26 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. II. 



sion of a fresli crop, tliat efforts were long ago made to supply the deficiency 

 by the introduction of implements of superior power, and accordingly num- 

 berless tools have been invented with that intent, under the various names 

 of cultivators, scufflers, scarifiers, extirpators, tormentors, and grubbers; 

 which, although thus differing in name, have all however but one object, 

 and we shall therefore consider them collectively under the latter deno- 

 mination*. 



GRUBBERS. 



Although these implements may be generally spoken of under one head, 

 yet their mode of operation is, in many respects, as different as their form ; 

 for some act with small shares, others with coulters, or tines, like those of 

 heavy harrows, but inclined forward, and a few with ski7ns for cutting the 

 surface, each varying in some point of construction, and claiming for their 

 inventor the merit of superiority over all others, although there is seldom 

 much difference to be perceived in the work when equally well performed. 

 The ease an.d expedition with which it is said to be executed by them are 

 also usually much exaggerated ; for although we have known assurances 

 to be given of "their being easily able to knock off an acre within the hour 

 without distressing the cattlef," yet, when the land was stirred to only a 

 moderate depth, we have never seen half that amount well done, and they 

 require a powerful team, some being of such great power as not to be 

 easily worked with so few as four horses. The most common mode of 

 construction is however that of a triangular form, as described above, with 

 several rows of either coulters or shares, made of different sizes, as the nature 

 of the ground may require, and capable of being moved in the mortises of 

 the beams according to circumstances ; the frame being usually mounted 

 upon one wheel in front and two behind, with moveable axles, as represented 

 above. In many cases, however, two wheels are used in the front, and in 

 others, the hind ones are altogether dispensed with ; but a pair should 

 always be used in front, when intended to be applied to the cleaning or 

 stirring of the land on which a crop is growing, as they ensure the regular 

 passage of the instrument between the rows without injury to the roots; 

 and if made with one wheel, if the ground be hilly, the implement is con- 

 tinually verging towards the lower side. The wheels may be raised or 

 lowered either with holes and pins, or by means of rings with grooves to 

 admit of the height being altered ; and in all instruments of this kind a 

 very considerable degree of strength is necessary. 



* Among these we may enumerate that of Mr. Lester, whose cultivator ohta.inei a medal 

 from the Society of Arts, and has been improved upon by General Beatson and Messieurs 

 Emerson and Weir ; Hayward's exlh-pator, or sca/p-p/oi/ffh ; M'Dou(i;airs, Cook's, and 

 Parkinson's scarifiers ; Plenty's scnffler ; Dudgeon's and Kirkwood's grubbos; Wilkie's 

 jtarallel adjusting brake ; Fmlayson's self-cleansing harrow; and Morton's revolving 

 harrow, the teeth of which are fixed upon an axle, round which they revolve like the 

 spokes of a carriage-wheel ; besides those old well-known instruments called the cdget 

 and the Kentish ntdi/et. 



f SuflFolkReport,'p.36. 



