The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-17

Expor

American Exporter.
Human control is reduced to a minimum
in some of the latest examples of improved
farm machinery. The machine performs its
various operations automatically, almost
as if 1t had mind of its own. All the oper-
ator has to do is to feed it and steer it.
For planting, there is machine for every
kind of seed, cunningly designed, well built.
and perfectly adapted to the work for
which the average farmland could not be
expected to display.
For grain and grass the broadcast seed
er" is used. This is attached to an ordi-
nary wagon, and the only human cooper
alton IL requires Is keeping its hopper full.
IT will also distribute all kinds of dry COM
mercial fertilizers, and put them just where
they will do the most good
A mechanical grain drill is provided for
such grains as need to be planted systemat-
ically in rows or hills. 1t is infallible in
its operation, and would plant corn, for
example, in the middle Of a mdcadam road
If this required of it, Among other
attachments 1t has land measurer. some
thing like cyclometer, which records the
acreage planted. To cover the seed 1t has
planted, ii is provided with system of
hoes which are adjusted to work straight
or Zigzag.
A Variant of this apparatus weeds as we'll
as sows. Still another is the bean-planter
which is quite remarkable in its intelli-
gence, so to speak. Ii drills the hole in
the ground, plants the beans, covers them,
and marks the position of the next row
at one operation. 1t will even alternate
corn with beans, turn and turn about, or
plant corn or beans. distribute fertilizer
and cover everything impartially. In fact
1t will do anything for which the farmer
has the intelligence to adjust 1t.
The potato-planter would make farmer
of generation ago sit up and rub his eyes.
1t requires that the potatoes be supplied.
but will do all the rest Of its own initiative
II picks the potato up and looks IL over
or seems to-cuts 1t into halves. quarters,
the eyes and removes the seed ends 1t
plants whole potatoes or parts thereof as
desired, as near together or as far apart
as the Judgment OF the farmer on the driv-
ing-seat suggests. Having dropped the
seed it covers it, fertilizes ii, tucks it IN
like child put to bed and PAGES off the
next row with mathematical accuracy.
Certain vegetables, notably tomatoes,
cabbages, caulidower, celery, lettuce and
some others need to be started in cold
frames and transplanted for the practical
business of growing. For this purpose there
is a plant-setting machine, which will
handle a sprout as If it loved IT, establish
ii in its new environment, gather the earth
tenderly about its roots, give il a copious
drink of water from a tank ii carries, and
cover from four to six acres in a day
The various operations generically known
as cultivating were once the bane OF
the farmers existence. Now he has a ma
chine for each and every operation of crop
tending. with a drivers seat as comfort
able as that of a blackboard. These ma
chimes seem to know weed from a crop
plant intuitively, and while they will
| snatch the former out by the roots with
| out conjunction. they pass the plant I'M
| harmed-provided, of course, it is growing
in its proper place. These machines have
| been highly specialized and for every oper-
| alton connected with the tending of every
| kind of crop there is some one machine
which performs 1t a little better than any
| other.