Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-07-11
(For the Freeman.)


Mr.. EDIToR:-In reply to ]. w. NJ,
would say that the cultivator described
Two years ago is made of scantling two and
one half inches square. The middle piece
four feet long and the side pieces or wings
hree feet and three inches long. In the
wings used five eighths inch steel harrow
teeth five inches apart. in the center piece
lplace common oultivator tooth shaped
ike V. For cutting thistles we have a
knife made of old wagon springs shaped
like the letter V, with standard welded
on little back of the point. This works
better than knife that runs SO rarely
across, as it will not clog up. This knife
is placed at the hind end of the middle
piece between the wings. For corn and
potatoes we remove the Two last harrow
teeth in the wings and substitute standards
with mou d boards similar to those used
on the Planet, Jr., cultivators, but not so
wide,as we do not like to hill up We first
made this cultivator to use in cultivating
beans because it could be run close to
The row without covering the plants, and
if used just MS soon as the weeds make
their appearance 1t will destroy all of
them and leave the ground loose, mellow
and level just what is necessary to insure
a good crop, We found that it worked so
we'll In beans that we tried it in corn,
potatoes and every hoed crop, and found
1t was just the thing; excellent for beets
AS it can be run close to tho rows with
out covering them at all 1t is ironed
ust as any other cultivator. 1t should be
used while the weeds are very SIN ILL., as
it will not destroy them after they become
rooted. The harrow is made of three by
three scantliDg, four pieces each four feet
long, placed in the form OF square. A
rod runs through from one corner TO the
other opposite which divides it into two
wings, each hinged to the rod. The rod is
eight feet long. The outer corners of the
wings are hinged together, so that the
hind corner can be moved up on the rod
to any desired position, and held in place
by collar with a setnut. The hook for
attaching whitll tree is connected with a
chain about four feet long. the ends of
which are attached to- the harrow about
eighteen inches from the ends of the for
ward frame on each side OF the rod running
through the center. This prevents the
harrow from humping up in the middle.
The teeth are of one half inch round steel,
placed five inches apart slanting back
parallel with the rod. The holes for the
teeth are bored from one corner to the
other the sticks being square. Now when
the barrow is in the form of a square the
teeth will draw straight back. In this
form it is for narrowing corn. beans pola-
toes and every grain crop where the
weeds have just started. 1t will not tear
the corn up because the teeth run straight
back, while all other smoothing harrows
are drawn SO that the teeth stand IN +
diagonal line with the line of draft and
will therefore tear up more or less of the
crop. Now when wanted fol Il smooth
ing harrow, the hind half of the wings are
moved up on the rod which changes the
position of the teeth, those in the forward
talf slanting in one direction and those OF
the hind half in another SO that it Levels
the ground off nicely. The position of
the teeth can be changed to almost any
'ngle by moving it up and down on the
rod. While It will not smooth The ground
quite as well AS Thomas harrow, it
works much better for narrowing crops
If used TO harrow Leans it should not be
put on until the third leaf comes out, they
are then tough and will not break Off.
1t is difficult to describe the harrow so us
TO be understood without picture of it.
| have enclosed pencil sketch of it TO
the editor in hopes that be may be able to
explain better and more Ineligible.
YOUNG FARMER.
Grand Isle, June 80, So.
REMARKs.-Young Farmers dc. criplion
is very good, but his pencil sketch is better.
The sides Of the harrow are hinged nj
each corner. In positions as first described
for narrowing crops. it is square, the rod
running from one corner 10 the other in
line with the team. For a smoothing
harrow the rear corner is moved up on
the rod and the harrow takes q diamond
shape. with the obtuse angles front and
rear.
1t must work well, and wo are sure our
readers also will, thank Young Farmer
for his description.