Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-06-15
THE FARM:
The aHdcN...T1e Orchard.
The New uigging Machine.

ING lsSW tlSg1nS UaCul00s
This machine was put in operation at
our place on the 9th and 28th of April,
and large coneourse of spectators from
different parts Of the United States, were
presen. to view its operation.
We shall avoid particulars as to con-
s;ruc,ion, etc, for the present, and merely
state the effects produced, briefly. The
soil was found to be disturbed TO a depth
of sixteen inches, the upper eight inches
being rendered as fine as if passed through
course sieve, while the part below was
50 disintegrated as to resemble spaded
earth, sufficiently dry to fall to pieces.
The width operated upon was equal to
four farrows when made at that depth, as
the width Of sixteen inches plowins would
necessarily be twelve inches or less, and
the width of the tracl, of this machine
varying from three ,o four fee. at the win
Of the operator, depending upon the dis'
tancc between the rows of spades.
In ordinary soils, this machine may be
moved by the same team that would be
required to move the ordinary surface
plow tc the depth of 10 inches.
Ia heavy wet, or clayey soils, such as
the one in which it was tried, two teams
may be necessary as would be the case
with 10 inch p!owiug. Even in this hea-
w soil, one would sink ankle deep when
waking where the machine had travelled.
1t is not necessary fer the driver to
walk behind the machine as with the plow.
lie may walk along side the teams and no
second person is required. The nash'no
maintains its position fitting itself to the
sinuosi,ies of the surface of the ground.
When either Of the spades strikea on,
which is too large to slip, the machine is
lifted over such stone, the next spade en-
teriag the ground beyond the stone, and
throwing it out tc TIE rear.
Weeds or brush may be thrown on the
machine by arms full, or soil may be
thrown upon It's TOP, ani among its parts
III ary quantity while it Is in motion I;
lis tendencies being all outward its pro.
gyess can not be interfered with, as it
eleauscs i;4elf thoroughly at every rcyolu-
ton.
Three sizes are now completed. They
al disturb the soil to the same depth, the
only variation teing in the proportion Of
ihe top soil, which may be reversed or
mixed. This in use will of course in
-lrle : depth ct which the soil is become
darkened in color, leavin: TIE sub soil
disturbed in its place, without being elcva-
Ted, thus securing all the advantages for
atmospheric influences, and rendering the
cb-soil suitable fo- future elevation.
This machine is not suited for the dis.
turbance of sod ground, but it may be used
in all ether cases. IT is true, that it NAV
be used for the purpose Of digging an old
sod The grass would be torn apart. and
mixed thoroughly through the sell, tut
~her, tie object is to get rid of the grass
this would hardly be desirable treatment;
as some Of the roots in their intimate al
mixture would he near enough the surface
to grow again. If however, sod be re-
versci f1r sufficient time to destroy its
vitality, even BY 4 snard plo~, the digger
may then he applied for the Further deep
ening of the soil, and the intimate ad,
mixture, and disintegratica Of the oil
sod.
1t nav be so arranged, 1hen required,
as to act Ike harrow and plow combined,
without any Of the disadvantages OF com.
pac'ing the soil a. with the harrow r..
It viii then disturb the ground to depth
If le inches, digging and sti.sirg the
surface fer one, two, three, or fcur inches,
as may be required, nising the seed
thoroughly, and at the depth desired, az
when usai for the patting in Of grain
crops, thus Grabbing the farmer TO sow
his er,ir on the surface Of unplowel
GROUND, anl securing Is entire rrepara-
ton, including the covering Of the sced