382 



SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part II. 



each ; but if they be required to plough one inch and a half deep at a time, tlien the total force ex- 

 pended by the four horses will be only 160 pounds, or 40 pounds bv each horse. 



2532. Application. This leads General B. to the principle on which his small scarifiers are constructetl. 

 " They have," he says, " four hoe-tines in the hind-bar, and I will suppose that there are four harrow-tines 

 (instead of three) in the front bar, so that each scarifier may be considered as four small ploughs, witli 

 four shares and four coulters. If we suppose one horse attached to this implement, and that the force ho 

 exerts is 160 pounds, it is obvious that in scarifying to the depth of one inch and a half, he will exert 

 these 160 pounds upon the four pairs of tines, or a force of 40 pounds upon each pair. But, in fact, the 

 force required to draw the scarifier will be considerably less than to draw any form of jilough, because 

 the hoe, or share-tines, being much thinner and sharper than a plough-share and mould-board, will of 

 course meet with much less resistance in stirring the soil. General B. goes on to relate some experiments 

 by which he considers he has " clearly proved that the least expensive method of preparing the land for 

 wheat, after tares, beans, peas, or clover, is simply by using the scarifiers." This we conceive is carrying 

 the use of the scarifier much too far. We think it is a sufficient illustration of its value that it may be used 

 in stirring lands on which potatoes or turnips have grown, or that has been ploughed in autumn or during 

 winter, so that a crop may be sown in spring without farther use of the plough. In working fallows, and 

 preparing for turnips and potatoes, it may save two or three furrows. {Supp. Encyc. BiiL art. Agr. and 

 Farm. Mag.) 



2533. The Scotch scarifier, cultivator, or grubber (fig. 299.) is considered one of the best 

 implements of this kind as a substitute for the plough. It consists of two strong rectan- 

 gular frames, the one including the other, 299 



and nine bars mortised into the inner one, 

 with eleven coulters or prongs with tri- 

 angular sharp-edged dipping feet, four 

 cast-iron wheels, and two handles. All the 

 cutters are fixed in these bars, except two 

 which are placed in the side beams of the 

 outer frame, and may be set to go more 

 or less deep by means of pins and wedges. 

 It works as deep as the plough has gone, 

 and by the reclined position of the coulters, 

 brings to the surface all the weed roots that 

 lurk in the soil. Beans and peas have been 

 sown in spring on the winter furrow, after 



being stirred by the grubber ; and barley 



also after turnips, without any ploughing at all. This implement is made of different 

 sizes, and may be worked either by four or by two horses, and one man. 



2534. Weir's improved cultivator {fig, 300.) is a very effective implement of this kind, 



with nine coulters or prongs. It may be set to go more or less deep by raising or lower- 

 ing both the fore and hind wheels. 



2535. Parkinson's cultivator [Jig. 

 301.) has been found a very useful 

 implement, both for stirring and clean- 

 ing land. Its inventor recommends 

 that where the land is foul from couch, 

 sods, or any other cause, the number 

 of teeth or hoes should be reduced to 

 five or seven, two or three being 

 placed in the fore bull, and four in 

 the hindermost, increasing them to 

 nine as the land becomes in a fine 

 condition. 



