878 TnAxsACTToxs of the Americax Institute. 



tlian the popular jjcach-blow. 



Eeport on Monroe's Rotary Harrow. 



A committee, consisting of J. B. Lyman, S. E. Todd, and W. S. 

 Carpenter, appointed last week to examine and test this implement, 

 submitted the following report : 



" We went to the farm of Mr. Davis, near White Plains, and there 

 met Mr. Monroe, the inventor. We saw a device resembling a large 

 cartwheel laid horizontally. The spokes are ten in number, made of 

 white oak, three by three, and each armed with three harrow teeth. 

 The hub, or axle, into which they fit is a single casting, and through 

 the center runs a strong kingbolt, to which a bar is attached. On 

 one end of the bar is a small wheel running around on a narrow 

 iron track near the outer ends of the tooth spokes ; at the other 

 end is the clevis. In addition to this is a cast-iron wheel of twenty- 

 five pounds weight so connected M^ith the kingbolt as to revolve 

 near the out edge at right angles Mn'th the clevis beam. The efiect 

 of this wheel is to weight one side of the harrow, producing 

 greater resistance, as the teeth thus weighted sink deeper. This 

 unequal bearing on the two sides of the wheel-harrow give a rotating 

 motion, combined with the forward motion, without loss of power. 

 A sliding weight is so adjusted as to increase or lessen the bear- 

 ing of this wheel at pleasure. Tlie test to which %ve subjected the 

 invention was severe. The field was a roughly turned sod, with 

 grass sprouting high from the edge of each . furrow-slice. There 

 were some bushes, some loose stones, some fast stones, Avhile a 

 co])ious rain falling all the morning made the surface muddy 

 where not grassy. A careful observation of the style in which 

 this tool did its work has convinced your committee. 1 That, 

 by giving the plowmen of America such a help for fine tillage as 

 they have in this rotating harrow, Mr. Monroe deserves the thanks of 

 farm laborers and farm horses. 2. We think his harrow going once 

 over a surface will accomplish as mucli as any other harrow going 

 three times over. As the direction of the rotation is easily controlled, 

 it can, in harrowing, move always from the back to the upper edge of 

 the furrow slice. No sod need be upturned by its action. 4. The 

 rotating motion allows the implement to clear itself of clay, and free 

 itself from a stump or last rock. No lifting is called for, and the 

 drauglit is uniform upon the team. 5. The teeth wear out alike. 6. 



