Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-08-23
Drill HuSbandry.

SOWING seeds in drills or narrow rows
is q practice as old as the cultivation OF
plants in a garden. But, strange as it
may appear, this system of culture, which
was so universal in gardening, did not
reach more extended field until within
the past hundred years, owing probably
to the want of proper implements, or the
indifference of agriculturiSts to all limo
vations upon the old-time customs and
practices. The advantages, however, OF
drilling in the cereal grains are as great
as in the case of our common garden veg
etables, and although it must be obvious
that the same principles are involved,
whether they are applied to one square
rod or mile of land, still agriculturists
have been exceedingly slow to adopt this
as well as other improved methods of
culture.
| 1t is only about century since the
Scotch farmers adopted the practice of
drilling in turnips, and this was more for
facilitating the cultivation than for any
supposed increase in the crop. But the
English and Irish farmers were reluctant
to adopt this system from their more pro-
gressive neighbors, and when they did it
was through compulsion in order to save
their crops from being smothered by
weeds, by using horse power instead of
hand labor in cultivation. 1t is true that
the eccentric Jethro Tull had adopted the
drill system of culture years before the
period we name, merely forthe purpose of
carrying out his somewhat visionary
theory of pulverizing the soil to increase
its fertility, and, like many others since,
he regarded this as the only advantage to
be gained. But our more modern agricul-
turists have learned that even when no
after-culture is bestowed upon the crop,
drill culture affords better opportunity
for full development of the plant than
under the broadcast system.
1t must be apparent to every one that
any small seed sown with a drill will be
deposited in the earth more uniformly
than it is possible to do it by hand, and
covered with pillow or harrow. Then,
again, every grain is deposited at a GER
tain depth, which is quite essential to a
uniform growth, and the drill, in passing
through the soil, prepares bed for the
reception of the seed. Whether we can
afford to give our wheat, rye, oats and
similar grains after-culture, is a question
for the farmer himself to decide; but it is
a question worthy of careful considera-
ton as well as experiment. In some of
the best wheat-growing districts of Eu-
rope fifty bushels and over of wheat are
produced per acre by giving after-culture,
or, in other words, hOrse-hoeing the fall
sown wheat in spring. Now, if we can
by this means increase the yield per acre
FIVE, ten, or twenty bushels, it would GER
tainly pay handsome profit on the cost
of extra labor expended thereon.
We know that there is deep-seated
prejudice prevalent among our farmers
against any new system of culture which
is likelyto involve any extra amount OF
labor, even if it is certain to yield greater
profits. 1t is but another evidence OF the |
wasteful spirit to beseen on every hand
the legitimate result of cheap lands, and
which encourages the farmer to spread the |
labor required on fifty acres over hun
dred with much less return in the aggre-
gate. Drilling wheat is extensively prac-
tised in some portions of the country,
and with good results, although there are !
many who still adhere to the old broad |
cast system, and do their best to discour-
age their neighbors in trying the new.
There are, doubtless, many Instances of |
failure of drilled wheat, but it cannot be
as anything against the sys-
tenn, and cause must be sought for else
where. The principles involved are phil
and in accordance with those
belonging to other branches of scientific
horticulture and agriculture; therefore