The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-05-13
5Niscrl lanrnus.
Important Invention.


Mr.. Charles i. Sackctt, Superintendent of
the Matilda furnace at Mount Union Pa,
has invented machine which is probably
destined to effect revolution in the method
of preparing ground to receive the seed. 1t
is Il combination of pillow, harrow and seed
drill, by means of which the ground can be
plowed, narrowed ard the crop planted at
one operation thus effecting a great saving of
time and labor The Mount Union Times
the editor of which has seen Mr. Sackett's in
vcntion in use, reports in the highest terms
of its performance, and describes it as fol-
lows
at consists of a complete iron beam plough,
adapted in all respects to the uses of n common
beam plough, and differing but little from one
This is combined with an axle, crossing it at
right angles, ard carrying on one end the harrow
ing Wheel or pulverizer, which runs in the fur
row last opened right alongside the mould
board, and receives the earth from 1t for pulver
iZation. On the other end of the axle is n com
mon wheel, or landwheel, Of the same size MS
the pulvrrizng wheel. These two wheels, with
a forward gauge-whecl, operating on a sliding
post, constitute the running gear of the nipple
mcnt, and enable it to be transported over the
loaded upon wagon or sled, AZ ploughs and
harrows must be.
drumming In front of the regular mould board
or plough, there is smaller plough, which is
intended TO cut about two inches in depth, cut.
ting off the sod, grass, weeds, or corn stalks
and throwing them into the furrow last made
The machine, then, is actually two ploughs and
a harrow combined. The first plough cuts oil
the top of the ground, and throws it, along with
whatever material it is desirable to have well
covered so as to rot quickly, to the bottom of
the ast.made furrow. The second plough cuts
into the ground any depth desired, and throws
all the earth that is turned over into the har-
row wheel"
The inventor, in letter To Mr. Chevney
implement:
"Thc value ofthc machine lays in the wheel
harrow or pulvcri2er. 1t is the first and only
harrow ever offered the public that handles earth
from below, where ii has an advantage over it.
All other harrows operate on top, where they
have no advantage. They can not penetrate
deep, and never do. As the earth falls from my
pillow, and already partly broken by the twist Of
the pow it falls upon the up-turned point of
the teeth, always waiting in the bottom of the
furrow to receive it, II settles down among
them, but these teeth by the rolling motion of
the wheel, are continually moving backward
and upward through the earth, stirring it, toss
ing it, acrating it, and thoroughly puverzing
IT, Ii flies out behind the wheel in perfect
shower of earth. With qnick-moying team, il
looks like u foam of earth--just like water be-
hind steamboat wheel. Now rs to power The
rolling motion ola wheel is the simplest and
most effective mechanical power we have and
your own good sense will tell you that the teeth
once below the broken earth from the pillow
it requires very little power to complete
the pulyeriZation and in my experience and
practice il seems to add very little to the labor
of blowing alone. have often used the usual
two horse pillow team, but my machine is a lit
tie heavier to draw. recommend three horses
The whole being on wheels the usual bottom
draft of the pillow is saved With my double
plows, all the weeds and sod go below the
wheel You will see they must, and the wheel
rolls them down, and then covers them entirely
out of sight with the earth. In fact my system
is hand forking, the best and most costly
method of garden tillage, applied mechanically
to the farm. The teeth are the fork tines be-
low the wheel spokes the fork handles ;thc hub
and axle the elbow grease, and the team the
sweat of the brow. 1t works the very same
way Don't be alarmed at the cost. My whole
implement is built of wrought-iron and steel
except the tongue, which is wood. 1t ought to
last forever, by renewing teeth and shares. The
plows are all steel. 1t is worth so cents an
acre to harrow separately, and then only half
done, white washed on top, and the land injured
below. Any farmer who farms 200 acres can
say nothing of Increase in crop"
| Mr.. Saclletts machine appears to have
been thoroughly tested and found to accom-
plish the work of blowing, narrowing and
drilling the seed more thoroughly than can
possibly be done by the ordinary methods.
One advantagci il will certainly have, which
is, that in usingit the ground. is not packed
soldly by the tramping over it ofmen and
horses, in the process of blowing. Many
farmers say that the corn crop should be
worked before it is planted-that is, that the
ground should be thoroughly and completely
pulverized. ~
The seed drill may be taken off if desired
We hope Mr.. Sackett will exhibit his
machine at our next agricultural fair, and
allow our farmers to see 1t impractical opera.
ton,