Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-09-01

American AFringllBr,' irf srgfrua.s.
Our first plowing. some fifty years
ago, was done with q wooden mould
board. Then came in the wrought
iron mould, hammered out hy the
blacksmith. About forty years ago
the introduction OF the cast iron
mould-board. with rcplacable points,
caused no little excitement among
farmers, as these could be produced
so much more chcaply than wrought.
iron, and being harder they wore
longer. But on our stony farm the
gain was partly countcr-baianced by
the breaking Of the points" and
often Of the Gland side and even
mould-board itself. A few years later
the steel mould-h0arl and points
came into use. and subsequently the
chilled iron plows. But during all
these few years Of improvement, and
from time immcmorial before that,
the chief ends aimed at have been
the pcrfcciing Of the old instrument,
ia form. in material. in the frame. in
coultcr-, guiding wheels, etc. The
principle has been the same. viz, the
cutting on Of a furrow slice and in
ycriing IL more OF less perfectly.
But there has all the while been
the feeling that jcthTo Tull was right
in claiming that thorough y1tlrcrisigg
the soil was be great requisite OF
cultivation. And 70 secure this We
have bad succession Of implements
devised, as cultiyators. rotary dig
gers, rotary harrows. etc. Most OF
them have been valuable So far rs
they have helped towards dividing
the soil. so as 10 provide a finer seed
bed. But we are inclined 10 believe
that Charles +. Sackctt has now such
notifications and additions 20 the
common plow. rs to amount 70 a rad
zeal and most valuable change in its
mode OF operation and in the dcsir-
able results produced. Here is
general idea OF it: First a surface
plow which is readily and quickly
adjusted 10 cut of two, three or
four inches in depth of the soil, and
turn it well over into the bottom of
the previous furrow. Following this.
upon the same bearer or frame, is
another plow, adjustable TO take up
sub.furrow o: any desired depth.
But this second, or sub.slice, is not
merely turned over in a mass upon
the top of the first ono with only
such breaking as the lifting and turn.
Ing over will secure. Quite differ
cnt. Upon the frame is an open
work wrought-iron wheel or cylinder,
say 40 inches in diameter, which fol-
lows upon and smooths down in part
the first turned slice OF land, with its
grass, stubble, weeds. etc. The Sec
ond furrow is thrown into this revolv.
ing wheel, and carried round and
round on its inside, among its teeth,
against its open.work bars on the
rim and outer side, and il is so brok.
en- and pulverized that it drops out
upon the buried sod or surface fur.
row. The result is. that the soil is
pulvcrized quite as much as il could
be done with roller and harrow, and
without any tram2ling or packing by
teams it is left light and fine and
in excellent condition for receiving
seed. There is also provision for at.
taching both seed drill and fertilizer
distributor. In brief, at one opera
tion the soil is plowed, finely divid-
cd sod, stubhlc. etc, buried, and
seed sown. There are several sim
pie, ingenious devices for raising and
lowering the plows and wheels, for
various depths, for turning at the
side Of the field, for selftransport-
ing, etc, etc, that would need en-
cravings and lengthy descriptions TO
explain them fully.