Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-08-27
Agricultural.

DRILL SOWING VS.. BRoADoA sr.-We have
frequently directed the attention of our readers
to the increased advantages OF Drill seeding
over Broadcasting, and have urged upon them
the adoption of the former method. We are
pleased TO observe that very many, perhaps
majority of farmers, have adopted the drilling
method, but by far too many yet cling to the
"good old method" The following sensible
and convincing remarks we cory from the
Country Gentleman, commencing them to the
careful perusal of those who prefer the broad
casting system.
Speaking of drills, we take pleasure in stat
ing that one enterprising firm iu Eastern Penn
sylyania has orders for, and is building eighteen
hundred grain drills for the coming season.
MEssRs. i. TucRER x Sow 81 noticed ia
your paper OF the 10Th inst, an inquiry in re.
gard to- the "advantages of drill sowing over
broadcast sowing,'' which ] sineefslS hope
will not pass unnoticcd by such Of your reade
as have had experience and observation in the
matter, not only at the sswest,o hut in the
seast." am not a practical farmer, though
much interested in agriculture and agricultural
implements. So far as | am informed by read.
ing treatises upon the subject, by observation
and by experimenting myself upon a small
scale, ssdriil-sowing' does possess suy, raj de.
cided advantages over broadcast sowing,
| whether by the hand or by u machine. Seed
That IS drilled in, is covered more evenly, or il
| When seed is sown broadcast and covered will
the harrow, bush, or roller, it IL covered al
/ different depths, varying from some four inches
| to nothing, and lies from ono seed to ilfty tt
the square foot; and it it is important that
| corn, beets and potatoes should be covered JUS
one inch deep more or less, why less So in re
| gard to wheat, rye, oats, Nc?
Last seasonl planted five oats abosit Snr oil
tive inches apart, in good soil, thengh not
manfred for two years, ana did nothing what
ever to them until cutting them, when found
sixty-seyen stalks, averaging from eighty t.
one hundred oats to each head, being over ter
hundred fold, instead of only thirty to fifty fol,
the ordinary yield. ] know OF no reason VIII,
a whole field would not produce the same rat,
Il planted as properly. In broadSsSt sowing
the seed falls so s'thick" upon spots that thu
light and heat cannot have their full effect upoi
the stalks while growing. There is too great
draft upon the soil underneath and upoI
other spots so little seed falls that the weed
get the start and hold the seed by prevention
producing seed OF their own for another sea
son. If grain was deposited at the right dis
lance apart and under the surface, think tina
not more than one half the amount would b.
required per acre, that would be used in tn,
ordinary way. There would be less, if indeet
any, sickly stalks, supporting dwarf head
filed with nothing.
In regard to the kind OF seed sewers, I'm
| oNuotSuiJ tnut ole Is tte DPSL which upp0Slt
and covers the seed the most evenly, with til,
greatest dispatch, without cutting or breaSin.
the kernels, and will leave the field thu
sinoothest, i. e., without foot or wheel prints
taking into account also the first cost. and tn,
amount of work done--i. c., whether it simpl,
sows the seed, or sows and covers, or sows
covers and rolls with one operation-and also
whether it may be used by boy or whether i
requires an experienced man.
Another writer saysi
Drilling is incompardbly tho best way o.
putting in wheat. The grain is more euuall,
distributed and better planted. 1t stands the
winter better, and produces morc. Besid,
this more than hall bushel of seed is saved tc
the acre The drill use was made by Kirk
at the Rising Sun, Cecil county, Maryland. and
cost about sixty dollars. 1t measures the
ground, distributes the seed in any quantity
desired, and covers it very well. Two horse;
drill about seven acres day.
A drill of this kind would answer for seyera
small farms and would pay for itself in year
At least mine did.
have used the gang pillow for seeding wheat
but the part thus seeded was so much inferior
to the rest, which was narrowed in, that have
never used it since. A neighbor oil mine who
borrowed it, ami put in some wheat with it.
mad TO lament similar results.