The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-10-03
European vs.. American Machinery.

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"An occasional correspondent of the
Tribune" writes to that journal about the
respective merits of foreign and Ameri-
can machinery, AS exhibited at Paris.
Here is what he says about agricultural
implements;
1t is quite evident that the Americans
have the inside track SO far as the reapers
and mowers are concerned, and they have
the only successful binders in this coun-
try or any other. They are also perhaps
even with the English in the matter of
horse-rakes, the American implement be-
ing as effective an implement with only
half the weight, and at a much lower
price. Nye's self dischargipg "Bay State"
rake weis Chs 275 pounds, and the Ran
some, II thoroughly good English one,
weighs about double. This American
rake shows the value of exhibitions;
European merchant saw it at the Centen-
NAL, entered into a contract, and has
since sold 1000 of the invention in
France.
Another fact is proved. In implements
for tilling the ground and the prepare
ton of food for animals, the United
States has had little success here com
paratively. There are several reasons for
this, but the same observations will not
apply in the cases of the implements in
discriminatory. In regard to ploughs,
the American has struck out new path
for himself, and has succeeded in making
tool which suits his purposes exactly.
The plough of the United States was in
h., 6, Ia ,bT 4 -,
new ground cleared from the woods.
The wheel-plough, common all through
Europe, and yet used in Lower Canada,
was unsuited to the short turns and the
frequent throwing out of the ground in
cident to blowing among stumps and
roots; and the versatile American soon
contrved tool which fulfilled his re-
qurement. SO used did he become to it
that when his fields were cleared of
stumps and cultivation was unimpeded, lie
retained the plough in its wheelcss con
dition, and instead of readopting the
wheel to keep the share from penetrating
too tar into the ground, he gave his mind
to the problem following SO toproportion
the parts and determine the lines that when
the team is properly hitched to the tool the
sole shall ride square!y upon the bottom
of the furrow; the coulter Cretained for
sod shall cut 50 much land and keep it;
the share shall preserve its depth of pen
etration. If plough will do all these
without wheel it is a perfect plough {;
and if it needs wheel in fair-lying land
it is because there is some fault in ad
justment or proportion.
In harrows and rollers the difference
between the two sides of the Atlantic Of
fer nothing particular to dwell upon.
The tendency is to make them all of iron
except the shafts, and being bulky, and
relatively cheap, the proximity of Eng
land, and her abundance of iron, coal and
labor, added to the discriminating duty
in her favor, secure her the market easily
Neither harrows nor rollers are shown in
the American section, and few rollers
from any country. Harrows are common
enough, even Sweden and Italy sending
though they offer none of these worth no.
tice. The sectional and joined harrow is
familiar here aud with us, and in fact it
originated in England. The most tlexi
BILE jointed harrow is rigid com pared with
the chain harrows of Howard, shown in
the English department. Whenever the
sectional roller is introduced it super
sedes the one made of a single cylinder,
and the implement known as a clod
crusher, having independent disks on II
common axle and with knobbed periphe
res is, perhaps, equally well made by
Crosskill, of England, and Gill, of Column
bus, Ohio. There is one important fact,
however, not unworthy of notice, that
the English and French use the roller in
cultivation much more than We do, and
are wise therein. The use is growing
with us, and should be encouraged Toy
precept and example.
In grain drills there is decided differ
ence between the two countries. My
preference is toward our light and simple
machines, having used several of them.
Finding nothing remaining to be desired,
marvel at the weight and complication
of some of the English machines which
obtain in France also. The Farmers
Friend" grain drill, of Dayton, Ohio, is
here, and may stand as a representative.
am curious to see it tested in competi
ton with its big brothers, which cost all
the way up to 1900 francs. From per
sonal experience with it in the fields at
home, | look forward with confidence to
the tests to be made, but will not pre-