PICTORIAL CULTIVATOR ALMANAC. 
27 
STEWART’S PATENT STUMP-FEELER 
For some time after land is cleared from the forest, the 
stumps of trees present obstacles to cultivation. Hard¬ 
wood stumps rot out in a few years, or become so far 
decayed that they may be pulled out by horses or oxen, 
aided by levers. Pine and hemlock are longer in rot¬ 
ting, and from their numerous and extensive roots, are 
a much greater impediment to the plow. Various ma¬ 
chines have been made to get out stumps. An objection 
to many is that they are cumbersome and unweildy, 
being difficult of transportation from place to place ; an 
objection to others is, that their cost is too great for 
many farmers. The one here represented, combines 
the advantages of simplicity and portableness with com¬ 
parative cheapness. The cost varies according to the 
size and power of the different articles—they being de¬ 
signed to possess a “ purchase” of 250 to 1000 tons, and 
are sold at $50 to $200 each—the size in most common 
use costing the former sum. The operation of the ma¬ 
chine is very simple, and may be readily understood 
from the cut, by persons who have only only a moderate 
share of mechanical knowledge. A single horse is 
generally used for working the machine, and this force 
is sufficient for most stumps, but some of extraordinary 
size may require an additional horse, or instead of hor¬ 
ses, a yoke of oxen. The average length of time re¬ 
quired for pulling each stump, is said to be about five 
minutes. AEm. AA r . Willis, Orange, Mass., is the pro¬ 
prietor of the patent. 
IMPROVED HYDRAULIC RAM. 
H, spring or brook. C, drive or supply pipe, from 
spring to ram. G, pipe conveying water to house or 
other point required for use. B, I), A, E, I, the ram. 
J, the plank or other foundation to which the ram is 
secured. 
Comparatively few of those for whose benefit this 
contrivance is designed, have as yet become aware of 
its great utility. Although the law upon which it 
works is one of the most common in nature, and al¬ 
though it has been known in some form or other for 
2,000 years, yet a kind of mystery has always hung 
about it. The seeming absurdity of the idea that wa¬ 
ter may be made to elevate itself above its level, and to 
supply a constant and abundant stream at any desired 
height, without the liability to accidents and stoppages, 
has prevented inquiry into the construction of the 
hydraulic ram, and it has consequently remained almost 
unknown, and until a few years, little used. 
Description .—The annexed cut represents a vertical 
section of the ram. A, the air chamber—B, the waste 
valve—C, valve opening into the air chamber—D, the 
feed or driving pipe—E, pipe to convey the water where 
it is desired. The pipe D, should be 30 to 50 feet long, 
and from one to two inches calibre; the pipe E any 
length desired, and 
about half an inch 
# 1 / a 1 calibre; lead pipe is 
H 4 J commonly used. — 
The circular figure 
on the left represents 
the form of the 
waste valve. The 
waste valve is made 
to vibrate up and 
down thus:—the 
water passes down the driving D, and escapes at the 
waste valve B. Now, as any descending body increases 
in velocity and force every instant of its descent, the 
column of water descending in the driving pipe, quickly 
attains sufficient velocity and force to lift the waste 
valve, but the valve in rising instantly stops the passage, 
and the whole momentum of the water strikes against 
it and seeks relief, which is only found at the valve C, 
through which a quantity of water is forced into the 
air chamber, where it is confined by the closing of the 
valve. The momentum being thus expended, and the 
water at rest, the valve B. drops by its own gravity, and 
is ready to start again. After repeated vibrations, the 
air chamber becomes partly filled with water, compress¬ 
ing within a small space the air, which by its elasticity 
reacts upon the. water, and forces it up the pipe E to 
any desired elevation or distance. 
Many a farmer has a good spring or stream of water 
in the vicinity of his buildings, wli : ch would be to him 
invaluable if it could be brought to the house and barn; 
but being at a distance, and below the level of his build¬ 
ings, it cannot be done by the ordinary means of con¬ 
veying water; to such the ram becomes one of the most 
useful contrivances that ingenuity and science has ever 
furnished. Faithfully performing its work, unattended 
and unnoticed, with constant and regular pulsations as 
of life, it presents one of the most beautiful and inte¬ 
resting achievements that the mind has ever obtained 
over matter .—Catalogue of Emery § Co., Jlbany. 
