Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-08-20

| rty until harvest. When cut, the crop IS IN
tcrsperscd throughout with green heads, unless
the best wheat is permitted to stand too long,
and 10 sllatter oil in the harvesting.
| There is also another objection to broadcast
sowing it is not possible, either to distribute on
the ground, particularly even in moderately
windy wcathcr) or cover the seed with rcguIar-
ty; in places it is quite TOO thick, and IN others
again us much too thin This disadvantage, |
have with others long been aware of; though
without practical knowledge, could not fully COM
pare and appreciate the advantages Of the drIl
huSbandry, over the old svstcm' Of broadcast
seeding.
We will now compare the two methods, by
stating what are. in my opinion, the advantages
Of using the drill If the seeding is performed
carly so as to admit Of the branching or " tiller-
ing of the grain in the fall five pccks properly
drilled on land of medium quality, will general
ly prove sufficient but as it is unsafe Oh account
of the dcprcdations of the llesSian fly to seed
most varieties Of wheat carly, drill l-2 bush
els, and SOW broadcast not less than 2 l-2 bush
els to the acre of course there is saving Of
of one bushc Of seed but as most persons per-
haps would only SOW bushels broadcast, and
drill five pecks, We will assume 4 clear saving of
seed of three pccks to the acre. This would
more than pay for the hire Of drill, at the usu-
al charge Of 80 cents an acre; and the same
team will dri nea" or quite two acres to one
over the harrow, and probably four or five to one
over the shovel or small seeding ploughs
Assuming the cost of the team, hand and
harrow, ut $l.75 per day, the account will stand
t,ll, far F.y If wi
BroG,lcnSt
100 bushels Of seed mt 81. ...... $4,000
10 days team, &C. at SID. 17.5O-Sll75O
CO! drilled ..S62.5O
5 days team i drill l.75. .S.75--7l.25
Difference in favor Of Drill. ........... .S4G.25
If to the above we add only one bushcl to tn
acree increase by drilling, here is saving in a
single season, of near Or quite the cost Of the
best drill i'll the country, in seeding and grow
inc Il crop on fifty acres.
1t may be urged that five acres is rather too
small an allowance for days work with the
harrow, in large field with comparatively little
turning Of the team granted but in large
field the drill will seed If to 6 acres day with
the same team that would properly harrow in,
by tapping over the previous course-seven to
eight acres of wheat. l assume the increase at
one bllshcl only when my own experience and
also of those oil whom | can rely for correct de-
tails, 60 to prove that from three to four bushels
is much nearer mi average increase.
am aware that some advocate the drilling OF
two. and even two and half bushels to the acre
and with their unusually productive lands, it
NAV be, anl doubtless is justified by experience;
but where there is one acre that produces 35 to
10 bushels Of wheat, there are probably thou
sands seeded that do not Yield the half, if the
iird Of it but whether drilled OF broadcast, it
is believed less seed vii! suffice in the one than
in The other mode, TO produce at least an equal
crop; with the best conducted broadcast Opera
tons. there is usually, if not always more or less
loss, if not IN actual waste of seed. Those who
1t may be asked 10y thoso'no familiar with the
drill why there should be = saving in seed and
an increased product, by its uso! In the first
place. the seed is all regularly distributed, and
to Il given depth, |, , or3 inches, BY arrange
ment ior the purpose and at i!,c pleasure Of the
farmer and it is all uniformly covered; conSe
qncnr!y, having an equal start in v"gcating, and
al! liable alike 10 the changes Of moisture and
temperature, it all arrives ut maturity more equal
". Tie same causes also operate to produce
more similarity and largcr heads for from large
and heavy heads only, can we expect to reap
heavy crops. When the grain is sown Irregular
". anl covered at different Depths with portions
Of it crowded together, all our experience proves
that many Of the heads are short and small
poorly filled. aal Int" in maturing.
Again. this ran Of seeding leaves the earth
ridgcd up between the drills, which is gradually
crlnnbcl down by the Il.osts ; and as the alter
ua,c freezing aui rlawing has necessary ten
lcncy to throw out the young plants, this pro-
cess Of feeding them, rs it may be termed, rare
Is fails in this way to protect the tender growth,
and TO prevent serious loss from seeding in low
wet lands: and which would otherwise be half
lost III some cases.
There is however another advantage, and an
important one the open spaces between the
drills. afford Il greatly increased chance 10 get Il
GOOD stand Of grass seed :-clovcr, timothy, or
other varieties, which Should always be literally
sown on the wheat that finishes the rotation of
Grain crops In the course Of my Investigations,
many cases might be referred TO, in which the
results. carefully aSccrtarc,l, and comparing the
Weld hy both methods, has shown the increase
by drilling to average *vcr; bushels to the acre
and if to this he added the saving in seed and
the greater t;lciIitv, and economy i'll labolr, the
savinr is still more: but not having permission
to Use the names Of indiviluaS,-somc Of whom
even prefer not to have tEcm made puhlic--it
would he unsatisfactory perhaps to state results,