at the Plymouth Meeting. 381 



parts are made to a uniform gauge and weight to get an equal 

 pressure. On light and mixed soils weights are not required. 

 In the trial at Pljmpton the drill went to work Avithout any 

 weights whatever. The patent shoes of chilled cast-iron, secured 

 to the coulter by a peg, may next be mentioned. It is claimed 

 that they do away with the necessity for removing the coulters, 

 as they are easily renewed ; they are made of different shapes, 

 to spread the seed more or less as required. 



In order to take up the coulters, multiplying wheels are used, 

 by means of which the levers of the largest drills may be lifted 

 up with ease. An important addition is made to the ordinary 

 fore-steerage, by which the guide-man obtains a greatly-increased 

 leverage on rough and strong soils. A chain is fastened to the 

 steerage at either end, having the other end wound round a sheaf- 

 pulley. On the shaft of this pulley is fixed a handle, by which 

 the man steers, and by this arrangement it is calculated that six 

 times as much purchase is gained as by the ordinary front-handle 

 plan. 



In the horse-hoe, for which this firm obtained the second 

 prize, is the same arrangement of levers, on two bars instead 

 of one, as formerly ; the greater leverage causes the hoes to 

 penetrate hard ground more easily. There was certainly room 

 for this improvement, as in the old horse-hoes the knives 

 would only enter, and stand against strong weeds when the soil 

 was already well pulverised. Sainty's springs, however, form 

 the most efficient levers, and the hoes were steadier in their work 

 than most of the other large hoes. 



Hornsby and Sons, so well known as makers of drills, on this 

 occasion did not rise to the first place in any of the classes 

 except in the case of small-seed drills. The general-purpose 

 drill may be noticed, although, as the Judges very properly 

 remark, two distinct implements, to do the different operations 

 are often preferable, and not more costly. These machines 

 consist of so many parts that a careless man may not easily 

 find them when wanted ; there is also a saving of horse- 

 draught by having two implements. In Hornsby 's drill the 

 coulter-bars are raised or lowered by screw and bridle at each 

 end, whereby more or less pitch can be given them for light, 

 strong, or hard land. The levers have cast-iron coulters with a 

 separate chilled point, which can be easily replaced. The 

 coulters, &:c., are raised by means of a worm and wheel, which 

 fix themselves in any position, rendering it easier for the man to 

 take up the drill than before. By one lever both manure-box and 

 coulters are thrown in or out of work at the same moment. 

 There are two jacks for raising the box to change the speed- 

 wheels, and an indicator showing the exact position at which the 



