Chap. 11. OF DRILL-PLOUGHS. 459 



France's ftables. This was a hollow ball, fixed upon the axle-tree 

 of two wheels, and pierced tound the middle with a row of holes, 

 through which the feed dropt, as the wheels turned round*. 



In the middle of the table .S", S, are cut three cavities a, c, b, flop- 

 ing on each fide down to the center, where a hole of about an inch 

 diameter lets the feed drop into the hollow plate c,fg. 2. The four 

 ftandards /, /, /, t^fg' 3 and 4, are placed in fuch manner that the 

 blocks n, n, fig. 5, in which a groove is cut, anfwer to the middle 

 of this table. On an iron axle-tree which anfwers to the wheels,, 

 and which paffes through the center of the blocks, is fixed the cy-- 

 linder, or barrel 0, 0, which is clofed at its ends, p, s, and islikewife 

 divided by two partitions q, r. This barrel is made of thin fplit deal,- 

 as are alfo the ends and partitions. /, /, is a thin board, or plate of tin, 

 or thin iron, faftened with hinges, that it may be opened to put the 

 feed into the three partitions /> ^> ^ ^> ^ ^- In the middle of each of 

 thefe partition?, the barrel is pierced with holes three or four inches 

 afunder, and about a quarter of an inch in diameter. The barrel and 

 the wheels are fixed on an iron axle-tree, fo that all turn together. 



To know whether the holes u, u, u; in the three partitions of the 

 barrel are of a proper fize and number to difbribute the feed in the 

 manner that is defired,. let fome, fuppofe half a bulhel,. be put intoi 

 each partition. The blocks n, n, being placed on each fide betweea 

 the two ftandards, whole inner fides are rounded fo as to fit the groove 

 in the blocks and the table S S, being raifed fo that the wheels do not 

 touch the ground, any one may eafily fee, by giving the wheels a turn 

 or two round with the hand, whether the proper quantity of feed 

 drops behind the fliare; and alter it accordingly. 



The barrel being properly fitted, the beam is faftened to the fore- 

 carriage of this drill. As it moves, the barrel turns with the hind 

 wheels, and the Cced drops out of the holes u, u, u, fig. 5. into the 

 cavities a, c, b,fig. 3, and from thence into the hollow c^fig. 2. in 

 the hind part of the (hare. 



When the plowman comes to the end of the field, he lifts up the 

 hind carriage, which is light, and carries it to the next bed that is 

 to be fown. 



* We apprehend that farmers wKo fow under furrow, might eafify contrive to fix 

 fuch a ball to the handles or hind part of their plough ; and that it may be made to 

 turn round, and lb drop the feed, by means of fmaJl wheels, or by little eminences 

 on its lurface. The feed may be covered by the next turn of the plough, as ufual. 

 This method will favc a great deal of feed, and yet the field may be foweii/b that the 



corn ihall grow as thick as the ground can bear 



M.Du- 



