THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



127 



diverse iu character and construction they may be, under 

 one class. The result of such mixed trials cannot be relied 

 upon. Let " wheel" contest with " wheel," and " swing" 

 with " swing." What we want to know is the best of its 

 kind ; that is, which form or make of wheel-plough is best, 

 or whicl) form of swing will do the most work. Nor will 

 this trial of the different makes of one class preclude the 

 competition of one class with another. After deciding which 

 is the best form of "swing" and which of "wheel" atrial 

 is still open to us, to see which will do quickest and most 

 economically the same quantity of work. Just as we may 

 race a " paddle steamer" against a " screw" along the 

 measured mile to see which does it the quickest; but if we 

 wish to ascertain the best form of " screw " we try different 

 forms of " screw ;" we would not try paddle and screw all 

 together. This, however, is just what we do in our plough 

 trials. True, it may be said, that what is wanted is the best 

 plough, no matter whether wheel or swing ; and although 

 this is come-at-able by the present mode, still it is in a round- 

 about unsatisfactory sort of way. It is more philosophical 

 and will give the best results to know absolutely which is the 

 best of its kind, just as we teat in our show-yards, and by dif- 

 ferent rules, stationary and portable engines ; and if steam 

 engines, why should not wheel and swmg ploughs be classed 

 separately ? It is just as easy, and a great deal more satisfac- 

 tory in the long run, to do things the right way and according 

 to a principle, than the wrong way guided by no system save 

 that of wont and usage — mere red-tapeism. 



Returning, after this long but not irrelevant discussion, to 

 our notice of the novelties, or leading features of the show, 

 we have to direct attention, under the department of cultural 

 implements now under consideration, to Delta's harrows, ex- 

 hibited by Mr. R. Law, of Shettleston, Glasgow. In one form, 

 the central part which carries the " bulls " consists of two bars 

 hinged together so that they can be closed exactly like the 

 leaves of a hook. Radiating from these bars, at an angle of 

 30 degrees, are the " bulls " which carry the tines. These 

 form tracks two inches apart, and extending over a breadth of 

 4 feet 8 inches for the one-horse, and of 9J feet for the two- 

 horse harrow. The advantages claimed are first, steadiness in 

 working, " holding on" to the land, not pitching and rolhng 

 as harrows generally do ; and second, the ease with which the 

 "|tines " are relieved and prevented from "clogging;" and 

 third, the small space which they take up, as one half can be 

 folded over the other. Each harrow has two central bars and 

 four "bulls ;" this being used for one horse; two are coupled 

 together for two horses. 



In the department of drills, manure distributors, Sfc, the 

 most striking novelty exhibited was the patent machine for 

 protecting the turnip crop from the ravages of the fly ; this is 

 attachable to any common manure drill, or distributor. The 

 object of the invention is to sprinkle the young plants with 

 finely diffused streams of water, to resemble as closely as pos- 

 sible the effect of dew, or the damp left on the leaves after 

 rain. Thereafter the leaves are dusted with lime, grit, &c., 

 &c. The water is so finely distributed that an acre of plants 

 can be watered by means of so small a quantity of fluid as 

 ten gallons. This is a most important feature of the invention, 

 and is attained by the following means : To the body of the 

 manure distributor, a cylindrical air-tight vessel of wrought- 

 iron is attached ; into this water is pumped by a force-pump, 

 till it is half filled. The vessel being air-tight, the air in the 

 upper part is so compressed that it presses upon the water 

 with a force corresponding to the degree of compression — say 

 with a force of two atmospheres, or 30 lbs. to the square inch. 

 From the under part of the vessel a series of flexible tubes are 

 led, these are passed through horizontal slots, or apertures 

 made in a bar of wood in front of, and a little above the level 

 of vessel. The tubes can be adjusted iu these slots by means 

 of screws, so as to suit any width of rows. The tubes are 

 terminated by small brass taps, by which the flow of water can 

 be shut off when desired. The taps discharge the water upon 

 the upper surface of a piece of fine wire gauze placed hori- 

 zontally beneath the taps, and stretching across the breadth 

 of the machine. The water being forced out at high pressure 

 is passed through the wire gauze, and distributed on the 

 plants in a fine spray, which thoroughly damps the surface of 

 the leaves at an expenditure of a small amount of water. The 

 lime dust is applied immediately thereafter, adhering to the 

 leaves. 



Messrs. Reeves, of Bratton, Westbury, Wilts, exhibited, 

 amongst other implements and machines, their recently in- 

 troduced " manure distributor," which has some points worthy 

 of notice. It is provided with a chest, iu which the mau\:re, 

 as guano, soot, or artificial manure is placed ; this is in length 

 equal to the breadth of ground to be mauured at one time. 

 The bottom is not rectangular, but semicircular ; and is pro- 

 vided with a curved metal slide, which fits the curved part, 

 and which having a semicircular rack at one end, into which 

 a small pinion gears, it is easily moved or slipped round the 

 bottom of the manure chest, by working the lever attached 

 to the axis of the pinion. By making this lever pass over a 

 giaduated plate, any desired amount of movement of the metal 

 slide may be obtained. A series of apertures are made in the 

 curved bottom of the manure-chest, which can be partially or 

 wholly uncovered by the slide, or altogether closed. By the 

 regulation of the slide, the amount of manure passing through 

 the apertures can be adjusted. To keep the manure in the 

 chest in a finely pulverized condition, so that it may eaaily 

 pass through and not clog in the apertures, a horizontal shaft 

 revolves in the interior, near the curved bottom ; to this shaft 

 a series of projecting fingers are provided ; these project not at 

 right, but at oblique angles to the shaft, and are placed in 

 pairs, one pair projecting in one direction, the other pairiu the 

 opposite direction. By this arrangement they give, when ia 

 motion, a thorough mixing or pulverizing action to the manure, 

 which passes out easily from the apertures, and is distributed 

 on the ground. When the apparatus is used in conjunction 

 with, or rather attached to a corn drill, funnels are connected 

 with the apertures of the manure-chest, to lead the manure to 

 the drills. The price of the implement is £10. 



In the department of " horse hoes" a novelty was exhibited 

 by Messrs. Burgess and Key, the invention of William A. 

 Munn ; this implement has revolving brushes attached to it, 

 which as they rotate, sweep caterpillars and other noxious in- 

 sects from the young plants. The brushes, made of cocoa- 

 nut fibre, are fixed on horizontal barrels or drums, the length 

 of which is in the direction of motion of the implement, or 

 parallel to the hue of drills. The drums also carry revolving 

 hoes, which as they rotate, thin the crops ; ordinary fixed hoes 

 follow the revolving hoes, and raise the ground. The price of 

 the implement is £8. 



In haymaking machines and implements two novelties were 

 exhibited— the first a hay-teddiug machine, by Messrs. Brown 

 and May, Devizes ; and a horse-rake, by Mr. R. Law, of 

 Shettleston, Glasgow. The improvement in the hay-tedder 

 consists in the employment of a simple apparatus by which 

 the bars carrying the tines are brought nearer to or raised 

 further from the ground. Each tine-bar carries a small stud 

 at each end : these studs go into curved grooves made in face- 

 plates. These face-plates are partly, provided on their out- 

 ward rim with teeth, with which small endless screws engage. 

 As the screws are turned, the face-plates revolve on their 

 axes ; and as the grooves in them radiate from centre to cir- 

 cumference, the studs of the tine-bars move in the grooves 

 either to or from the centre, according to the direction in 

 which the face-plates are made to revolve. If to the centre, 

 the tine-bars are brought further from, and if towards the 

 circumference, nearer to, the ground. 



Delta's horse-rake is provided with a " slide :" in this holes 

 are made, corresponding in position to the teeth of the rake. 

 The teeth being passed into these holes, and the slide being 

 supposed to be close up to the bar in which the teeth are 

 fixed, and the teeth then filled with hay, grass, &c..by pulling 

 or pushing forward the slide the bay or grass is stripped off, 

 as it were, and the teeth freed from their load. The slide is 

 attached to the tine-bar by short chains, so that it caimot 

 be pulled beyond a certain point. To points at the ends of 

 the tine-bar ropes are attached. These are made to pass over 

 pulleys, which are kept tight by the drag of the horse, and 

 then finally fastened to the slide. In commencing operations, 

 the resistance offered by the tine-bar and the slide is equal ; 

 but as the hay, &c.. accumulates, the slide is pressed back, 

 and the teeth become filled. To deliver the contetlts, a slight 

 pressure is exercised upon the handles, detaining the forward 

 motion of the rake. The strain is thus transferred to the 

 ropes, which pull forward the slide, and free the teeth from 

 the accumulated hay. The speed of the horse does not require 

 to be altered. The pressure of the handle lifts the points of 

 the rake-teeth, so that they pass easily over the discharged 



