AGRICULTURAL LIME 105 



length of the inside of the hopper. The axles should be fitted with 

 journals, bolted to the under side of the frame. 



Make a reel to work inside of the hopper by securing to the axle, 

 12 inches apart, short arms of f-inch by 1-inch iron, and fastening 

 to these arms four beaters of f-inch square iron, about an inch shorter 

 than the inside of the hopper, the reel being so adjusted that the 

 beaters will almost scrape the bottom of the hopper, but will revolve 

 freely between the sides. The arms may be made of two pairs of 

 pieces, bent so as to fit around the axle on opposite sides, and secured 

 by small bolts passing through the ends and through the beater, 

 which is held between them. The diameter of the completed reel 

 is about 5 inches, and it serves as a force feed. 



Two pieces of oilcloth may be tacked to the bottom of the hopper, 

 one in front and one behind, of sufficient width to reach nearly to the 

 ground, in order to reduce the annoyance of the flying dust to man 

 and team. Another piece may be buttoned across the top of the 

 hopper in windy weather, if desired; but the dust of limestone or of 

 natural phosphate is certainly no worse than the dust of the field. 



A sort of second force feed has been evolved from the extensive 

 experience of Illinois farmers in building home-made machines: Two 

 pieces of sheet steel, each about 6 inches wide and the length of the 

 machine, are used as a V-shaped bottom for the hopper, forming nearly 

 a right angle at the lowest point. One piece is stationary and the 

 other is given an endwise motion back and forth by means of a small 

 wheel with a heavy rim waving in and out horizontally and running 

 through a slotted piece firmly attached to the movable sheet steel. 

 Two very small wheels forming the sides of the slot serve to reduce 

 the friction, and a lever is arranged to throw this mechanism out of 

 gear. One of the pieces of sheet steel is provided with an adjustment 

 by means of which a crack is opened of any desired width, the entire 

 length of the bottom. Thus the stone falls, not through holes or 

 in streaks, but in a perfect broadcast. Several of these home- made 

 machines are in use. The draft is more than with the reel alone, but 

 they are undoubtedly more satisfactory than anything on the market. 



The cash expense for such a machine, aside from the 

 mower wheels with axle and ratchets, has varied from 

 less than $10 to more than $20, depending on the cost of 

 material and labor. Farmers with some mechanical skill 

 hire only the necessary blacksmithing. 



79. Gypsum. Many soils, especially in the Southeastern 

 part of the United States, have received by the applica- 



