AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS AND RURAL ECONOMY. 



45 



or wheel somewhat like a steamboat paddle-wheel revolves. The ends of the spokes are 

 furnished with scoops or shovels, and the wheel receives motion by a connection with the 

 axle of the cart wheels. When the cart moves along, the scoops dig into the ground under- 

 neath the cart, and bring up the dirt, depositing the same into the body of the vehicle with 

 great rapidity. As soon as the cart is loaded, the driver pulls a lever, which throws the 

 mechanism out of gear, and brings the scoopers away from the ground. 



Moss's Calve Suckler. 



Tins is merely a tin vessel, holding perhaps five or six quarts of milk, at the bottom of 

 which is attached an exact counterpart of a cow's bag and teat of India-rubber. This teat 

 has within it a valve, "through which the fluid within is drawn out by a slight pressure similar 

 to that of the calf's jaws, or of the hand in milking. All that is necessary in raising a calf is 

 merely to hang the vessel on a hook in the stable or barnyard, fill it with the milk or hay-tea, 

 etc., and let the calf go to it at pleasure. It will soon become accustomed to it, thus saving all 

 trouble. The manner also of feeding by suction is more natural to the calf than drinking, 

 and is more beneficial. 



Machine for Shearing Sheep. 



The accompanying figure is a top view of a machine for shearing sheep, for which a patent 

 was recently granted to Palmer Lancaster, of Burr Oak, Michigan. 



A A represent a top and bottom metallic plate secured a short distance apart by bolts or 

 rods ; (the bottom plate is hid. ) These plates may be of rectangular or other proper form. 

 On the upper surface of the upper plate A there is a sliding frame, which works between suit- 

 able guides b. The sliding frame is provided with an upright handle C. At each side of this 

 frame there is attached racks D D, one being somewhat higher or projecting farther up from 

 the frame than the other. E represents a vertical shaft which works between the two plates 

 A; the upper end of this shaft extends a short distance above the upper plate, and has two 

 pinions F F placed loosely upon it, one pinion being directly over the other. There are also 

 on the shaft E two ratchets c c permanently attached to the shaft, the one being above the 

 pinion F, and the other below the other pinion F. To each of the pinions F there is secured 

 a pawl d, the ends of which are kept against the teeth of the ratchets by springs. The upper 

 rack D gears into the upper pinion F, and the rack D on the opposite side of the frame gears 

 into the lower pinion F. On the shaft E, and between the two plates A, there is attached a 

 spur wheel which gears into a pinion H having a crank pulley I above it on the same axis. 

 To the crank pulley there is attached a connecting rod J, the outer end of which is secured to 

 an arm R of a series of cutters/, which work on a pivot g, the cutters being of saw-teeth 

 form, and attached to a common plate L, through which the pivot g passes. The cutters / are 

 directly over a series of stationary cutters h, which are formed at the end of a plate M 

 attached to the front end of the lower plate A. The cutters h are of the same form as the 

 cutters /, but are inclined a little upward. Tho cutters / are very slightly inclined. To the 

 back end of the lower plate A there is attached a handle N, having a bow at its end. The 

 bow is placed under the shoulder of the operator, and may, if necessary, be secured thereto 

 by straps. The implement is placed upon the body of the sheep, and the handle C is grasped 

 by the right hand and moved back and forth, and a continuous rotary motion is given the 



