864 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



box while another set of teeth is working vertically over the 

 delivery plate. The teeth are attached to two reciprocating 

 bars, the former set to that nearest the seed box, and the latter 

 to the bottom of both of the bars. The delivery plate consists 

 of two movable plates with almond shaped openings which can 

 be made large or small by simply turning a screw. The machine 

 may thus be adapted to all kinds of seed from clover to oats and 

 peas. There is another reciprocating box for sowing clover and 

 timothy seed at the same time. The reciprocating delivery 

 apron of the latter is divided into several channels and has at 

 the end a number of pins for the better and more equal distribu- 

 tion of the seed. This apron is open to view, so that it can 

 always be known, by simple inspection, if the delivery of the 

 seed is going on as desired, in the opinion of the committee, is a 

 decided advantage. 



5. That the seed-conductor board, by a simple reversion, will 

 direct the seed so as to be either plowed in by the cultivator or 

 covered only by the harrow or drag. 



6. That the two rollers being hung side by side to the frame by 

 a joint, can be made to maintain a position parallel Avith the 

 ground, whether the machine is at work or the teeth are lifted 

 out of the ground. The frame and the several parts of the 

 machine are so balanced on the center of the rollers, that nearly 

 the whole weight reposes on the rollers. 



7. That the fertilizer distributor consists of a hollow cylinder 

 with four or more slots lengthways in which toothed bands, or 

 saws, work reciprocally. As this cylinder has a reciprocating 

 motion, the plaster, guano, or other fertilizer receives all the 

 while a disturbing motion that brings it between the teeth of the 

 saw. The latter forces it out in such quantities as may be desired 

 by being adjusted to a greater or less extent of vertical motion. 



As far as the mechanical contrivance of this machine is con- 

 cerned, your committee finds it to be exceedingly simple. The 

 parts are few in proportion to the manifold work the machine is 

 intended to perform. It is but little liable to get out of order, 

 and is easy of repair. A man, or even a boy, may perform a 

 great amount of work by only guiding the animals. Two horses 

 seem to be sufficient to draw a machine four feet wide. The 

 resistance of each part, in proportion to that in machines for the 

 same purpose, of former shapes and actions, seems to be a good 

 deal less. The machine performing all the work (except plow- 



