AN IMPROVED IMPLEMENT FOR TILLING LAND
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith, of Little Woolstone, in the County of
Bucks, Farmer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED IMPLEMENT FOR TILLING
LAND."
Sealed the 18th June 1878, and dated the 1st March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st March 1878.
WILLIAM SMITH, of Little Woolstone, in the County of Bucks, Farmer. "AN
IMPROVED IMPLEMENT FOR TILLING LAND."
This Invention has for its object an improvement in implements for tilling land.
For the autumnal preparation of the soil it has been my practice to throw the
land into trenches and ridges by means of a trenching and subsoiling plough; and
many years ago a Patent, now expired, was granted to me for an implement specially
suited to perform this operation. Between the trenches and under the ridge a strip
of unturned soil is buried, and my present Invention relates to an implement
adapted to deal with this unturned strip at a subsequent operation. This implement
consists of a beam with yokes like a plough, and supported at the front by a pair of
large wheels mounted upon a cross bar or axle of such a length as to permit the
wheels to run in the trenches produced by the trenching plough, by which the land.
has been previously prepared.
I use wheels having as few spokes as possible to avoid clogging; three spokes I
prefer.
The beam of the implement carries a deep subsoil tine, and behind the tine three
is a double mould board; it is carried from the beam by a plough-like body. The
tine penetrates several inches below the depth reached by the mould board, and it
forms a trench midway between the original trenches, and in the centre of the strip
previously left unturned, whilst the double mould board throws the earth outwards
on either side, covering the slopes of the original ridge, and burying any weeds
which may be springing up upon them.

page_text: The implement may be worked by horses or by steam power. If steam power be
employed the leading wheels are steered by means of the lever passing to the head
of the upright spindle, upon which the axle is fixed, and which is able to turn in a
suitable socket formed for it at the fore end of the beam.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th August
1878.
WILLIAM SMITH, of Little Woolstone, in the County of Bucks, Farmer.
IMPROVED IMPLEMENT FOR TILLING LAND,"
"AN
This Invention has for its object an improvement in implements for tilling land.
For the autumnal preparation of the soil it has been my practice to throw the
land into trenches and ridges by means of a trenching and subsoiling plough; and
many years ago a Patent, now expired, was granted to me for an implement specially
suited to perform this operation. Between the trenches and under the ridge a strip
of unturned soil is buried, and my present Invention relates to an implement
adapted to deal with this unturned strip at a subsequent operation. This implement
consists of a beam with yokes like a plough, and supported at the front by a pair of
large wheels mounted upon a cross bar or axle of such a length as to permit the
wheels to run in the trenches produced by the trenching plough, by which the land
has been previously prepared.
I use wheels having as few spokes as possible to avoid clogging; three spokes I
prefer.
The beam of the implement carries a deep subsoil tine, and behind the tine there
is a double mould board; it is carried from the beam by a plough-like body. The
tine penetrates several inches below the depth reached by the mould board, and it
forms a trench midway between the original trenches, and in the centre of the strip
previously left unturned, whilst the double mould board throws the earth outwards
on either side, covering the slopes of the original ridge, and burying any weeds
which may be springing up upon them.
The implement may be worked by horses or by steam power. If steam power be
employed the leading wheels are steered by means of a lever passing to the head of
the upright spindle, upon which the axle is fixed, and which is able to turn in a
suitable socket formed for it at the fore end of the beam.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto annexed.

page_text: in front; C is the axle of these wheels, and an upright spindle D rising from the
centre of the axle is held in a socket formed at the fore end of the beam. The
spindle D can be set up or down in the socket on the beam to regulate the depth of
work, and the wheels B, B, can also be set nearer together or further apart to suit
the distance between the trenches. E is a plough-like body fixed to the beam; it
carries the subsoiling share or tine F, and also the mould boards G, G, one on either
side of it. The mould boards G are supported from the body E by adjustable stays,
so that their spread may be varied to suit different widths of trenches.
When the implement is to be worked by steam power I mount upon the head of
the spindle D a steering lever H, and on the yokes I carry a rack I, which serves to
retain the lever H in any position in which it may be placed.
When the implement is used with horses the steering lever may be dispensed
with, the axle C being held at right angles to the beam by tie rods passing from it
near its ends, and made fast to arms projecting from the beam on either side.
The subsoil tine may, if desired, be fixed to the beam independently of the body E,
and immediately in front of it.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim, the implement for sub-
Boiling beneath, and for splitting ridges, and for turning over the soil, so as to cover
the side slopes, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Smith, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.