THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



199 



failure under particular circumstances. This 

 course, it seems to us, would be beneficial alike 

 to the farmer and the mechanic — remove dis- 

 trust, and establish confidence. 



Farm implements may be classified as, 1st, 

 those proper for preparing the soil ; 2nd, those 

 for putting in and cultivating grain and other 

 crops ; 3rd, implements for severing and secur- 

 ing crops ; 4th, those for threshing and prepar- 

 ing for market ; 5th, implements of promiscu- 

 ous uses. 



1st. Implements for preparing the soil. It is 

 a just sentiment, and one more universally ad- 

 mitted than practiced, that thorough prepara- 

 tion of the soil is the first element of success, 

 and moreover, that thus prepared, little subse- 

 quent cultivation is needed to ensure a satisfac- 

 tory crop. The implement best adapted to this 

 purpose, and vastly superior to all others in the 

 knowledge of the Committee, is the Livingston 

 plough. Its superiority consists in its simplici- 

 ty, durability, easy draft, width and depth of 

 furrow, and in inverting the sod. The V and 

 square harrow, the latter adapted to the inequal- 

 ities of the surface by means of a double frame 

 with hinges in the middle, are all needful to be 

 mentioned under this head. 



2nd. For putting in and cultivating grain 

 and other crops. 



The corn planter the Committee cannot re- 

 commend to general use, as at present con- 

 structed. The track of its roller renders the 

 soil liable to brake after a heavy shower, both 

 before and after the corn conies up. It is liable 

 to deposite the grain unequally, and at irregu- 

 lar distances. Corn thus planted, with dry 

 plaster irregularly scattered, and not always 

 Brought in contact with the grain, is observed 

 no tot vegetate with the same vigor as when rolled 

 in plaster. The shear coulter in the first in- 

 stance, and the three tooth sidewipe, with slight 

 wings on the shanks, for the purpose of throw- 

 ing earth to the corn, are preferred to other im- 

 plements under this head, and by timely and 

 judicious use, may be made ordinarily, to super- 

 sede all others in the culture of corn. 



The subject of Wheat-Drills, a costly imple- 

 ment, has engaged much attention recently, and 

 the Committee regret its inabilily to speak com- 

 paratively of the different kinds. But one pat- 

 tern has been used to any extent as yet by us — 

 Pinnock's — and whatever may be said in recom- 

 mendation of the principle of its construction, 

 which may or may not be a good one, the 

 committee feels authorized to denounce the 

 machines sent us, as humbugs ; and the reverse 

 of time and labor saving. Of the very consid- 

 erable number sold in this • county last year, we 

 have yet to hear of the first instance in which 

 satisfaction was given. With a few or no ex- 

 ceptions, all that were used had first to be re- 

 paired or altered ; some, when not paid for, 

 were sent back, — others could not be used at all, 

 for want of necessary parts of the machinery ; 

 and which being paid for, the agents refused to 



take back, on account of the lateness of the pe- 

 riod, though offered fifteen per cent, discount 

 and freight on the return. Of those that 

 were sold, some came to pieces, and all performed 

 imperfectly and unsatisfactorily. 



The committee feels warranted in saying 

 this article was made to sell, and that the only 

 profit, connected with it, enures wholly to the 

 manufacturer and the of agents, who, innocently 

 lend themselves to impose them on the farming 

 community. Those who wish to make farther 

 improvements with drills, are recommended to 

 the pattern of Bickwell & Hofi'man, which is 

 highly spoken of in some quarters. 



The single or light double-shovel may be re- 

 garded as most satisfactory for putting in small 

 grain. In dry seasons the ordinary harrow 

 cannot be relied on. Under this head may be 

 classed Seymore's Broad-Caster — an implement 

 highly spoken of, and so far as the committee 

 have observed, of real merit. The regularity 

 and evenness of its work in sowing wheat, guano 

 and plaster, cannot be surpassed. But the price 

 demanded for such a machine seems to the Com- 

 mittee much too high, and this with the cost of 

 working it, will greatly limit its use. 



3rd. For severing and securing grain. 



On large estates the grain reaper is much ap- 

 proved, and on smooth land may be advantage- 

 ously employed. Neither the experience nor 

 the observation of the Committee warrants it in 

 recommending any particular pattern. 



The light hand hoe is preferred to any other im- 

 plement for cutting up corn. The elastic wire 

 tooth gleaner, (the name of the patentee not re- 

 membered,) is valuable both in the wheat field 

 and meadow. 



4th. For threshing and cleaning grain. 



The staple tooth thresher, manufactured by 

 Smith of Louisa, and Smith of Richmond, and 

 we believe also by Fishback of Green, may be 

 recommended for the ease, rapidity and efficien- 

 cy with which it operates. The manufacturers 

 of this machine, the Committee will remark, 

 neither do themselves nor their patrons justice 

 in claiming for it the merit of being staple 

 tooth, when in fact it is not entirely so — the 

 teeth in the concave being simply^ spikes — less 

 secure and more dangerous than if what they 

 are claimed to be. 



The Virginia corn-sheller, manufactured by 

 Smith of Richmond, is an admirable implement 

 and entitled to precedence over all others of its 

 class. No farmer who has occasion to shell five 

 bushels of corn a week, should be without one." 



Doyle's fan for grain and grass seed is very gen- 

 erally in use and universally approved. The 

 Committee is not prepared to say whether im- 

 provements have been made to supersede it by 

 some other pattern. Of portable mills, no other 

 than the Little Giant Corn and Cob Crusher has 

 come under the observation of the Committee, 

 and this is earnestly recommended as a most 

 valuable machine — operating most expeditious- 

 ly and so effectually as to render it difficult to 



