Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-10-08
Drilling Wheat-Drilis.

There Is scarcely any operation of farm
ing concerning which practice, in differ
ent parts OF the country, varies mere than
~ tnls. The grain drill is rare sight in
New England, and rare also in many parts
OF The Middle and Western States and
Canada Sill wherever It's use is common
II is held in very high estimation. In sa.
wing seed alone, a drill more than paws
tae interest on It's cost The risk of win
ter-killing is greatly diminished, and en-
even seeting is readily secured In the
following communication from Mr. A Lin
ton, OF Chester Co, Pa, written in re-
sponso to request from ourselves. the
advantages are very simply and strongly
set forth, and deserve the attention of
every wheat grower who does not use the
drill
THF USE OF THE DRILL
To say anything advocating the use of
the drill in sowing wheat in this section OF
the country, would be as superhuous as TO
discuss the excellence of anthracite for fu-
ell, or the utility of steam as motive pow
er. The use of the wheat drill Is so near
ly universal here on all land where it can
be used that tho sight of q field sown In
the old fashioned broad-cast way is rare
occErrance
The advantages Of drilling wheat may
be very briefly stated as follows: 1t dis
tributes the seed more evenly over the
ground than is generally done in broad
east sowing; the wheat is not so liable to
be thrown out of the freezing and thawing
which occurs here during the winter; the
depth ct which the seed IS placed in the
ground can be regulated to certain extent
as the moisture or dryness Of the soil NAV
require, TO insure its speedy termination.
1t takes less seed; the crops look better
and ripen more evenly than if sown in the
old fashioned way; and lastly the use of
the drill insures moro thorough prepa-
ration of the ground previous TO seeding,
being good cuitiyator ITSELF
As To the points to be possessed by
good drill: 1t should supply the seed reg
ularly and equally to the separate drill
tubes. The grain as it drops into them,
should be plainly IN view, that the opera
tor may see at a glance that they are al
working properly. 1t should not be so as
20 prevent the regular flow of the seed. IL
should have an index to mark the quanti-
ty of ground sown and fixture enabling
the user TO regulate the amount of seed
per acre. There should be n contrivanc,
to raise or drill the tubes at once at least
one foot clear of the ground IL similar
contrivance to raise each tube separately.
50 that one or all the tubes can be cleared
Of any sods, or other obstructhions to sue
cessful covering Of the seed Each tube
should be so arranged that lift should trike
a stone or root, 1t viii fly back without
braking anything more than a small wood
en- pin. The drill tubes should not be too
heavy and yet heavy enough to put the
seed in sufficiently deep. 1t is better to
drill in fall wheat by the first of October.
as seed sown after that time often fails.
The cause of failure | think is owing to
drilling the seed too deep; the ground at
that season is cold, and seed placed too
deeply in the soil S n long time coming
up, the plants are stunted, and never af-
ter become yigorous.-Ame5'ican igricul-
turiSt