638 Report on the Trials of Implerrhents at Bedford. 



The seed-box is liung at its sides upon points below the centre of the seed- 

 barrel spindle, which, as already explained, is not a very correct mechanical 

 arrangemeut. It rests upon a wooden frame, suj^ported by strong wheels, 

 these having a wooden shield placed on their inner side, to protect the gearing 

 from dust and mud. The ends of the axles are connected with brass oil-cups. 



Tlie two-wheeled fore-carriage steerage has a semicircular table fastened to 

 it ; this moves in a staple on the pole, and may there be fixed by a pin when 

 the drill is going straightforward, so as to steady the steerage. This drill 

 delivered the seed very well, but the spiral press-bar arrangement is quite 

 inefficient when a good depth is required ; although it may be very useful for 

 drilling barley land, and will then no doubt make good work. The work-; 

 manship and finish of this drill are very good, and its price, 27?., is moderate. 



No. 3821. Holmes and Son, of Norivkh. — The lid of the upper seed-box is not 

 watertight, which is a disadvantage ; but the box is divided in order to give 

 greater strength. The lower seed-box is cushioned between the discs, and the 

 seed is delivered from it by cups attached to the discs of a revolving seed- 

 barrel ; it is thrown into hoppers and passes down through tin conductors, 

 which are so constructed that they are not affected by wind. The coulter-levers 

 are arranged in front on two strong bars, formed of tubular wrought iron : 

 this is a good arrangement. The coulters are made in two pieces, so that tlie 

 wearing part may be replaced at a cost of Is. 6f?. 



The seed-box rests upon the ends of the seed-barrel spindle. An iron plate, 

 with a projecting box through which the seed-barrel spindle passes, is fastened 

 to the seed-box, and is supported in an upright sliding iron fastened to the 

 frame ; thus it will be seen that in levelling the box in going up or down hill, 

 the box is made to turn upon the centre of the spindle, which does not in the 

 least change the relative positions of the two cog-wheels gearing with each 

 other. The gearing is welt shielded. This, as already explained (pp. 629 

 and 630), is a more correct mechanical arrangement than where the box is 

 made to turn upon centres below those of the seed-barrel spindle. This 

 drill made good work, but is in itself not nicely finished ; its price, 29Z. 10s., 

 is also somewhat high. 



No. 3411. W. Walker and Son, of TitTiby, Bingham. — The upper seed-box, 

 capable of containing 41 bushels, is provided with a watertight lid. The 

 seed is delivered from the lower seed-box by cups attached to the discs of a 

 seed-barrel, which may be reversed for sowing beans or peas ; it is thrown into 

 hoppers and passes through telescopic tin seed-pipes to the coulters. 



The coulter-levers are all arranged on one coulter stay-bar, so that they are 

 not of equal length — a disadvantage — and are pressed by the ordinary roller 

 and chain arrangement. The weights on the ends of the levers are not well 

 fastened, for they can move too much backwards and forwards. 



The box rests upon a frame, the sides of which are of wrought iron, 

 bolted through the front and hind wooden cross-pieces ; this might be greatly 

 improved by turning the iron sides round the ends of the cross-pieces. 



The construction of this drill combines lightness with strength, and might 

 be even still further improved in this respect. Its price is 31?. 15s. Gd. ; there- 

 fore somewhat high. 



No. 2847. A. W. Goiver and Son, of Uooh, Winclifield. — This drill has its 

 seed delivered by ordinary cups, as already described in the foregoing drills. 

 The principal point worthy of notice in it is its fore-carriage steerage, which 

 is a greatly improved one, and decidedly the best exhibited. As will be 

 seen from the accompanying woodcut, the two wheels, instead of being placed 

 at the extremities of the handles, so as to form a mark for guiding the .drill, 

 are placed close together; while the drill is guided in a straight line hy keeping 

 the slo]3ing sight-rod in a line with the driving-wheel track. The axle of the 

 steerage-wheels is connected to the vertical bracket by a pivot, so that in going 



