1 Noy., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 509 
Agricultural Patents. 
PATENTS ACCEPTED. 
Cuurn or Eoa-Brarer.—Class 32 (2 Figures)—5974: David Murray, 
of Farquhar street, Wingham, New South Wales, Australia, blacksmith. ‘An 
Improved Domestic Agitator for Churning and the like.” Dated 24th April, 
1901. (Drawings, 10s. ; specification, 4s.) A. cylindrical vessel, with a liquid- 
tight cover at one end, is gripped by a wrought-iron belt-clamp near its middle ; 
the belt-clamp has gudgeons and a handle at one end whereby the vessel may be 
repeatedly overturned end for end by rotation in a portable frame that may be 
screwed or clamped to a table. (2 claims.) 
Prant Potson.—Class 28—6009: Alfred Martin, of Forest Lodge, near 
Sydney, New South Wales, machinist. ‘‘ A Solution for Destroying Prickly 
Pear and other Noxious Plants.” Dated 13th May, 1901. (No drawings ; 
specification, 2s. 6d.) A solution made with 3 to 4 lb. each of caustic soda and 
washing soda, with + to } lb. of alum, in a gallon of water, is sprayed or injected 
on the plants, which should be previously chopped down. (1 claim.) 
SHEEP-SHEARING Macutne; Batancep Currer Pressure.—Class 36 
(13 Figures)—5998: Jolnm Kerwin Stewart, of No. 158 East Huron street, 
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, U.S.A. “ Improvement in the Construction 
of Clippers for Shearing Tools.” Dated 7th May, 1901. (Drawings, 10s.; 
specification, 17s.) To obtain equality of pressure on the three fingers of the 
upper cutting comb, notwithstanding its flexibility and other irregularities, the 
pressure of the floating forked lever upon the two outer fingers is given by a 
serew Which reacts on the main rocking-bar to which the central lever is 
attached, so that the total pressure is suitably divided, and all other elasticity 
is avoided in the action; a laterally rockable pivot for the floating lever causes 
equal division of pressure on the outer fingers. (7 claims.) 
Droprer-crip Tonas.—Class 35 (8 Figures): This portable lever tongs 
kinks the horizontal and vertical wires of a fence together at one operation, 
and compresses around the joint a previously prepared sheet-metal clip 
(described in No. 4975). One handle of the tongs is formed integrally with 
the jaw supporting the horizontal wire from the back, parallel to which is a jaw 
bolted to the front part. The opposing jaw slides between these on guide- 
bolts, and is spring-retracted, and is projected by the cam-shaped end of the 
second handle of the tongs. The partly bent prepared clip is placed with the 
wires in the gap and is closed by one action of the levers simultaneously with 
the kinking of the wires. (5 claims.) 
Grip-poGs FoR WIRE-STRAINING.—Class 35 (8 Figures)—-5993: Francis 
Temple Page, of Pahiatua, New Zealand, farmer. “An improved Grip to be usedin 
conjunction with Wire-straining Appliances and for other analogous purposes.” 
Dated 4th May, 190i. (Drawings, 7s. 6d.; specification, 5s. 6d.) ‘Two elon- 
gated pieces of sheet metal are twisted and provided with hooked slits which 
may be locked together with the wire gripped between both hooks; a spring 
double hook or link applies traction to holes in the outer corners of the pieces 
of sheet metal so that the greater the traction the greater the compression of the 
dogs on the wire. The dogs may be used in connection with the straining lever 
in specification 5724. (2 claims.) 
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