The seed grows with a covering of small, short, stiff hairs, which makes them adhere together; these must be very thoroughly removed before the seed can be relied upon to flow freely from the machine. Much of foreign grown seed reaches this country not properly cleaned. To remove this furze, either thrash the seed with the flail very thoroughly, when the weather is quite cold and dry, or warm the seed slightly and rub it with the hand against the wires of a sieve, of a right degree of fineness to let the hairs fall through. Either winnow or sink in water, to remove all impurities. If sunk, be careful to dry the seed at a very moderate temperature. As Carrot seed vegetates somewhat slowly and the plants are quite small when they first appear, weeds are apt to get the start of them before the rows can be seen with sufficient distinctness to make it safe to use the slide hoe. For this reason some farmers practice soaking the seed in water and keeping it at a temperature that will nearly develop the sprout, before planting. This may be done by soaking the seed from 36 to 48 hours in milk warm, or rather strong manure water, then removing it to where the air is of about the same temperature. Stir, it slightly for a few days, and finally dry it sufficiently to drop freely from the machine by adding plaster, charcoal or dust. Camphor has a wonderful effect in stimulating the vitality of seed, and the addition of a small quantity of it to the manure water would doubtless be of advantage. This process should not be carried so far as to develop the sprout. Should the surface of the ground be very dry when the seed is sown, this soaking process may be fatal, for if the germ is once started it will not live in a dormant state; it must either grow or die: whereas, seed that have not been soaked will vegetate after rains wet the dry surface. Be sure that the seed planter has a good roller attached to it, and not a mere coverer, as this will help confine the moisture and thus materially aid in developing the seed. QUANTITY OF SEED TO THE ACRE. Tables vary greatly some advising as high as four pounds to the acre. If the design is to raise small-sized roots for early marketing, possibly this might not be an excess of seed, but to advise so heavy seeding for ordinary field crops, means that much of the seed is poor trash, probably old and worthless, and put in as a make-weight.