252 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



We have not made, in any trial of this im- 

 plement, a direct comparison of its work with 

 that of the harrow and roller. A simple in- 

 spection satisfied us that was as useless as to 

 estimate the relative speed and power of a 

 locomotive and an ox cart ; but a friend — D. W. 

 Haxall, Esq., of Charles City county, who ob- 

 tained a clod-crusher on our recommendation — 

 informs us that a neighbor of his, who wit-, 

 nessed its operation, after having been at work 

 on his own farm in the usual way, conceded 

 that the land was better prepared, and the 

 wheat better seeded by Mr. Haxall, with the 

 equivalent of nine harrowings on a fifteen foot 

 bed, than his was with nineteen harrowings on 

 the same area. At this rate, in sowing a 

 hundred acres, it would pay for itself in one 

 seeling. 



A simple statement will prove its economy. 

 A three horse harrow, sweeping five feet, must 

 lap one half at each trip, making only two and 

 half feet of work. Supposing one rolling with 

 the smooth roller to complete the work, which 

 it never does, then three trips of the three horse 

 teams are necessary to do what the clod-crusher, 

 with four horses, does in strips of six feet at 

 one trip. To get a thirty foot bed in order at 

 this rate, would take twelve trips of the har- 

 row, five of the roller — seventeen of both. But 

 the crusher does the same work in five trips, 

 thereby operating an excess of work of two 

 hundred and forty per cent., or seventy per 

 cent, more than the thresher in the case sup- 

 posed. [It is perfectly fair to offset the driver 

 saved against the extra horse.] 



As to cpst, a harrow will cost $14, and must 

 be renewed every five years; a decent plantation 

 roller, renewable as often, costs not less than 

 $10. But the clod-crusher will last, upon the 

 most moderate estimate, at least five times as 

 long as these implements, being nearly inde- 

 structible. Here, then, we have a cost for har- 

 row and roller of $120— to say nothing of the 

 worry and bother of repairs — against a cost of 

 $140 for the clod-crusher, which is shown to do 

 an excess of two hundred and forty per cent, 

 of work. 



In saving another most tedious and vexatious 

 process, that of breaking clods with the edge of 

 the hoe after the wheat is seeded, it is still more 

 efficacious and satisfactory. On so mo stiff clay 

 farms this is indispensable more or less every 

 year. Let any one estimate how long it will 

 take a hand to break the clods on a breadth of 



six feet by one mile, and then consider that 

 with this implement he can do the same work 

 fifty times as thoroughly in 25 minutes, and 

 he will readily conclude that in this business 

 he can save the labor of fifty hands in a day. 



It performs also another important office in 

 fitting the land for the reception of clover and 

 grass seed. Every one knows that a slight de- 

 pression in the soil, the track of a wheel, a 

 horse, a man, a sheep, is the best receptable for 

 these minute seeds. With the clod-crusher the 

 whole surface is dotted with them. 



Still another most important service will it 

 render in compressing light surfaces, and giving 

 them a closeness of texture which the simple 

 roller can not effect, not only by its superior 

 weight, but by the trampling of so many cones 

 over the surface. For this purpose it is used 

 extensively in England, and by many thought 

 even more valuable on light than on heavy 

 lands. 



It is worked by four good horses or mules — at 

 least we have worked it with that number — but 

 five or even six is better. With the largest 

 number it is a cheaper implement by far than 

 two three horse harrows, and will save a driver. 



It is made by Messrs. Baldwin & Cardwell, 

 who have obtained their patterns from our cast- 

 ings, and make a better implement than our's 

 is at a cost of $140. 



Let those who wish to buy, and yet think the 

 price high, pay us a visit at Summer Hill, where 

 we can work it any time on half an hour's 

 notice ; and if they are not satisfied to buy one 

 we promise them a dinner, supper, night's 

 lodging and breakfast, for nothing. 



We got the Virginia State Agricultural So- 

 ciety to assist us in importing the clod-crusher; 

 they importing at their risk, with the under- 

 standing that we were to take it at cost if it 

 answered. We have never seen the day we 

 would have taken the cost for it. And Mr. 

 Haxall, and Mr. Chas. B. Williams, who also 

 have one, each hold theirs as highly. 



Persons may confound this implement with 

 one made in Baltimore by Sinclair, we think — 

 a .much less costly and lighter article, and quite 

 a good one, though very high at the price. But 

 it is not to compare to CrosskilPs in efficiency, 

 strength or durability. We have tried them 

 side by side, and for real wort we would as 

 soon think of matching a calf against an ox. 



We are aware that this description is some- 

 what long, and possibly, prolix. We could not 

 make it snorter, and yet say all that we wished 



