PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 363 



that there were but eight sewing machines in Sweden, and no 

 demand far more, the people there not understanding machinery. 

 So in Russia, it had been found that Fairbank's scales were unap- 

 preciated from the lack of mechanical and inventive skill. 



Mr. Stewart said that of the small number of patents taken 

 out by citizens of the southern States, most of them were taken 

 out by men from the north. Dr. Simons, now in this city, had 

 invented certain surgical apparatus, and appeared to be the only 

 really southern man who had shown any considerable degree of 

 inventive genius. 



The following report was presented and read : 



New York, May 1, 1861. 



Your committee, on Mr. John B. Duane's sod seeder and 

 broadcast sowing mechine, after careful examination of a work- 

 ing model of the above machine, respectfully submit the following 

 report, viz : 



1. That the machine is a combination of the following parts, 

 viz: A set of cultivator teeth; harrows; seeding apparatus; 

 seed conducting board; roller; and fertilizer distributor. All 

 these parts being so disposed tliat their operations follow just in 

 the manner necessary to leave the field sowed and finished in a 

 high state of cultivation. 



2. That the cultivator teeth, with their stem which forms a 

 knife edge, seem to be well adapted to do the work easily, by 

 producing a central cut and a gradual lifting of the ground, 

 thereby overcoming obstructions much more easily than with 

 teeth of the old shape. 



3. That the harrows being pressed to the ground by springs, 

 and the teeth thereof standing at an angle of about sixty or 

 seventy degrees, seem to be well calculated for doing their work. 

 The teetli are set in two boards, and being narrow and numerous, 

 will certainly crush and divide lumps of earth that, under the 

 common harrow, are apt to be pushed aside. The teeth are also 

 better adapted to free themselves from bunches of roots or grass, 

 etc., by slipping over them instead of accumulating them, than 

 those of the common harrow. 



4. That the seeding apparatus, with its distributing arrange- 

 ment, seems to be superior to most others, for the disturbance of 

 the seed at and around the delivery openings is very effective. 

 The delivery is sideways from tlie seed box, and the disturbance 

 created by teeth working in the seed at a right angle with the 



