248 
THE CULTIVATOR 
August 
The subject of the accompanying engraving will 
prove a very valuable labor-saving machine, from the 
great quantity of potatoes it will dig, in comparison with 
the number raised by the same amount of hand labor. 
The operation of the machine will be understood from 
the following description, reference being had to the il¬ 
lustration. A is a strong frame which is drawn by the 
shaft B, and is supported on the wheels C. Inside of 
one of these wheels is a geared wheel, D, and on the 
axle of the wheels are ratchets and pawls, F, so ar¬ 
ranged that the gear wheels shall only be rotated 
when the machine moves forward, and remain at rest 
when the machine is backed or is turning at the end of 
a row. From the frame, A, is suspended by means of 
supports, H, a broad digger or spade, I, and these sup¬ 
ports being connected with a cross bar at the top, this 
digger can be raised or lowered to pass the requisite 
depth into the ground under the potatoes, by means of 
a screw and crank, Q, and the platform and adjuncts 
immediately to be described can be made to enter the 
ground at any angle by the screw rod, K, the digger 
being suspended from H by a hinge or axle. G is the 
driver's seat. 
A small gear wheel, E, works from D, a bevel wheel, 
0, placed on the end of its shaft, and both these can 
be disconnected so as not to receive any motion 
from D, by the lever P. The bevel wheel 0 rotates 
the shaft N, by another bevel wheel, and this shaft 
has on its lower end four arms, L, which scrape the 
potatoes from the dirt as they are dug up by I, and 
clean them by bringing them through the grooves in 
the platform J. The bearing of N is protected by a 
rim M, so that no dirt can enter and interfere with its 
free working, and to which the bearing is hinged that 
it may conform to the inequalities of the ground, and 
the angle at which the platform is placed. 
It is a simple and perfect machine and is the inven¬ 
tion of J. E Hardenbergh of Fultonville, N. Y., from 
whom any more desired information concerning rights, 
can be obtained .—Scientific American. 
B. R. Palmer may be informed that the Sugar Maple 
grows readily from seed. The seeds ripen in October, 
and might be planted immediately if the ground is in 
good order and not liable to bake. If the soil is heavy 
clay, it will be best to mix the seeds with moist sand 
in a box that has enough holes or cracks in the bottom 
to let all surplus water pass out, and cover the box so 
that theleeds may keep moist but not wet, until spring, 
when they may be planted. It will however, probably 
be more satisfactory to buy the plants ready grown, * 
than to trust the seeds to unskillful hands. Well root¬ 
ed plants, six to nine inches high, can be had here for 
$5 per 1,000. The Sugar Maple is entirely hardy in 
Central and Northern Minnesota. I have seen large 
forests of it north of St. Anthony. It grows on several 
of the streams in Iowa as thrifty as elsewhere. 
The Lombardy and Italian poplar, and Abele or Sil¬ 
ver poplar, grow readily from cuttings—make a very 
rapid growth, and in the hands of a man of taste would 
do better than nothing, while better trees were coming 
forward. I think it would be a good investment to 
plant a few acres of these for firewood where timber is 
scarce. 
I consider the Scotch Fir the best evergreen for a 
grove on the prairies, considering hardiness, rapidity 
of growth, beauty, and cheapness. We sell good plants, 
six inches high, for $10 per 1,000. Norway Spruce is 
a better tree, but does not grow so rapidly, and costs 
more, say $15 to $25 per 1,000. Arborvitse also does 
well planted closely, but does not preserve its green 
color well in winter—price, $10 to $15 per 1,000. Red 
Cedar has been recommended by some, but it is not 
sufficiently hardy in exposed situations. All evergreens 
do best transplanted in the spring. 
If western men would endeavor to improve their 
homes, instead of striving so eagerly to add to their 
acres, I believe in the end they would have more money, 
easier consciences, and the world would be benefitted. 
E. Y. Teas. Richmond , Indiana. 
