362 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Aug. 



the fig have been imported from the south of 

 France, under the auspices of the agricultural 

 department of the patent office. They are in- 

 tended for distribution in our southern and south- 

 western States, where it is known that they will 

 grow and thrive. 



PATENT STUMP PULLER. 



Among the visits made by us during the pres 

 ent month to the homes of the farmers in various 

 parts of this State, and New Hampshire, was one to 

 the town of Orange, Mass., to witness the opera- 

 tions of the eighth wonder of the world, the Pa- 

 tent Stump Puller, owned and operated by ]\Ir 

 W. W. Willis, of that town. Notice of the tri 

 al had been given, so that persons assembled from 

 the adjoining towns, and a few had come from 

 remote distances. 



At ten o'clock the hook of a stout chain was 

 placed under the root of a moderately-sized 

 stump, and it was turned out with as much ap- 

 parent ease as though it had been a mere log 

 with no attachments to the ground. Other stumps 

 of still larger size, and more extensive roots, were 

 then taken out, and all with certainty, and with- 

 out the slightest confusion, and the time occu- 

 pied in removing each one after the chain was 

 applied, not exceeding ten minutes ! 



At length, the visitors having multiplied to 

 quite a crowd, a larger chain was attached, and 

 an enormous stump, the growth, perhaps, of cen- 

 turies, was selected. With a small, half-circular 

 spade, room was made under one of the roots and 

 a stout hook attached ; the chain passing from 

 the hook up over the end of the shears. The whole 

 surface of the ground about the stump was cov- 

 ered with the stumps of a later growth of young 

 pines, whose roots penetrated the soil, and min- 

 gled with those of their ancient progenitor. The 

 stump itself was between two or three feet in di- 

 ameter, and sound, as were its roots. 



A pair of stout oxen were then hitched to the 

 lever, and driven forward. When they had ad- 

 vunced some four rods, the chain was taken up, and 

 they were turned back without any unhitching, 

 the roots in the meantime cracking and making 

 a noise like a pistol exploded under water. The 

 ground gradually rose about the stump, and in 

 five minutes its gnarly roots which had securely 

 laid there for ages were brought to the lio-lit ! At 

 the expiration of ten minutes the old hero was 

 fairly turned over, and the roots on the upper side 

 pointing to the heavens ! Upon actual measure- 

 ment, we found the roots extending something 

 more than IG feet from each side of the stump. 



A gentleman from Valparaiso, who accompa- 

 nied us, and who is entrusted by the Chilian gov- 

 ernment with funds to purchase agricultural im- 

 plements, after witnessing the exhibition, at once 



ordered three of the machines to be sent to his 

 country. 



The experiment was one of the most astonish- 

 ing exhibitions of mechanical power that we have 

 ever witnessed. The machine is exceedingly sim- 

 ple, and not liable to get out of repair. 



A very pleasant and appropriate address was 

 made to the multitude at the close of the exhibi- 

 tion by Field, Esq., of Athol. All present 



seemed pleased and instructed by the occasion. 



Below we give a statement of the power of the 

 machine, furnished by Mr. Willis. 



Orange, June 7, 1855. 



The power of the machine varies according to 

 dimensions. Suppose a machine to have a lever 

 18 feet long, the anchor loop or fulcrum to be 

 14 feet from the end upon which the power is 

 applied, the first purchase loop to be 6 inches 

 from the fulcrum ; this will give you 28 times 

 the amount of power applied at the end of the 

 lever. Suppose your team to draw 2 tons, you 

 have an actual purchase on the stump of twice 

 28, or 56 tons, and more in the same proportion 

 as you extend the lever. 



Suppose, in combination with the lever, you 

 rise shears 12 feet high, and the foot of the shears 

 placed 2 feet from the stump ; in this case, you 

 have an amount of power 168 times greater than 

 that applied at the end of the lever. Suppose 

 your team to draw 2 tons, you have an actual 

 purchase on the stump of 336 tons ! Sufficient to 

 hurl out well nigh any monster ! 



When the powor of the shears has become ex- 

 hausted, if you apply the chain and pulleys, you 

 double the power of the lever, which gives 56 

 times the amount of power applied at the end of 

 the lever. That is, suppose 2 tons purchase by 

 the team, you obtain 112 tons ; this is sufficient 

 when the stump is once moved from its bed by the 

 greater power, to perfect the work. 



The shears should be placed near to the stump 

 to get the greatest power, and they exert the 

 greatest, when, rising, they reach exactly the per- 

 pendicular position. A large portion of all work 

 may be done without their aid. 



A strong horse will answer most purposes, 

 though oxen are preferable. One man can work 

 this machine slowly, but it requires tAvo or three 

 to work it rapidly. A little patience and prac- 

 tice will enable almost any one to work it in a 

 short time. Yours very respectfully, 



Wm. W. Willis. 



Locusts. — It is said that in some parts of Illi- 

 nois, particularly in the vicinity of Alton, the 

 locusts, which have been quite numerous, are 

 dying in great numbers. The ground beneath 

 the forest trees is covered with their carcasses, 

 and the hogs of the farmers ai-e getting quite 

 corpulent from the unwonted good living which 

 is thus provided for them. The insect appears to 

 have fulfilled its mission, its body has become 

 large and hollow, and its strength exhausted, and 

 in flying from one jilace to another, it at last 

 tumbles to the ground, falls upon its back, and 

 that is the last of Mr. Locust. 



