126 N. J. Mosquito Extermination Association 



The main idea was to hinge to the skids all cutting and lifting 

 parts that were normally in the ditch, in such a manner that they 

 could be lifted by the power plant clear of the ground. First the 

 necessary side cutting blades for cutting the top grass and roots 

 were fastened by hinges in front and locked in position by hooks at 

 the rear. These hooks could be released when a few feet from the 

 end of the ditch, so that it would have a chance to lift from the 

 ground in the forward movement. Next was the elevating board, 

 which was hinged to the skid at the back or discharge end and 

 suspended at the front or cutting end by two blades that were tied 

 together at the top by a bar. The cutting end of the elevating 

 board was provided with sharpened saw teeth for cutting the bottom 

 of the ditch and the suspending blades were sharpened in order 

 to cut the sides of the ditch to the extreme depth. The top tie 

 bar extended through the blades for a distance of two inches on 

 each side and rested in notches or hooks in racks that were fastened 

 to the skids in an upright position. These racks had notches spaced 

 about three inches apart. Hooking the bar in different notches 

 suspended the forward part of the elevating board to any desired 

 depth up to thirty inches. 



By this arrangement it was seen that the full depth of the ditch 

 would be cut in one operation and the resulting sod delivered in one 

 piece, which, if delivered on one side of the machine would cause a 

 strong thrust on that side resulting in throwing the machine out of 

 line of the intended ditch. To provide against this a splitting knife 

 was fastened to one skid that would cut the sod as it was passed 

 along the elevating board into two ribbons of approximately 10x15 

 inches. These two ribbons were guided by mold boards or discharge 

 chutes, one on either side of the ditch, as was done on the old plow. 



To clean the plow of sod when the ditch was completed an "A" 

 frame (see picture No. 3) was provided which stood on the front 

 end of the skids ; then the cable from the power plant was carried 

 over the top of the frame and hooked to the cross bar on the side 

 suspension plates. Then by winding in the cable the elevating board 

 was raised with the entire mass of cut, but undischarged sod until 

 it was clear of the skids, when a stick could be placed under it to 

 hold it clear of the ground. Thus by lifting the top side cutting 

 blades and the elevating board clear of the ground, it was only neces- 

 sary to hook the cable to the draw bar of the plow and move on to 

 the next ditch. 



Before this plow was tried it looked like a sure winner and was 



