THE WHEAT CULTUKIST. 307 



from centre to centre ; and each one is loose on the axle 

 and has an independent movement from each other, ex- 

 cept the centre roller and one at the end, which are both 

 made fast on and rovolve with the axle. This end roller 

 drives the distributing apparatus ; and by the aid of the 

 centre wheel, will make a uniform motion for distribut- 

 ing the seed regularly upon the most uneven ground. 

 The frame of the drill is made of two cast-iron slide- 

 pieces, with rounded corners in front, so as to ward off 

 stumps and other obstructions, when passing them, and 

 still be able to drive the machine very close to the same 

 so as to sow all the ground that can ^ploughed in new 

 fields or among corn shocks, as many of our Western 

 farmers sow wheat after corn, the same fall, before the 

 corn is removed from the field. 



The box or hopper for holding coarse grain is placed 

 behind the rollers, and is made in the usual form, and 

 has two iron plates or jaws at the bottom, one made fast 

 and the other movable. There is a wooden rod placed 

 under these plates, with wire pins projecting up between 

 and about one-half an inch above the plates into the 

 seed. This rod is made to vibrate by suitable lever 

 connections, a cam on the end, with roller. The wire 

 pins running between the plates of the hopper upward 

 into the seed will agitate and cause it to run out be- 

 tween the opening, which can be regulated to sow the 

 desired quantity. The seed from the distributor is con 

 ducted down through iron pipes into the furrows made 

 by the rollers. There are inverted iron hoes, or cov- 

 erers, attached to the frame and drag behind the rollers 

 and conducting pipes, to cover the seed. These cov 

 erers can be raised from the ground, when turning 

 around, by means of a crank attached to the journal. 



