92 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



Lichtenthaler's Cultivator. 



THE annexed engraving is a perspective view of a cultivator recently invented and patented 

 by Griffith Lichtenthaler, of Limestoneville, Pa. 



The nature of the improvement in this cultivator consists in the peculiar manner of attach- 

 ing the shares to the beams, whereby they (the shares) may be readily adjusted in position, 

 and also allowed to yield to any obstructions with which they may come in contact. 



There are two beams A, secured in an oblique position by cross-ties B B, which are attached 

 to uprights a on the beams. The oblique position of the beams gives the usual triangular or 

 harrow-shape, the front ends of the beams being nearer together than the back ends. C C are 

 the handles or stilts attached to the cross-ties, and D is a reach secured to the cross-ties, and 

 having a swiveltree E attached to its outer end. In the under surface of each beam A there 

 is a longitudinal groove or recess, in which a metallic strip F is fitted and secured therein 

 by wedges or keys c which pass through projections d. The projections pass upwards from 

 the strips F through the beams A, the wedges or keys being driven through eyes in the pro- 

 jections above the beams. Each strip is perforated with holes /, as shown. The shares are 

 represented by G. Each share has a socket formed by two lips g g. The sockets are at the 

 upper ends of the shares, and have holes through them. The shares G are secured to the 

 beams A by placing the lips g g in the recesses, the strip F fitting between the lips, and in- 

 serting a metal pivot or pin through the hindermost holes of the lips, and through a corre- 

 sponding hole / in the strip. Wooden pins /, are passed through the front holes of the lips, and 

 through corresponding holes / in the strips. The body of the shares are set nearly at right 

 angles with the beams A A, and the dirt is thrown by the shares, as the machine is moved 

 along, towards the centre of the machine. In case of the shares meeting with any obstruc- 

 tion, such as a root, stump, stone, etc., the pins being formed of wood, will break, and the 

 shares G will turn backwards. By this arrangement the machine is prevented from being 

 broken, or any of its parts wrenched by sudden stoppages arising from obstructions. The 

 shares, by means of the sockets at their upper ends and the perforated strips F, may be 

 readily adjusted to the beams. Shares of different forms may also be applied with the same 

 facility, provided they have the sockets at their upper ends. The shares are cast iron, with a 

 steel blade lying in the hollow part of the share extending about 1 \ inch below ; this steel 

 plate is reversible, so that when one side is worn away, it may be turned and the upper edge 

 put down, and is as complete as new. If desired, the whole machine may be reversed, so that 

 the furrows may be thrown away from the corn, or cotton, or whatever it may be. The 

 advantage this cultivator has over others is, that the farmer is enabled to do more work in a 

 given time and with less expense ; inasmuch as it finishes the row as it passes over it, and 

 leaves the ground in a proper condition to receive the rain and retain the moisture a greater 

 length of time, leaving no large furrows to conduct the water away. 



