50 
Report on the Agricultural Implements at 
carried on two 30-inch concave-rimmed iron wheels. The pole draws from a 
cross-bar above the axle. These two independent frames are connected by hinges, 
and thus have independent motion. The corn-boxes are of cast iron, containing 
a cup, or bottom plate, on which the seed rests. This cup has a " cut-off " 
attached. The box also contains a slide or " drop plate," which works under 
the bottom plate, and is connected with the same on opposite sides, by a bar 
to which an operating lever is attached. By a stroke or movement of this lever, 
given by the boy, the drop-plate is made to move under the cap or bottom- 
plate. The cap has an oblong hole about 6 inches by lj wide, and has the 
cut-off at the centre of this hole. As the drop-plates slide under the cap, the 
corn lodges in a round hole (there are two in each plate), and as the hole 
passes under the cut-off all surplus corn is brushed off, and only the proper 
quantity passed down into the valve, which is in the runner standard. At- 
tached to the driver's seat is a crank-motion tip-up, which is necessary in order 
to raise the front part out of the ground — necessary at the land's end or in 
case of an obstruction, or for forcing the runners into the ground. The tip-up 
has two levers, one on each side of the seat-stand ; and the driver, by pressing 
his foot on the right-hand lever, raises up the frame, and the crank passing the 
centre and resting on the frame locks the front to position. By pressing upon the 
left lever the runners can be forced into the ground. The depth of planting is 
regulated by gauge-wheels, seen in the illustration (Fig. 43), which can be raised 
or lowered. At the back of the runners are placed corn shovels, which are 
attached to the runner standards by a hinge connection, which allows of free 
motion. Their object is to throw the earth over the corn, thus insuring per- 
fect covering, even when the surface is unlevel. Having freedom of motion 
they rise over obstacles, and, moreover, can be operated on by means of foot- 
levers, the driver being able to raise them up if necessary. The valve is 
placed about 2j inches above the ground. The corn lodges on one side, and 
when the valve is opened and the corn liberated it acquires sufficient jerk to 
insure sufficient distribution. Three to four seeds are planted at once, and it is 
a point of great importance to have these somewhat scattered, say three or four 
inches apart. The tube is so arranged that the working of the valve can be seen 
by the driver, and if anything is wrong he can instantly stop the machine. A 
scraper is provided, which can be brought up to the surface of the wheel by 
pressure. The reason for the concavity of the rims is to mark the line of the 
hills, allowing of early hoeing operations. The price of the Vandiver is 65 dollars. 
The Keystone Manufacturing Company, Stirling, Illinois, showed a light, 
well-made machine furnished with a marker, comprising a strong arm shod 
with a marking termination ; this marker shows the exact line for the wheel- 
track on the return journey. The dropping arrangements are decidedly well 
considered, the valve is so constructed that the corn, which falls but 2 inches, 
is sent with a side and backward motion which insures its being scattered 
in the hill. In front, and connected with the runner, is an adjustable shoe, 
by which the depth can be regulated. The seat of the dropper is made to 
slide backwards or forwards so as to secure the easiest leverage. The appear- 
ance is exceedingly light, but as the construction and material are good, there 
is no reason why such a machine should not be durable. Price GO dollars. 
Recently attempts have been made to supersede the attendant by working the 
dropping-lever by appliances which shall render the machine automatic. The 
oldest of these is known as the Haworth Check-Bow Planter, made at London, 
Ohio, and comprises merely a quarter of a mile of rope knotted at the intervals 
at which it is desirable to plant. The rope is fast at both ends of the field, 
and passes across the front of the planter by means of pulleys. When the knots 
come in contact with the lever-rod the corn is dropped. This arrangement 
does away with the necessity for marking out the ground ; a marker might be 
attached to the machine to show the exact line for the wheels on the return 
journey. The cost, 30 dollars, includes a quarter of a mile of rope. This 
