A MACHINE WHICH MAY BE USED SEPARATELY, OR AB AN APPENDAGE TO A PLOUGH, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SOWING THE SEED OF EVERY SPECIES OF VEGETABLE, IN A MANNER ENTIRELY NEW, AND MORE EXPEDITIOUS AND REGULAR THAN HERETOFORE KNOWN; AND WHICH REQUIRES A LESSER QUANTITY OF SEED TO PRODUCE A LARGE CROP THAN IS NECESSARY BY THE COMMON MODE OF CAST- ING, WHEREBY A CONSIDERABLE SAVING WILL BE EFFECTED, AND WHICH ALSO POSSESSES THE PECULIAR QUALITY OF SOWING IN THE BROAD-CAST WAY, AS WELL AS DROPPING THE SEED INTO FURROWS, AND MAY BE REGULATED WITH EASE, SO AS TO SOW ANY QUANTITY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE SEEDSMAN; WHICH INVENTION WILL BE OP GENERAL BENEFIT AND ADVANTAGE
Year: 1785

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HORN, of Dover, in the County of Kent, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the
Twentieth day of October, in the twenty-fifth year of His reign, give and
grant unto me, the said John Horn, His especial licence, that I, the said John
Horn, during the term of' years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A MACHINE WHICH MAY BE USED SEPARATELY, OR
AB AN APPENDAGE TO A PLOUGH, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SOWING THE SEED OF EVERY
SPECIES OF VEGETABLE, IN A MANNER ENTIRELY NEW, AND MORE EXPEDITIOUS AND
REGULAR THAN HERETOFORE KNOWN; AND WHICH REQUIRES A LESSER QUANTITY OF
SEED TO PRODUCE A LARGE CROP THAN IS NECESSARY BY THE COMMON MODE OF CAST-
ING, WHEREBY A CONSIDERABLE SAVING WILL BE EFFECTED, AND WHICH ALSO POSSESSES
THE PECULIAR QUALITY OF SOWING IN THE BROAD-CAST WAY, AS WELL AS DROPPING
THE SEED INTO FURROWS, AND MAY BE REGULATED WITH EASE, SO AS TO SOW ANY
QUANTITY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE SEEDSMAN; WHICH INVENTION WILL BE OP
GENERAL BENEFIT AND ADVANTAGE;" in which said Letters Patent there is con-
tained a proviso, obliging me, the said John Horn; by writing under my hand
and seal, to cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,

page_text: and how the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within one calendar month after the date of the said recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, may more
fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Horn, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described in a plan
or Drawing hereunto annexed, and that the nature of my said Invention,
and how the same is to be performed, is as follows (that is to say):-
When the machine is intended to be used separate from a plough, and to
be drawn by a horse, it may be made of different breadths. The number of
hoppers and spouts depend upon the breadth of the machine, and the space
allotted to each, but this space should not exceed eighteen inches in the
machine.
Figure 1, represented with the front laid open. The space allotted for each
spout is sixteen inches. The upper part contains the hoppers A, A, A, A, from
whence the corn and seed descends into the spouts B, B, B, B. These spouts
all rest upon the bar C, C, which is hung upon the bar D, D, by two diagonal
supporters of equal length, E, E, made of strong iron wire, and which play
freely by an eye at each end, upon staples in the bars C, C, and D, D. The
further end of the spouts B, B, B, B, and the leaver F (for preventing the
machine from sowing), rest upon the bar G, G, G, at the back of the machine,
and play each upon a pin (c, Fig. 21,) fastened to it. The covering at the
back is likewise nailed to the bar G, G, G. To the rail at the top, and to
another H, H, at the bottom, two stays I, I, (similar to c, Fig. 21,) are placed
from the bar C, C, to the bar G, G, G, as are also two others on the under
part of the same bars, and opposite to them. These stays all play upon pins at
each extremity. The bar C, C, hanging and playing freely by means of the
diagonal supporters E, E, and the stays I, I, bears, by its gravity, and by a
trigger K (upon it), against a catch wheel I.; this being fixed on the axle
M, M, occasions a regular motion or jogging of the bar and spouts upon it,
when the machine is driven forwards, quicker or slower, in proportion to the
pace the machine is driven; by this means the spouts feed in proportion to
the space the machine passes over. The axle with the catch wheel is carried
round, by two triggers on the box (A, A, Fig. 28), the nave of the wheel N,
which fits into an iron nexk (O, Fig. 28,) on the axle; the other wheel n turns
on the axle at liberty. At the bottom of the machine is placed an apron or
shelf 0, 0, in a sloping position, supported by the rods P, P, which are nailed
to the brace Q. Q. The other side of the apron is fastened to a bar (A, A,

page_text: Fig. 2,) in the front of the machine. The corn or seed, by falling upon this
apron from the spouts above, B, B, B, B, is distributed about underneath the
machine in the broad-cast way with the greatest regularity by the rebound.
To sow the corn or seed in drills or furrows, a movable. long spout (Figure 20)
is placed from each of the upper spouts (by the ears A, A, upon small brackets
(similar to B, Fig. 10,) on the inside of the front of the machine. The long
spouts receive the seed from the upper spouts, and direct it to the center of
each furrow (the furrows being first struck, as in the common way for boxing
with a plough). The lower ends of these long spouts rest upon the brace Q, Q.
At the bottom of the machine, between the cheeks R, R, R, R, S, S, S, S, fare
knobs or pins (turning in a square piece of wood fixed against the hoppers), on
which a line is wound, which is fastened to the brass bridge (A, Fig. 19,) in each
of the upper spouts B, B, B, B. By turning these knobs each spout may be
taken up separately from the bar, and thereby prevented from feeding. This
is necessary when the machine covers more ground than is required to be sown.
T, T, and t, t, are upright pieces fixed in the midway between the back and front
upon the brace Q, Q, and to another opposite to it, which lies under the upper
spouts (A, A, Fig. 3.) The upright pieces T, T, and t, t, have the cylindrical
box (Fig. 24) fixed in them. Through these cylindrical boxes the axle passes,
and on them (between the upright pieces) move the contrivances, Fig. 30
and Fig. 31, with the rods at the end of the shafts. The handles (U and B,
Fig. 3,) are made with shanks (A, A, Fig. 25), and an eye (B, B,) at the end
of each, which also move upon the cylindrical box (Fig. 24) fixed in the
upright pieces V, V, through a mortise in each. W, W, are pieces fixed in
the bars G, G, G, and H, H, through a mortise in each of which the iron
rods at the ends of the shafts pass. Y is the leaver with the spring (Fig. 28).
A piece of slit deal about four inches broad is placed from the brace Q, Q,
and fastened to the sides of the machine, and the bottom of the upright pieces
T, T, and t, t, to prevent any of the seed when it rebounds from the apron
flying upon, and lodging on the brace Q, Q, and is expressed by the dotted
line. The shafts are made to take off in the following manner :-A, A,
Fig. 30, represents the rod at the end of the shaft (B, Fig. 2); D is an iron
ring (which moves upon the cylindrical box, Fig. 24, and which is fastened by
the ears A, A, in each of the pieces T, T, and t, t, Fig. 1, and through tho'
free from which the axle passes); an iron bar E, E, is forged upon the ring D;
and two screws C, C, pass through this bar, and the rod at the end of the
shafts, and when they are brought close to each other they are fastened firmly
together by a nut on each screw.

page_text: any
the end of the other
Fig. $1 is the same contrivance, by which the bar on
shaft (C, Fig. 2,) is. fastened. An iron crutch A is fixed to the bar B, (made
longer than the similar bar E, Fig.. 30) and the plate, C.(a, Fig. 1) by a joint
at each end. A plate of.iron D. (fixed within the bar D,. Fig. 2, behind the nut
E). has a pin e, in the form of a T, represented by E), riveted into it by a
grove g, in the middle of the plate G; it moves up or down against the plate
Dabove the pin e; through the grove g and the plate D, a T.screw H, passes,
and by turning the nut upon it (E, Fig. 2,) the plate C is fastened at
time firmly against the bar. This contrivance fixes the machine at any time in
any particular- position, and keeps it steady; as, for example, if the land is
tolerably level where the machine is to be used, if the nut E, Fig. 2, is drawn
close, by turning it the machine may, be fixed in a perpendicular, position, and
it may then be driven as a common cart. Fig. 29 is a view of the hoppers
A, A, A, A, Fig. 1, which fit into the uper part of the machine, and rest upon
the cleets fastened to the sides. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the. machine
when made to be drawn by a horse. The person who conducts the machine
guides the horse by reins, which pass through two, staples, F, F, in the. handles
by which he keeps the machine steady, when.it is not fixed by the screw. E.
The rods are fastened to the shafts B and C by a hoop on the. end of the
shafts, and a bolt at H through both. The machine is prevented from
feeding while turning at the ends of the length, by removing the leaver I out
of the notch K I on the bar D, in the front. of the machine, to another L on the
right hand of it. This carries the bar M, M, back from the catch wheel, and
occasions the motion of the spouts to cease, and at the same time brings them
upon a level by the action of the diagonal supporters N, N, so that no corn
or seed can fall from them, (a line X, Fig. 1, being fastened to the right-
hand side of the machine, reeved round a small wheel in the bar C, C, and
fastened to the leaver F.) O is, the lid to cover the hoppers; P. is a peg which
passes through the piece Q and the bar D, and keeps the handles at a con-
venient hight. Fig.3 represents the machine when made to be used by hand,
with three hoppers C, C, C, and three upper spouts D, D, D. The machine in
this case in made of a slight construction, and the upright pieces (T, T, and t, t,
Fig. 1.) for fixing the shafts to, as well as the shafts, are omitted. It is driven by
the handles B, to which a leg E is then added, which takes up or lets down at
pleasure, to rest the machine upon while the hoppers are filling, a hook being
fixed under the handle to rest the leg upon. When not wanted, the machine
must be kept in a perpendicular position by the person who drives.it.
handles are fixed at a convenient height by an iron plate with teeth (Fig. 8),
The

page_text: +
fixed to a perpendicular piece of wood L, which is mortised into the cross
piece at the bottom of it. F, the shank of the handles, passing through an
aperture at each end G, G. The piece F, moved up and down by groves in
the pieces H, H, a flat bolt I (A, Fig. 23,) passes between the teeth in the
plate (Fig. 8), and keeps it steady. To raise the handles higher or let them
lower, the bolt I is pushed' in with the thumb till the knotch (Ä, Fig. 22,) in
the side of the bolt admits the teeth of the plate through it; and when the
handles are properly fixed, a spring of steel (B, Fig. 23,) fastened within the
bar K, K, returns the bolt between the teeth again. In every other respect
the machine is made as Fig. 1 and 2. The quantity'sown on an acre is regu-
lated in the following manner (In each of the upper spouts B, B, B, B,
Fig. 1, D, D, D, Fig. 3, or A, Fig. 11 and 12, is fixed a brass bridge, Fig. 19,
with an apperture in it, B, about one inch and a half high, and an inch and
a quarter wide, for the grain or seed to pass through: This aperture is enlarged
or contracted by a brass slider. C (Fig. 16), which when properly placed by the
regulator (Fig. 26) for the quantity of seed designed to be sown on an 'acre, is
fastened by two strong screws D, D, d; through the apertures e, e, firmly against
the bridge A. This is made use of in sowing all sorts of seed, where from one
bushell upwards is thrown upon an acre. To sow one, two, or three gallons,
or any of the intermediate quantities, as is required for clover and other seeds, a
brass plate (Fig. 17), having two apertures of different dimensions (A and B), is
placed between' the bridge A and the slider C, Fig. 19, with the largest aperture
B downwards; and to sow any still smaller quantity, as is required for turnips,
the same plate is placed between the bridge and the slider with the smallest
aperture A downwards. This aperture may either be made small, so as just
to admit two turnip seeds to pass without shouldering, and then the plate may
be used without the slider, Fig. 16, or oblong, to be contracted or enlarged by
the slider. The inside edge of this aperture is beveled away, as A, Fig. 9. The
plates, Fig. 17 and 18, and the slides, Fig. 16, are made of brass, about the
substance of a half-crown piece, as is also the bridge in the spout A, Fig. 19
or
Fig. 27, but this is made thicker by a bar cast across it on the inside where
the screws pass through, to admit of a good thread. The regulator used to vary
the heighth of the apertures, and to set the sliders in the different spouts exactly
alike, so that they shall all deliver the same quantity of seed, is thus contrived :-
A, B, C, Fig. 26, is made of brass, about the substance of a half-crown; the
breadth, A, B, is made equal to the height of the aperture in the bridge A,
Fig. 19; and the breadth at Cis equal to the height of the smallest aperture
necessary for sowing turnips. The side B, C, is divided into sixty equal parts,

page_text: and on it moves the slider or horse D, which, being placed at any particular
degree (according to the quantity intended to be sown on an acre), is fixed
upon it by the screw E, in the horse D. When this is done, the end of the
regulator C is put through the aperture in the bridge B, Fig. 19, or the plates,
Fig. 17 or 18, whichever is intended to be used, and the slider (C, Fig. 19,)
raised by it till it stops against the horse (D, Fig. 26,) on the regulator. The
slider C, Fig. 19, is then fastened against the bridge firmly by the two screws
D, D. The bar F, between the slides and the shoulders of the screws, is made
of iron, and intended to keep the shoulders of the screws from galling the
slider. Fig. 28 represents the movements in the machine. B, B, is the bar
upon which the upper spouts rest between the cleets C, C, C, C; D, D, D, D,
are stays or iron to the bar (G, G, G, Fig. 1,) at the back of the machine, by
which the bar B, B, plays; O is an iron collar, fastened to the sides of the
machine, in which the necks F and E on the axle run. In going on the side
of a hill, the strength of the stroke received by the bar B, B, from the catch
wheel G, is corrected by a spring H, fixed to a leaver I, with a proper weight K
(regulated by the weight of the bar and spouts upon it), fastened at the other
end, and hung upon the pivot L, between two brackets (expressed by the dotted
line) on the side of the machine. The spring H of steel passes into a mortise
at the bottom of the bar B, B, the end of which is strengthened by an iron
plate M at the bottom of the bar, and the spring presses against it with more or
less force according as the machine is more or less from a perpendicular posi-
tion, and counteracts the difference of gravity in the bar B, B, so that it always
presses with a proper force against the catch wheel G by the trigger N. It is
necessary to observe, that when the wheel N, Fig. 1, is upon the highest
ground, the increase in the strength of the stroke, by the bar C, C, laying
heavier against the catch wheel, is just necessary to ballance the disadvantage
of laying out of a horizontal position. On the contrary, when the other wheel n
is highest, the weight (K, Fig. 28,) at the end of the leaver forces the spring
against the end of the mortise, and presses the bar C, C, against the catch
wheel, so as to make strength of the stroke equal to what it is when the wheel
N is highest. This contrivance is unnecessary if the machine is intended to be
used upon land that is tolerably level. Fig. 27 is a view of one of the upper
spouts; A is the brass bridge (A, Fig. 19); B, the aperture in it; C, a cover-
ing over that part of the spout which is between the hopper and the bridge,
to keep the seed from riding over the spout; D, D, shoulders on each side the
bottom of the spout, to conract it. The manner of using the machine is to
place it about two feet from the place where it is intended to begin to sow at,

page_text: and fill the hoppers with grain or seed; then drive it along, letting the outside
wheel run in the furrow, and when at the distance of two feet from the end of
the length at the opposite end of the furrows, the leaver I, Fig. 2, is to be put
into the right-hand notch L, and it will immediately cease sowing, but must
still be driven on till it has passed the space of two feet, just mentioned. That
the seed which has left the spouts may have time to fall, turn the machine and
fill the hoppers again, if necessary, and in every succeeding length the wheel
must run about nine or ten inches or the breadth of a furrow within the last
track. The wheels N, n, Fig. 1, are made with a track in the manner of a
plow wheel. The lower part Z of the apron O, O, is about thirteen inches
from the ground. Fig. 4 is the machine fixed to a Kentish turn-wrest
plough, and in the same manner it may be fixed to any other. When it
is intended to be used with a single furrow plough, it is made with one
hopper O, and one upper spout A, Fig. 12, and is suspended between the
handles of the plough opon a hook on each, A, a, Fig. 4, upon a small iron
gudgeon B, in each end of the axle, upon which the catch wheel is fixed.
The apron C, upon which the corn or seed feeds from the upper spout
for broad-casting, is made movable, and hangs upon hooks D by a pivot
on each side. E, E, the axle, with the catch wheel, is put in motion
by a wheel F, about sixteen or eighteen inches diameter, which runs into
two strong iron cheeks G, fixed on each side the heel of the plough by
two screw bolts. The circumference of the wheel is a slight iron track, and
placed so as to lie about three quarters of an inch below the cheap of the
plough N. A pulley H is fixed on the axle of this wheel on the right-hand
side of it, without side the cheek, and prevented from drawing off by a nut.
A corresponding pulley is fixed on the axle of the machine (B, Fig. 12), by
which a strap I, I, Fig. 4, (the ends of which buckle together,) from the pulley
at the heel of the plough, gives motion to the catch wheel. The machine is
kept steady by an iron hook or stay K, which moves upon a pin at L, the
other end of which hooks into a plate (A, Fig. 6), fastened withinside the right-
hand handle of the plough, and is perforated with holes at different distances,
to admit the hook of the stay for fixing the machine in a perpendicular position.
Figure 12 is a view of the machine when made to be used with a single-
furrow plough, with the front laid open. A, the upper spout; B, the pulley
upon the axle; C, the catch wheel; D, D, the bar upon which the upper
spout rests, suspended by the diagonal supporters E, E; Fis the trigger which
bears against the catch wheel, and occasions the jogging of the spout; G, the
spring, hung similar to the spring H, Fig. 28, and has the same use; H, Fig. 12,

page_text: the apron upon which the seed falls, and rebounds in broad-casting: it is
fixed by the catches K, K. When the position of the apron is changed, one
of the pins I or I, carries up the catch till the notch in it falls upon the pin,
which fixes the apron. L, L, are lodges on the apron to prevent any of the
seed from flying into the furrow. M is the leaver which takes the trigger N
on the bar D, D, (D, Fig. 11,) and carries it back from the catch wheel. It
rests in either of the two notches on the front, (similar to K, L, Fig. 2,) and
prevents the machine from sowing. O, the hopper; P, the lid to cover it.
Fig. 14 is a view of the hopper which fits into the upper part of the machine,
and rests upon cleets. The part A is added to the hopper at the aperture, and
sets into the upper spout. B, B, are ledges to prevent any of the seed from
falling over when the plough is rested upon the serode, M, M, Fig. 4, which
should be made longer than usual. Fig. 13 is a view of the machine from the
bottom. A, the grove for the strap to pass through; B, B, cross pieces, to
which the hooks for hanging the apron are fastened; Fig. 7, the axle, with
the catch wheel and pulley; A, A, are necks upon it, which pass into the collar
fastened to the side of the machine (O, Fig. 28); B, B, gudgeons on which it
hangs. In Fig. 6, A is the plate fixed upon the handle of the plough for
receiving the hook of the stay (K, Fig. 1). It is placed upon the handle in such
a situation as to keep the machine perpendicular, when the hook is placed in
the centre hole B, and the plough stands upon level ground. Fig. 15 is a
plan of the apron. Fig. 10 shews the machine when the apron is removed,
and it is adapted for drilling. The long spout A (or Fig. 20) is hung upon
small brackets B, upon the front of the machine by the ears. The lower end
of the spout is fastened by a small cord to the hook upon which the apron is
hung for broad casting, which is next the plough; Fig. 33 is a profile of the
wheel, pulley, and cheeks at the heel of the plough; Fig. 21 shews the method
by which the bar with the upper spout is made to play freely; A; the bar upon
which the upper spout rests; B, the bar at the back of the machine which
sustains the end of the upper spout which plays upon the pin C, c, fastened
upon it; D,... c, a pin upon which the leaver moves; E, E, E, E, . . e,
stays of iron with an eye at each extremity, by which the bar A plays; they
move upon iron pins, two on the upper side and two on the under side
of the bars A and B; F, the front of the machine. The machine should be
so constructed and placed upon the handles of the plough that the lowest part
of the apron should be about twelve inches from the ground when upon a
level with the cheap of the plough N, Fig. 4. The long spout A, Fig. 10,
should come within about five or six inches of the bottom of the furrow.

page_text: The machine should also have the back part made, lower than the front, to give
the
apron an inclination towards the heel of the plough, that the seed may be
thrown rather forwards. The upper spout or spouts should lay with a small
descent towards the front of the machine. The cogs upon the catch wheel
in every case are about half an inch asunder, and a quarter of an inch deep
from the point of one to the bottom of the next. In sowing any kind of seed,
the grain of which is large, and the quantity small, which is required to be
sown upon an acre, the brass plate, Fig. 18, must be placed between the
bridge and the slider, as before directed for Fig. 17. The aperture in Fig. 18
is made narrower than the aperture in the bridge A, Fig. 19, but wider than
the aperture in the plate B, Fig. 17. By this means the apertures are accom-
modated to every circumstance. The catch wheel for Fig. 1 and 3 is made
about fifteen inches diameter, and for the machine when made to be used
with a plough about nine inches diameter. The manner of using the machine
when fixed to a plough, and the seed is to be sown broad-cast, is to place the
apron H, Fig. 12, sloping either towards the furrows or the unploughed land,
according as the seed is intended to be sown, either over or under furrow. If
the former, no seed must be sown while the first furrow is striking; if it is to
be sown under furrow, the last furrow must be ploughed without seed. When
the machine is used for drilling, the apron is removed, and the long spout,
Fig. 20, is fixed on the brackets on the front of the machine, which receive
the seed from the upper-spout, and conveys it to the bottom of the furrow.
When used on land nearly level, the hook K, Fig. 4, must be placed in the
centre hole in the plate on the handle; and when sowing up or down hilly
ground the stay must be placed forwards or backwards in the holes of the plate,
according as the plough goes up or down the declivity, so as to keep the
machine nearly perpendicular. When the machine is intended for a double
furrow plough; it is made with a double hopper, B, B, Fig. 11, two upper
spouts A, A, two aprons C; C, and two long spouts, Fig. 20, but in other
respects the same as Fig. 12. The motion is given to it by a strapp from a
pulley A, Fig. 32, between two wheels fixed upon the same axle against the
two heels of the plough, of which, with the cheeks, Fig. 32, is the profile;
Fig. 5 is the machine fixed to a double furrow creasing plough, and adapted
for drilling; A, A, are the wheels at the heels of the plough; B, B, the two
long spouts (fixed similar to A, Fig. 10). In this manner it may be made to
fix to a plough with three shares, by having a hopper, upper and long spout,
and apron against each, and the upper spouts may be taken up from the bar
separately by knobs over them, as in Fig. 1. Whenever the Drawing would
"

page_text: admit of it, the iron work is expressed by being tinted with blue, the brass
work with yellow, and the wood with brown. The breadth of the machine,
Fig. 1, from 1 to 2, is five feet nine inches; of Fig. 3, the breadth from 1 to 2
is four feet; the breadth of Fig. 10, from 1 to 2, is sixteen inches; and the
breadth of Fig. 11, from 1 to 2, is two feet.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Horn, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Seventeenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty-five.
in the presence of
ury stamp
THOMAS YOUNGE,
HENT HILL,
Clerks to Mr. Crowder,
Fredericks Place.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighteenth day of November,
in the year above mentioned, the said John Horn came before our said Lord
the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above men-
tioned. And also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according to the tenor
of the Statute made in the sixth year of the reign of their Majesties King
William and Queen Mary of England, and so forth.
Inrolled the Eighteenth day of November, in the year above written.