Book IV. 



ROLLERS. 



393 



surface, whether tlat surface bo horizontal or sloping. Sometinies it may be found ne - 

 cessary to place a greater number of teeth in the oblong part of the brake, so as they may 

 be nearer to one another, and perform the operation more efTectually. The teeth are 

 made sharp or thin on the fore-edge, for cutting ; broad and thick on the back, for 

 strength ; and tapering, from a little below the bulls to their joints. 



2574. Gray s seed-hai-row for 

 ivet weather (fig. 325.), pro- 

 mises ta be useful in certain 

 situations, as in a tenacious re- 

 tentive soil and moist climate. 

 The sowing of wheat under ex- 

 isting circumstances, is one of 

 the most important branches of 

 the corn farmer's labor. In 

 some backward seasons, it is 

 almost impossible to get wheat 

 land harrowed according to the 

 common method, especially land 

 that has been reduced by sum- 

 mer-fallow, without subjecting 

 it to poaching from the horses, 

 which is not only unfavorable 

 to the soil, but also occasions a 

 great waste of seed. Hence it 

 often happens, that a less quantity of grain is got sown than was intended, or requisite for 

 tiie supply of the market. The beam (a) to which the harrows are attached, admits of 

 being made shorter or longer as the width of the ridge requires ; the shafts have freedom 

 to turn round either to the right hand or to 

 the left, and the teeth of the harrows are 

 placed square in the bulls, so that they can 

 be drawn from either end at pleasure. The 

 wheels (fig. 326.) may be from three to four 

 feet in diameter if made on purpose ; but for l^ 

 the professional farmer it will be sufficient to 

 borrow a pair from a one horse cart. 



2^}75. Harrows of various kinds are now very frequently made of iron, which, when 

 the material is not too dear, is a desirable circumstance on account of their durability. 



2576. The bush harrow (fig. 327.) is used for harrowing grass lands, and covering 

 grass, or clover seeds ; small rigid branches of spray are interwoven in a frame, consist- 

 ing of three or more cross-bars, fixed into two end-pieces in such a manner as to be very 



327 



rough and brushy underneath. To the extremities of the frame before are sometimes 

 attached two wheels, about twelve inches in diameter, upon which it moves ; sometimes, 

 however, wheels are not employed, but the whole rough surface is applied to, and dragged 

 on, the ground. 



2577. IVie only essential implement rfthe harroio kind is the rhomboidal (fig. 323.). 



Sect. IV. Of Rollers. 



2578. The roller is constructed of wood, stone, or cast-iron, according to conve- 

 nience or the purposes for which it is to be used. For tillage lands, the roller is used to 

 break the lumps of earth, and in some cases to press in and firm the ground about newly- 

 sown seed ; on grass lands it is used to compress and smooth the surface, and render 

 it better adapted for mowing. It has been matter of dispute whether rollers with large 

 or small diameters have the advantage in point of effect upon the land. It is probable 

 that there may be inconveniencies in both extremes. The roller should not, however, be 

 so small as to require much loading, as by such means much time and labor is lost. A 



