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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



" cleaning harrows." A series of projecting prongs or 

 spikes are fixed to a number of bars, these being jointed 

 at the ends to two endless gearing chains, supported by 

 and running upon two pulleys. One of these is attached 

 to the upper end of the curved frame (c), the other to 

 the lower extremity of a bar jointed to the frame at its 

 upper end. This bar projects at an angle from the 

 frame, so that its lower extremity is in advance of and 

 considerably below the level of the upper pulley. A set 

 of cleaning chains are placed on the outside of the bars 

 of spikes, one on each side of every row. These chains 

 pass in direct lines from pulley to pulley, not at one 

 point ; the gearing chains, with their attached bars, pass 

 over a small pulley, which causes them to be lifted up, 

 passing the spikes from the crown to the point along 

 the cleaning-chains, which thus free them from all 

 adhering matter. A receptacle is provided for the 

 weeds; and the lower pulley can be raised or lowered 

 by a winch, so as to regulate the depth to which the 

 spikes work. 



The " clod divider" consists of a horizontal shaft i-e- 

 volving in bearings provided in a hanger or bracket sus- 

 pended from the curved frame. Motion is given to it 

 by a belt passing over pulleys, one of which is keyed on 

 the main shaft (a), the other to the centre of the hori- 

 zontal shaft. To the latter a series of prongs or cutters 

 are attached, these revolving between other cutters which 

 are fixed to the hanger or bracket. The clods brought 

 up by the action of the revolving cutters pass between 

 them and the fixed cutters, and are divided, the fixed 

 cutters tending also to relieve the revolving ones of ex- 

 traneous matter. Three bars arc provided between the 

 cutters, to prevent the clods flying too much, or 

 being scattered by the rapid rotation of the i-evolving 

 cutter. 



Of the steam-cultural implements invented by Mr. 

 Ford, we, at the conclusion of our last article, described 

 two, the revolving or " cleaning harrow," and the 

 " clod divider." We have next to notice the arrange- 

 ment of mechanism, which he terms a '•' furrower." From 

 the description of the steam-digging or trenching ap- 

 paratus, which we have already given, it will be seen that 

 the land will be left without any of the regular divisions 

 of surface which are the result of ordinary ploughing. 

 To give these to the land dug or trenched by his steam- 

 digger, is the work of the " furrower" invented by Mr. 

 Ford. To the lower end of the curved frame of the 

 principal part of the machine containing the motive 

 power, two brackets (a a') are suspended at a short dis- 

 tance from each other ; these carry two bars (b b') which 

 are thus parallel to each other. The two brackets (a a') 

 aer joined to the framing, and to the inside of the parallel 

 bars (ij)a lever or rod (c') is fixed, the upper end being 

 fixed to the main shaft of the machine (marked c in ouj 

 former description). By turning the shaft the lever (c') 

 may beraised or lowered, and with it the lower extremities 

 of the brackets (a a') and the parallel bars (b b'), A 

 series of double turn-furrows, the lower extremities of 

 which are shaped like the letter V, is connected with the 

 bars (b b'), turning at one end, in a vertical direction, in 

 fyes through which the bar (b') passes, the other ends 



being adjusted by pins in the second bar (b). By rais- 

 ing or lowering the brackets (a a') by the lever (c), and 

 by adjusting the turn-furrows on the bars (b b'), furrows 

 of different sizes and depths may be obtained. 



The hoes, which can be attached to the main machine 

 whenever this operation is required to be performed, are 

 of two kinds, the " horizontal revolving" and " vertical 

 revolving." In the former a series of vertical spindles 

 (a) revolve in bearings or sockets attached to two hori- 

 zontal bars (b c) placed one above the other. The lower 

 extremities of the spindles carry (a) the hoe-cutters (d), of 

 a circular, curved, or straight form ; these cutters being 

 also supported and the spindles (a) steadied by guard- 

 brackets fixed by screw-bolts to the lower bar (b). 

 A shifting-piece joined to each guard-bracket is so ad- 

 justed that the cutter just touches it while revolving. By 

 this arrangement the cutter is kept clean. This clean- 

 ing of the cutter is also further attained by making it 

 revolve within a short distance of the bottom of the 

 guard-bracket. A rapid motion is given to the spindles 

 (a) by an endless belt passing round and between small 

 wheels or pulleys fixed to the spindles ; this belt receives 

 motion principally from a larger pulley fixed on the 

 main shaft of the machine. By means of a lifting lever 

 attached at one end to the horizontal bar (b) and to the 

 main shaft of the machine, the depth to which the hoes 

 cut can be easily regulated. As the lifting of the hoes, 

 however, by means of the lever, would cause them to 

 rise from the ground in a curve, the centre of which 

 would be the centre of the lifting lever, means are pro- 

 vided, by the application of jointed levers resembling the 

 parallel motion of the beam steam-engine, by which the 

 hoes, however raised from the ground, always maintain 

 a vertical position. The arransement of the mechanism 

 of the revolving hoe presents a strong resemblance to 

 the spindles and bobbins of the cotton roving or stab- 

 bing frame. In the vertical hoe the working of the 

 earth is effected by a series of three-armed discs, keyed 

 on to a horizontal shaft, the extremities of the arms 

 being provided with cutters : shields are provided to hold 

 down the earth while the hoes are working through it. 

 The patent also describes a hay-collecting and hay- 

 making apparatus, and a machine for digging deep 

 drains : these the nature of our article precludes us 

 from noticing ; but we name them here, as they may in- 

 terest some readers who may wish to consult the 

 specification. 



We now come to the consideration of the second class 

 of steam cultural mechanism — namely, '' mechanism by 

 which the cultivating implement, ' plough,' ' rotary cul- 

 tivator,' or digging machine, is dragged over the land by 

 the power of steam." Before, however, proceeding to 

 describe the patented machines by which this " traction" 

 is proposed to be eff'ected, we deem it advisable to de- 

 scribe a few of the implements which seem to be pecu- 

 liarly, or are specially, adapted for this method of 

 "steam traction." These will comprise rotary cul- 

 tivators, and special arrangements of grubbers, 

 scarifiers, or ploughs. 



The first machine of this class to which we direct the 

 attention of the reader is that invented by Mr. Bemhard 



