SCARIFIER, 



SCOURING. 



be no question that in a general way a finer 

 tilth may be obtained with Biddell's scarifier 

 than with any plough; and, for this reason, 

 strong and tenacious clays and even many of 

 the better loams, though dry at the surface and 

 apparently in good order for ploughing, fre- 

 quemly turn up coarse and "loamy." In the 

 early part of the spring, the combined action 

 of frost and the atmosphere may probably in 

 time effect what a scarifier would do at once, 

 viz., reduce the clods to a comparatively fine 

 mould, without which the hope of a good bar- 

 ley crop is but slender. There is no reason 

 why the process of scarifying should not 

 prove equally beneficial to the turnip or any 

 other crop. Indeed, some are of opinion that 

 what is usually called a stale furrow, in contra- 

 distinction to a newly ploughed one, is more 

 favourable to the germination and after-growth 

 of a plant like the turnip than a sowing on soil 

 freshly turned up. 



A great improvement on Fuller's extirpator, 

 was Finlayson's Patent Self-cleaning Harroic. PI. 

 15, fig. 5. This well-known implement may be 

 called the parent of several of the same de- 

 scription, which, in improved forms, have sub- 

 sequently come into use. It is formed of iron, 

 and, according to the inventor, has the follow- 

 ing advantages: 1. From the position in 

 which the tines are fixed, their points (aaaaa) 

 hanging nearly on a parallel to the surface of 

 the land, it follows, that this implement is 

 drawn with the least possible waste of power. 



2. From the curved form of the tines, all stub- 

 ble, couch, &c., that the tines may encounter in 

 their progress through the soil, is brought to 

 the surface, and rolled up to the face of the 

 tines ; when it loses its hold, and is thrown off 

 (at 6 b b b 6), always relieving itself from be- 

 ing choked, however wet or foul the land. 



3. The mode by which this harrow can be so 

 easily adjusted to work at any depth required, 

 renders it of great value ; this is done as quick 

 as thought by moving the regulator (c) upwards 

 or down wards between the lateral spring (de); 

 and by each movement upwards into the open- 

 ings (f g h i &), the fore-tines (I I II) will be 

 allowed to enter the soil about 1 inch deeper 

 by each movement into the different spaces, 

 until the regulator is thrown up to (c), when 

 the harrow is given its greatest power, and 

 will then be working at the depth of 8 or 9 

 inches. Also the axletree of the hind-wheels 

 is moved betwixt o and p, a space of 7 or 8 

 inches, by a screw through the axletree, which 

 is turned by a small handle (g), so that the 

 hind part of the harrow, by this simple mode, 

 is also regulated to the depth at which it is 

 found necessary to work. 4. When the har- 

 row is drawn to the head or foot lands, the re- 

 gulator is pressed down to d, and the fore-wheel 

 (m) is then allowed to pass under the fore-bar 

 (), by which the nose of the harrow is lifted, 

 and the points of the fore-tines (1 1 1 1) will then 

 be taken 2 or 3 inches out of the soil, which 

 affords the means of turning the harrow with 

 the greatest facility. 5. Being made of malle- 

 able iron, its durability may be said to be end 

 Jess ; whereas, if made of wood, the prime cost 

 would be entirely lost at the end of every 5 or 

 6 years. Lastly, the mode of working is so 



982 



easy, that any boy of 10 or 12 years of age is 

 perfectly qualified to manage it. Next to Wit- 

 kie's brake, we consider this the most valuable 

 of pronged implements, and think that, like 

 Wilkie's implement, it might be substituted for 

 the plough, after drilled green or root crops, on 

 light soil generally. Some account of the as- 

 tonishing powers of the implement, as exem- 

 plified in breaking up Hyde Park, London, in 

 1826, will be found in the Gardener's Magazine, 

 vol. ii. p. 250. 



Wilkie's Paralleled justing Brake is very nearly 

 allied to the implement last mentioned ; its chief 

 improvement consists in the triangular adjust- 

 ment of the teeth or prongs, and the facility 

 with which they may be completely thrown 

 out of work; whereas, with Finlayson's har- 

 row this can only be partially done, the hind- 

 teeth of the latter still retaining some hold of 

 the ground, even though the first row be lifted 

 up. This we are aware has been represented 

 as an advantage, inasmuch as the slight hold 

 retained by the back-row of tines prevents the 

 implement from running on the horse's heels, 

 when turning at the ends of the stetches on 

 hilly ground. We see but little in this as an 

 argument in favour of any implement of the 

 kind. Indeed, we are rather disposed to give 

 the preference to one like Wilkie's brake, 

 which, by a parallel movement of the frame in 

 which the tines are fixed, can, either at the 

 turnings or while in action, be elevated or de- 

 pressed en masse. 



Kirkwood's Grubber in its operation somewhat 

 resembles those last described, but is superior 

 to them in working. The leverage that is ob- 

 tained by pressing on the handles or stilts of 

 the machine, whether in action or rest, is so 

 simple, and yet so powerful in its effect, as to 

 regulate the depth of the tines to the greatest 

 nicety; or, in cases of obstruction, to throw 

 them out of work altogether. It is an admira- 

 ble implement, and well deserving the high 

 commendation which has been bestowed on it. 



SCORE. A term signifying 20 Ibs. in speak- 

 ing of the weight of cattle or swine. 



SCORING. A provincial term signifying 

 the glossing or making the furrow-slice in 

 ploughing or turning land up, by the plough 

 acting as a trowel. It is sometimes written 

 scowering. 



SCORPION-GRASS (Myosotis, from myos, a 

 mouse, and otos, an ear ; fancied resemblance 

 in the leaves.) All the perennial species of 

 this genus are very beautiful, especially the 

 well-known Forget-me-not (M.palustris'). They 

 grow best in moist places, or by the edges of 

 ponds or ditches ; they may also be grown in 

 pots among alpine plants. The annual species 

 like a dry, sandy soil; most of the perennial 

 kinds may be increased by divisions of the 

 roots, and all by seeds. Sir J. E. Smith de- 

 scribes seven species of scorpion-grass indi- 

 genous to England, two of which are annuals, 

 the rest perennials. Besides the M. paluslri* 

 and M. arvensis, there are one or two other spe- 

 cies found in the United States. 



SCOTCH FIR. A common but improper 

 name for the Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestrit'). 

 See PIXE and Fin. 



SCOURING. See PCBGIICG. 



