THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



the smalleBt crashing or squeezing of the strands flat 

 can be discerned ; and tested by the callipers, no altera- 

 tion of its circular form can be detected in the rope 

 after so great a pressure. A 12-horse power machine, 

 at work in Gloucestershire, is reported to have also de- 

 monstrated the sufficient capability ofthenew drum. That 

 the wear of the rope in the new groove with moveable 

 segmental sides is less than in the common V-groove is 

 evident ; because, instead of entering and leaving with 

 a rubbing motion, the rope, as it were, takes the clips 

 in with it, and when it is liberated they accompany it 

 outwards ; the clips moving in the same radial direction 

 as the rope, while at the same time opening or closing 

 upon it. 



Are the parts of the drum liable to excessive wear ? 

 There is the least possible amount of grinding or cut- 

 ting of the nipping faces of the clips, owing to their 

 movement in admitting and delivering the rope from 

 their grasp ; and yet this movement is so slight, having a 

 range of only about one-eighth of an inch for each piece, 

 that the motion and wear of the clips upon the case- 

 hardened pins upon which they are hung is very trifling. 

 These clipping-pieces are the only parts of the drum 

 Bubject to any wear at all (with the exception, of course, 

 of the centre bush and the cog-teeth on the periphery), 

 and, though 84 in number (consisting of 42 pairs each, 

 taking 4 inches of the circle), can be supplied to the 

 farmer at 50s. a complete set. There appears to be no 

 special liability to derangement or breakage ; and the 

 drum is so constructed that its upper and lower flanges, 

 carrying the upper and lower clipping-pieces, may be 

 very simply adjusted by screw-bolts to different dis- 

 tances apart, in order to regulate the amount of pinching 

 pressure on the rope and accommodate the clips to the 

 several thicknesses of rope used for engines of various 

 powers. 



In our former paper we said that not only has the 

 weight and complexity of the apparatus been reduced by 

 the abolition of the large sheaves fore and aft of the 

 boiler, but that the unsightly "jibs," or suspension- 

 pulleys, with India-rubber springs, are no longer ne- 

 cessary. To prevent the rope " kinking," or doubling 

 up between the drum and the small guide-rollers, it is 

 requisite to have a slight pull or strain upon the slack 

 rope while it is being paid out. If the ploughman 

 could always draw up the following or trailing rope 

 suflSciently by means of the small drums carrying the 

 reserve coils of rope upon the plough-frame, the object 

 would be attained. But as in practice this cannot be 

 done, the " jibs" or suspension-pulleys were devised, 

 which, holding up the slack rope in the air, caused it to 

 tighten itself by its own weight, the outermost longer 

 length over-balancing the innermost shorter length, and 

 80 giving it a tendency to run over the pulley and away 

 from the drum, upon the same principle which induces 

 a current through the shorter and longer legs of a 

 syphon. Now, however, Mr. Fowler has applied an 

 intermediate multiplying motion between the two rope- 

 carrying drums on the plough, which, with self-acting 

 ratchets, without any attention from the ploughman, 

 constantly keep the railing and back rope at a sufficient 



tension. In fact, the plough cannot advance until the 



hauling-rope has gathered up the slack to its proper 

 tightness. An advance of the hauling-rope one foot 

 gathers three to five ft. of the back rope; and if the length 

 of furrow be increasing or diminishing, owing to an 

 irregular shape of field, the rope is given out or taken 

 up of its own accord, without attention from the plough- 

 man, and without loss of time in the change. The rope 

 being thus pulled off the drum under the engine, re- 

 quires no mounting up by lifting pulleys, and thus the 

 bendings over those pulleys are avoided. 



The rope-porters adopted by Mr. Fowler have always 

 been very simple, and easily shifted ; but by way of re- 

 lieving the labour of the boys, who have hitherto per- 

 formed the shunting of the rope into its new track for 

 each furrow, a self-acting rope-porter has been contrived. 

 The return ply of rope passes over friction-rollers and 

 through the hollow axl of a pair of wheels ; and the 

 straightening of the rope by its own tension causes these 

 wheels to travel from time to time over the ground, 

 being set upon the ploughed land so as not to impede 

 the course of the implement. Of course this new rope- 

 porter cannot be used on the rope before and after the 

 plough. 



We have to notice also another improvement, which 

 will be of great advantage to farmers already possessing 

 a portable engine. The simplicity introduced by the 

 new clipping drum has enabled a cheap windlass frame 

 to be constructed, on which the portable engine, without 

 its wheels, can be placed. By just putting on a strap 

 (which is covered from rain) the engine (without the 

 least alteration or addition of working parts) drives the 

 drum, and also the wheels of the windlass carriage, so as 

 to be self-locomotive on farm roads or highways. As 

 the price will be considerably below j£300 for the com- 

 plete set of ploughing and scarifying apparatus, the 

 whole cost, when the engine is included, will be between 

 five ind six hundred pounds, much less than that of the 

 self-contained engine, windlass, rope, implement, &c. 

 Of course, it will be advisable to purchase the separate 

 windlass only in cases where a good engine is already 

 in the farmer's hands. 



Essentially the steam-plough is now as perfect as it 

 can be made; though, of course, no limit can be put 

 upon improvements of parts and details. 



THE GLEANER'S BELL.— Recently, at the ancient 

 town of Great Wakering, in Essex, with some friends, I found 

 the sexton or bellringer just about to enter the church tower 

 for the purpose of tolling the bell. It was then on the stroke 

 of six o'clock p.m. Thinking there was to be weekly evening 

 servics we proposed retiring, as we had come not to pray, but 

 to pry into the curiosities of the place. The old man told us 

 to stay, as he was only going to ring for the gleaners, and 

 added that he did this regularly during harvest time at sun- 

 riie aud sundown. Is this custom common to all counties of 

 England ? How far back may it be traced ? Aud is it simply 

 to be ascribed to the want of watches and clocks in bygone 

 times ? Or is there a sacred token of prayer and prni^e attached 

 to it ? — Notes and Queries, 



