The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-06-15
V0L. s.No. 46.
ADVANTAGES OF DRILLING GRAIN.

I Z
i GRAM DRILLs, for over ten years have been
extensively used in various States Of our Union,
/ tas we'll as IN foreign countries,)and with very
satisfactory results. In many sections Of our
| country the mode of drilling grain has entirely.
! superseded the old aad ordinary way of sowing
Broadcast, and covering II with pio~ or haT-
| row, for three practical reasons That time and
labor are economical; that seed is saved, and
that much larger yield is secured.
Fast-The saving of six or eight days labor I
| is not the great advantage ia Inc economy oil
| time and labor gained with drill. Itis the
saving Of time, when the weather is favorable,
ard the ground is in The right orderifor seeding,
| the accomplishment Of a large amount OF work,
when fin7e is most precious. When the farmer
drills his grain, The work is fatshed as far as
the drill goes Not 50 when lie scatters his seed
broadcast a sudden storm, or sor1e other cons
ttngency may arrest his labors, when only
part ofthe seed has been pioweti CT Earfowed
IN, aad be uIay be obliged to sow Itoeer again
10 his dis advantage, not Only in seed and labor
lost, but runs the risk OF losing his crop.
Secoad-From one to. two pecks of seed TO
the acre is saved By tie use Of the drill, as all
the seed put into lheBox, is eTeniy deposited
in thP ground noneeis blown away. none IS
Jeff on top OF The ground for the fowls to pick
Up, OF the insect TO feed upon, and any precise
quantity desired, can be pat on the acre, with
more perfect regularity than can possibly be
done BY hand.
IhtYd-The reasons why drilled wheat yields
more TO the acre are as follows: the tooth, Tor
shovel, makes furrow, at the bottom OF which
The seed is covered, the earth thrown out on Ell
ther side, forming a ridge of earth b-tween the
rows Of grain, which, by the action OF The rain
and fiawing, the ridge nonlders down. carry
Ing the better properties of the soil 10 the roots
of the grain, nourshing and preventing them
from being "thrown out," and "winter killed."
as Is more or less the case with broadcast SOW
ing. As every observer knows, grain sown
broadcast and plowed or narrowed in, some
grains are covered foo deep, others not covered
at oil. and large portion oftbe seed being
Slightly covered, produces weakly blade,
which IS thrown out BY the frost in winter, Of !,
if it barely escapes, grows slender stalk, liable
TO mildew, and poorly filed. 2.si
The growth of drilled wheat being uniform,
from the fact OF its regular distribution at reg1-
lar and proper depth, its ripening is simultane+
Gus, and IS therefore not likely to be damaged
oN FuSl VI HStFli, III llir sdIiie ludl W
cast wheat generally is, because being planted
at different depths, some heads may be 10 blos-
som, while in others, the gram IS hardening,
thus giving the insect fair opportunity 10
make sad havoc. Wheat drilled in rows is IA
voFable to light and air, elernsats which are
well known to be required foRs the healthfh
growth and proper ripenIng OF every head, aud
may be gathered with greater security than
broadcast, IN which there may be some heads
too ripe, while others are barely fit TO harvest.
Drilled wheat does much better In "a dry sea-
son than broadcast, being deposited at a uni
form and proper deptb,-the root IS +-hourished
and protected, grows vigorously and produces
strong stalks, which bear large and we'll filed
heads.
But Drills are not only economical for win
Ter grain, but have proved TO be advantageous
for planting OATS and BARLEY, as a great a.
mount of seed and labor is saved, and The stalks
grow more strong and healthy, and are, no. so
liable to be Leaten down by rain and storm. 1t
has been we'll established, that more oals can
De raised from less seed by drilling, than by
broad-oas;ing.
There is no implement used on the farm with
so much profit 10 The farmer, as good Grain
Drill The Threshing Machine is an improve
ment over the fail in point of labor, but does
not take any more grain from the straw. The
Moving Machine is an Improvement oveFth
scythe 10 labor saving, but as mnch grass can
be cut from the same ground with The scytke.
But the Drill not only saves labor but increases
the Weld, and saves great amount of seed,
whICa is moaey.