Gh. n.] GRUBBERS. 2!) 



An alteration has, liowever, been recently ijiade in tlie constnietiou of 

 Finlayson's harrow, wliich has been brought into very general notice, 

 under the name of Kirkwood's Grubber; and is, by many persons, con- 

 sidered as a material improvement. It is also made entirely of iron, of 

 the weight of about 4 cwt., and, with its tines or coulters, which are 2 

 inches broad, and stand 15 inches below the bars, covers a breadth of 

 4 feet 4 inches, in the following manner — 



^'' From the description given of it in the Transactions of the Highland 

 Society*, it will be observed that the pressure on the guiding handles at A 

 turns the whole handle round the axle of the hind wheels, B13, as round a 

 fulcrum, so that the handle then becomes a lever, on the shorter extremity 

 of which the frame of the teeth rests. It is evident, therefore, that, by 

 bearing on the handle which forms the long end of the lever, the shorter 

 end must be raised, and along with it the hinder part of the teeth of the 

 frame, and of course the teeth also. But there is still another contrivance 

 by which the force is made to act at the same time on the fore part of the 

 frame, and to raise it likewise. This is done by the long rod, DE, which 

 is attached at the extremity to a fulcrum, D, raised on the handle frame, 

 and at the other to the one end of a bent lever, EFG, which turns on the 

 axle of the fore wheel as a centre, and, at an intermediate point, carries 

 the fore end of the teeth frame. While the handle therefore is depressed, 

 and raises the hinder part of this frame, it at the same time pulls the rod, 

 turns the front lever round the axle of the fore-wheel, and by this means 

 elevates the teeth before as well as behind. 



The whole operation is simple, ingenious, and effective ; and although 

 it does not cover the same breadth of ground, yet the draught is lighter 

 than that of the other grul)ber, and thus it can move at a quicker rate. 

 Another peculiar advantage is, that the whole body of the instrument can 

 be raised out of the ground at pleasure, by the driver's merely bearing 

 with his weight upon the handles ; which is extremely convenient both at 

 turning the corners of the ridges, or meeting any sudden obstruction in the 

 ground. 



A very ingenious implement, upon the same principle of elevating or 

 depressing it by means of the handles, and thus regulating its deptK of 

 work, has also been invented by Mr. Wilkie, and is highly spoken of; but 

 not having seen it, we are unable to describe it so accurately as we could 

 wish, and we therefore abstain from any particular mention of it. 



From what we have already said of these instruments generally, we think 

 that no doubt can be entertained of their utility ; and their effect may be fur- 

 ther improved by adding a small light harrow, formed with only a couple 



* N. S. Vol. II., plate No. II. and p. 132. 



