1314 



ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF AGRICULTURE. 



SI PPI.EMF.N1. 



which the winch-handle is attached. This plate ii cat! with a thickened edge or rim, which gives it, 

 when in motion, the effect of a flywheel. It carries two thin cutters or knives, iet parallel to the face of 



the plate, and radiating from the centre. The thickness of the slices is regulated l»y the distance of the 



knives from the face of the plate. Bach knife is preceded by three or mure lancet-pointed studs, which, 

 by slitting the turnips iu passing, prepare the Slices for falling ill pieces when they are detached from 

 the knives, at each revolution of the plate. This proCPtl goes on so long as the hopper is replenished 

 with turnips, their own weight being found sufficient to hold them within the stroke of the knife. When 

 potatoes are to be sliced, the disc above described is to be removed, and another substituted, differing 

 from the first in having the cutting studs set closer together. In the figure, A represents the hopper 

 filled with turnips; B, the disc of cast iion that carries the cutters; c, one of the cutting knives, the 

 opposite one being concealed by the framework; D, the lancet-pointed studs; E, the winch-handle, 

 partially seen from behind the machine ; F P, the framework of the machine ; G G, two bars which slide 

 into staples, and serve as handles by which it can be removed from one place to another. (Highland 

 Soc. Trans., vol. x. p. 61.) 

 8175 — 2571. The lever turnip-sliccr (fig. 1U9.) has lately been much improved, and in Scotland is 



taking the place of more elaborate machines. " The 



114!) 



advantages of this form of slicer are, 1st, the cer- 

 tainty of cutting turnips free of even the smallest por- 

 tion of waste, a property which few of the revolving 

 machines possess in such perfection ; 2d, its cheap- 

 ness, the price being only from 'ids. to 30s. ; 3rd, its 

 portability, being easily carried about by one person, 

 or it may be mounted on wheels at a small ad- 

 ditional expense. It has the disadvantage of being 

 only capable of cutting slices, and therefore not so 

 well adapted for sheep feeding, but it is quite as ex- 

 peditious as some of the revolving machines, as a 

 man or a boy will slice 10 cwt. of turnips in ten 

 minutes with this machine." 



817C 2578. A turnip-sowing machine, which 



sows two rows at a time, and deposits along with 

 the seed a regular train of bone-dust, is described 

 in the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, vol. iii. 

 p. 718. 



8177. A machine for sowing carrots was invented 

 - in 18:53, by Mr. Daniel M'Naughtnn, farmer, near 

 ' Irvine, in Ayrshire. Fig. 1150. exhibits the general 

 appearance of the machine, which is similar to those 

 in common use for sowing turnips ; the essential 

 difference lying in the apparatus adopted for dis- 

 charging the carrot seeds from the seed-boxes. To 

 the lower part of the framework is attached, in the 

 usual manner, the great roller (a) serving to compress the prepared ridgelets, and also to communicate 

 motion to the other parts of the machine. This is effected by means of a leathern belt or a pitch chain, 



passing over a pulley at the extremity of the roller, and another of the same diameter at the extremity 

 of the axle (&) ; which last, in the common machines, always carries the seed-boxes, but in this 

 performs a double purpose. The first of these purposes is, that by means of two pulleys, which are 

 not seen in the figure, it gives motion to two other pulleys (c) of the same diameter, mounted on 

 small axles, which pass through the seed-boxes, and are each mounted with three plain wooden pulleys ; 

 the middle one is about six inches diameter, one inch thick at the centre, and is diminished to about 

 half an inch thick at the edges; the other two are three inches in diameter, and of proportional thick- 

 ness. The middle pulleys, unseen, are armed with six stout wire prongs, the extremities of which 

 describe a circle of twelve inches in diameter ; while the smaller pulleys (at e) are similarly armed 

 with five prongs, extending to seven inches in diameter. The revolution of these armed pulleys keeps 

 the seeds in continual agitation preparatory to their being propelled from the box. The second purpose 

 to which the axle (b) is applied is, to carry a small wooden cylinder, placed immediately under each 

 seed-box, of five inches in length, and three inches in diameter, armed with four prongs or claws, extend- 

 ing to a radius of three inches. In the revolution of these claws they penetrate successively into the 

 orifice of the seed-box. and perform an operation of picking or scratching out the seeds in a regular suc- 

 cession. The seeds are received into the funnels (i i), and piss from thence down the tubes in the usual 

 manner to the ground, where a rut is prepared for them by the coulter. The seed-boxes are made of 

 sheet iron, or of tin plate, of an elliptical form in the mouth ; the diameter being about eighteen inches 

 and twelve inches, with a depth of twelve inches ; the cross section, taken either longitudinally or trans- 

 versely, being also elliptical. The bottom of the box terminates in an oblong orifice of about six inches 

 lout; by half an inch wide in the clear ; the latter dimension being capable of extension, or diminution, 

 h\ means of two pinching screws. Kach box is cove red with a movable lid, to prevent the seeds from 

 beinj thrown out by the agitators. The funnels, with their seed tubes, are attached to the hind part of 



