The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-14
The Roller Needed In the Garden

In field or garden the roller is not used
warrants. This arises from a lack of ap-
probation Of the principle involved in the
returning of soil after one has gone TO the
trouble of loosening it up as much as pos
sible with the pillow. Except amongst the
intelligent class of farmers the impress
sion is very general that the. desirable
thing to do is to leave the soil in a loose
and open condition, as practicable after
the seed has been deposited in the soil or
the plant transplanted TO 1t. The idea is
that the lighter and looser the soil is left
the longer will it remain In suitable cond-
ton for the spreading of the roots. and Off
set the influence of packing rains that
soon afterwards follow the planting. To
those who have not learned from a prop
er experience and observation the good
ends effected by rolling, the idea of doing
anything towards returning or repackng
the soil that they have taken so much
pains to loosen up as much as possible, Is
intolerable. 1t would be difficult, If not
utterly impossible, to persuade any large
number of those who simply follow their
work under the influence of inherited
ideas, and have not tested the matter for
themselves. that there was any sense In
such process as the partial returning of
the soil. IL will be. or at any rate has
been the case for sometime, a waste OF
words TO advise the average farmer to
roll the soil after sowing his oats or rye
or barley, fodder, corn, grass seed or
clover OF course, Il will not do to roll land
when II Is wet-too wet TO accomplish the
intended good. Nor will Il do TO pillow
land when such Is the case. In fact, II
he d. Of I.
founded upon the principles that underlie
the proverbial saying that "a dry seed
bed makes a good harvest" a dry seed
bed calls for the use OF a roller TO Sc
cure the prompt termination of seeds that
would otherwise be slow to come up, "
they came up az all. II the soil was not
pressed firmly about them 50 as to give
them the benefit at once of the limited
moisture then available In the surface soil,
and which would be speedily dispelled "
the soil were left ian an open, porous con-
dition. Rolling gives 10 the seeds the inn
mediate use OF this moisture. and aids the
soil TO desire an additional amount
through capillary action. from the depths
below. Rolling OF the soil when dry has
also a marked effects as a pulverizer crush
INK clods, large and small, 10 an extent
that the harrow, however, much used,
cannot accomplish.
In the market garden the roller Is an in
dispensable implement Ia securing the
most satisfactory results Its value may
not be utilized freely and fair
results be obtained without It's
use. but the best results. espec-
tally from midsummer sowings, cannot
DE obtained without IT, use. II Is sup
plyer OF needed moisture. more available
on large scale than mulching even.
Anything that gives the necessary pres
sure to the sol, can be used as a roller.
In very large gardens n horse power
roller win be used FOR broadcast or drilled
seeds ..
Smaller gardens viii md one like that
illustrated herein 10 answer the purpose
fully, though Il g drawn or pushed By