The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-03-15
Agricultural.
Pratt's Ditch Digger.

Land draining is now IA question of great
interest among our western farmers. The
whole north western portion of Ohio must
come upon a system of draining, to avail
themselves Of the full use of one of the rich
est sections of farming lands in the nation.
The same is more or less true of the whole
range of counties west of the Miami valley,
while for local purposes there is hardly a
township in the state, or even IN the entlre
west, but would be greatly benefited by thor
ough drainage In this view of the case,
machinery for digging bitches and for making
drain tiles are loudly called for, and if they
could b. put in operation III this region,
would be largely patroniz"d.
This subject was discussed at the last an
nual meeting Of the state board of agricul-
ture. Col. Kerr, of Fayette said that in his
region there was great demand that III
default Of anything better, the farmers are
putting in underdrains with wood, at cost
of 10 cts a rod. If tile could be had, ne
knew of one man who would take enough
for five miles to begin with. and many Others
would take one mile, etc. Mr.. Springer also
remarked that he had some experience in this
improvement Of the SOIL and he would say,
nothing pays better.
Pratt's ditch digger is manufactured by
Pratt & Brothers. Cdnandaigna, n. Y. John
J. Thomas says of this machine: We have
tried this machine on our own land, and
seen it operate in other places A furrow is
first turned with the common plow, and the
ditcher then passes and repasses, throwing
out from one to three inches of earth at each
passage. In dry, peaty ground, 1t will throw
ont five inches 1t will cut inches to a
foot wide. and fully % feet deep-it may be
made to run down feet. A small plow
attached to the machine loosens the earth,
and revolving shoNels throw it out. Where
there are no stones, one man with team
will cut 15 to 100 rods of ditch % feet deep
in a day. Where stones prevail, an addl-
1ional hand or two are needed to loosen them
with a crow bar and throw them out as they
are successfully laid bare, and these will al
so reduce the daily amount OF work to oO OF
even down to 80 rods. This estimate is the
result of our own experience and observa-
ton; and we are satisfied that the cost o
digging bitches will be reduced to less thar
nehalf the present expense, by the use o
Pratt's ditcher.
This machine is nearly all iron, is stronG
and we'll made, not liable to get out OF order
so far as we have observed, and is sold a
what we regard as low price for the COS
of manufacture, namely Sl5O.
To which may be added the testimony o
F. w. Stewart. of Erie CO., n. Y, who i
foremost in agricultural improvements:
The first day used my ditch digger, w
cut with a yoke of cattle 50 rods of ditch
mostly 25 feet deep, my cattle only walkin
81 miles. and not as much fatigued as if the
had been plowing. The subsoI was har
clay and slate, with few large stones.
would have required the labor of 20 men +
have accomplished the same work in tn
same time, in such hard ground.
The great prize of the New York state ag
ricnltural society of 1858, held at Elmra, {
diploma and silver medal, was awarded t
the digger, as the most valuable machine fc
the farmer in the whole collection of impIt
ments exhibited o. Cultivator.