86 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



The object of this improvement is to create a soft bed for the reception of the seed in the 

 earth, without the disadvantage attending the open furrow made when the soil is thrown out, 

 and the frequent deposition of the seed on a hard soil or bed, and, of course, disadvantageous^ 

 to its growth ; also, to obviate a difficulty in planting corn on a hill-side, wherein the open fur- 

 row made is liable to create a wash of the land in heavy rains, occurring soon after planting, 

 which frequently renders replanting necessary, besides the loss of soil where most needed. 

 By this improvement, all the properties of a light bed and retention of the fertilizing pro- 

 perty of the manure is obtained, particularly where such as guano or other volatile manure is 

 used, as it is not thrown to the surface, as would be the case if the ordinary tine or small 

 mould-board planter were used. 



Various Recent Improvements in the Construction of Plows. 



Williams' s Lever Plow. This improved plow, the invention of Mr. Williams, of England, is 

 built on an open rectangular frame, supported by two fixed front wheels and a rear swivel- 

 ling wheel ; on each end of the frame are vertical guides to receive the ends of a set of lever- 

 beams, which have attached to them whatever plows or cultivators may be desired. Pro- 

 vision is made for altering the depth of the plow's penetration, by means of chains attached 

 to the lever-beams, and passing over bearing pulleys, and thence to a lever-handle at the 

 stern of the plow. By turning this handle, the plowman can give any required depth of cut, 

 or he can take the cultivating parts clear *out of the ground. A front frame-piece, to which 

 the chain-pulleys are attached, has a cross transverse action, so as to give the cultivators a 

 power of deviating from the straight line of working. 



New Subsoil and Trench Plow. At the recent exhibition of implements by the Royal Agri- 

 cultural Society, at Carlisle, England, a silver medal was awarded for a new subsoil and 

 trench plow, invented by Cotgreave. This implement combines the common plow, trench plow, 

 and subsoil plow in one, and is capable of tilling the land to any required depth from ten to 

 eighteen inches. To the beam of the plow is attached a foot for regulating the width and depth 

 of the furrows, to which are affixed revolving discs, acting both as coulters and wheels ; this 

 is followed by the part resembling the common plow, to be again succeeded by the trench 

 plow, which brings the soil up an inclined plane to the surface ; lastly, the subsoiler comes 

 into operation, pulverizing the subsoil the required depth. It is worked by four horses. 



In connection with this plow, there was exhibited a new subsoiler, invented by Lord Beau- 

 clerc. The subsoil is stirred by means of a so-called Archimedean screw; it is a revolving 

 iron shaft, of about a foot in length, on which are spirally arranged a number of stout spikes ; 



