage of proper
and uniform side-ridges to prevent injurious ac-
ton of the frost--an important consideration
If however, the ground is SO rough from clodss,
stone, or rubbish, that they cannot pass through
a space of nine inches, by setting the tubes in in
4 line with each other, the machine had as well
perhaps be laid aside altogether. until the farmer
learns and practices one Of the first rudments OF
his calling; c. to prepare his land in sultioe
manner to receive the seed. 1t would be about
as reasonable to expect the implement to work
satisfactorily under such circumstances, as to re-
ouire the school boy to read tlucnty, or to write
a fair hand. before he had learned to spell cor
rectiy, or WIS familiar with the use Of the pen.