Report on the Trials of Implements at Bedford. 05 7 



placed in the seed-box of each of the drills ; which were then 

 run until the seed was nearly all delivered, in order that the 

 Judges might observe whether the rje-grass seed and clover seed 

 were kept equally mixed. During the first part of the run the 

 coulters were kept on the ground, while during the latter part 

 the coulters were raised. James Coultas, of Grantham, obtained 

 the first prize, with a drill for which he was placed third at the 

 Plymouth trials. The coulters are small and well constructed, 

 and made good work during the trial. In some of the other 

 machines the coulters were too large and too broad, the con- 

 sequence of which was, that the back row of coulters covered in 

 the drills of the front row unevenly and too deep, which is a 

 great disadvantage in sowing clover seeds. 



No. 2798. James Coultas, of Orantliani. — The upper seed-box has a stirrer 

 in it, which keeps the seed mixed aud assists in its delivery. The lid of the 

 upper seed-box is unfortunately not made watertight, which is a great disad- 

 vantage. From the upper seed-box the seed j^^sses into a lower one, in 

 which a number of disc wheels revolve, these delivering the seed. Between 

 each of the wheels are bolsters, which always keep the seed iri close and 

 regular contact with the wheels. The circumference of the disc wheels is 

 grooved, and has recesses on it, at the end of which small cups are indented. 

 The cups catch up the seed ; and as the seed-barrel turns, the seed passes 

 along the grooves, the rye-grass seed always keeping in them in a longi- 

 tudinal position ; this arrangement was observed to be very effective during 

 the trial. The seed is delivered into hoppers, and thus passes through chain- 

 cups to the coulters. 



The coulters are arranged on two coulter stay-bars, and are placed 3j inches 

 apart laterally. The distance between the front and back row of coulters is 5i 

 inches ; this might be a little greater, for it was observed during the trial 

 that they could only just clear themselves. They are well constructed, being 

 small and narrow, and they made good work. The coulters are raised by 

 means of a roller, and chains attached to it and to the ends of the coulter-levers. 

 There is no fore-steerage, the horse walking in shafts. The price of this drill 

 is 27?., which is moderate, for it is well constructed. Its width is 7 ft. 9 in., 

 with 27 coulters. 



No. 3414. W. WalJcer and So7i, of Tithhj, Bingham.— The lid of the upper 

 seed-box is watertight ; from this the seed passes into a lower seed-box, its 

 flow being regulated by slides. The seed is raised by ordinary cups attached 

 to disc wheels, delivered into hoppers, and thence passes into tin tele- 

 scopic seed-pipes, the lower one of which is fastened to the coulter by a 

 loop and cotterel behind ; this is a good aiTangement. All the coulter-levers are 

 attached to one coulter stay-bar, which necessitates the levers being made 

 unequal, for the front row must be a little in advance of the back row ; this 

 is a disadvantage. The coulters are well constructed, and made neat work 

 during the trial. They are raised by an ingenious leverage shown in 

 Fig. 12 (p. 6f'9). The ends of the coulter-levers, a, are all hung by chains, b, 

 to an iron cross-bar, c, which is attached to one arm of the lever d. 

 By lowering the lever-handle d, the projecting bar E presses up the change- 

 cog lever f, and tlius throws the seed-barrel out of gear simultaneously with 

 the raising of the coulters, and the cross-bar c is caught up and held by the 

 catch G. 



VOL. X. — s. s. 2 u 



