SOWING, AND SOWING MACHINES. 



capacity, as a dibbler of seed and ' 

 manure, that we shall attempt to give 

 a slight description of it. The op- 

 erative part of the machine is sus- 

 pended upon an iron carriage having 

 four wheels, the two hinder ones 

 being fast upon their axle and turn- 

 ing with it. On this axle is a spur-! 

 wheel, giving motion to a puiion on j 

 an intermediary axle, which carries 

 a wheel geared into a second pinion j 

 fixed on its axis, having six cranks | 

 arranged spirally. The velocity given i 

 to the axis is such that the cranks 

 make one revolution for every six 

 inches of the circumference of the 

 hind w^heels, or whatever is the dis- 

 tance desired between dibble holes. 

 The radius of each crank is such 

 that this distance shall be equal to 

 the circumference described by one 

 revolution. Thus the space described 

 by every crank coincides with that 

 passed over in the same time by the 

 hind wheels ; and as the cranks turn, 

 during the half of a revolution, in an 

 opposite direction to that of the 

 wheels, the result of this compound 

 motion is a pause or rest of short du- 

 ration, at the point where the crank 

 in its rotation commences to retro- 

 grade from the line of progress of the 

 machine, i. e., at the lowest point, 

 and when the dibbles are in the 

 ground. The crank raises the dib- 

 bles up and down by means of con- 

 necting rods and levers, which double 

 the vertical without increasing the 

 horizontal motion ; and in order tliat 

 the point when in the ground may 

 be perfectly stationary, it is made the 

 centre of motion while the machine 

 progresses ; and to enable it to re- 

 tain that position for a sufficient 

 length of time, for the purpose of 

 leaving a hole truly vertical, the dib- 

 bles move between checks in the rod 

 which connects it with the crank, 

 and which has a spring to restore it 

 quickly to its proper place as it rises 

 out of the ground During, therefore, 

 the entire time occupied in its pier- 

 cing the hole and being withdrawn 

 from the soil, the dibble retains its 

 perpendicularity. 

 '• ' By an ingenious and simple 



contrivance, a slow rotatory motion 

 about its own axis is given to tiie 

 dibble, by which means its point may 

 be said to bore into the ground, thus 

 assisting in the formation of the hole ; 

 and by the same action the dibble is 

 cleared of any adhering soil, and the 

 hole left firm and clear. 



" ' The seed-valve consists of a 

 cylinder, with a cavity in it of dimen- 

 sions sufficient to hold one or more 

 seeds. This cylinder is tumbled over, 

 and the seed discharged into a recip- 

 ient of the shape of a quadrant, from 

 which it is pushed out, when the cyl- 

 inder returns to its first position and 

 takes in a fresh supply. As this mo- 

 tion is sudden, the seed is surely de- 

 livered, even when rather damp : 

 when the cylinder is delivering, the 

 quadrant is receiving, and vice versa. 

 The delivery of manure is effected by 

 a similar apparatus, only of a larger 

 size, the valves being furnished with 

 brushes, or other means, to remove 

 the superfluity. 



" ' The valves are connected with 

 the dibbles in such a manner as to 

 deposite the manure and seed in the 

 hole last formed, while the dibbles 

 are stationary in the advancing one. 

 The dibbles bore their holes in shal- 

 low drills made by the pressure and 

 sliding action of an iron shoe shaped 

 like a boat, and forming a smooth 

 furrow. 



" ' The whole of the machinery is 

 supported by an iron frame, one end of 

 which rests on trunnions attached to 

 aprojecting part of the back of the car- 

 riage. It is suspended at the other end 

 by a cross shaft, carrying two pinions, 

 working in arcs of circles fixed on the 

 frame, so that it can be raised or de- 

 pressed at pleasure, or elevated clear 

 of the ground by one turn of a winch. 

 At the same time, the pinion con- 

 necting the machinery with the hind 

 wheels is put out of gear, and the 

 whole can be moved about on the 

 carriage. 



" ' The object of the reverend gen- 

 tleman in contriving this original and 

 singularly ingenious implement, has 

 been to imitate the more minute and 

 1 certain manipulations of the garden- 



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