AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TILLAGE AND PLOUGHS OF SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION FOR SUCH SAID PURPOSE.
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL specificatioN left by Samuel Walter at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 6th November 1882.
SAMUEL WALTER of the City of Berlin in the Kingdom of Prussia and German
Empire. AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TILLAGE AND PLOUGHS OF SPECIAL
CONSTRUCTION FOR SUCH SAID PURPOSE.
My said invention relates to an improved method of tillage and ploughs of special
construction for such said purpose.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe the same.
The principal 'feature of my said invention consists in the employment of a
plough containing various novel constructive parts for tillage purposes by means
of which said improved plough the upper surface of the land is chemically and
technically operated upon after sowing so that the production even of the most
sterile ground or land is increased by 25 per cent, the weeds hindered from gaining
the overhand and a bad harvest made almost entirely impossible.
This success which has been proved by practical results, forms in connection with
the said first part, the second part of my said invention.
The framework of the plough is of ordinary construction whereas the plough share
and colter are of special construction.
The share is not sharp but like the colter provided with a rectangular surface so
that the sharp angle to the said rectangular share and colter cuts away all
hindrances in the land or ground such as roots, weeds and such like.
If the plough is to be put in operation the angular surface of the colter is so
adjusted that the front edge of the same and the side of the plough share are in
the same vertical plane whereas the lower edge of the colter is parallel with the
surface of the said plough share but stands about 2 millimetres lower or deeper
than the aforesaid plough-share.
According to this arrangement the colter makes a vertical cut in the ground or
land, the share removes such said land and cuts off with its sharp angular edge all
hindrances so as to entirely destroy the roots of the weeds which could not be
attained with the ordinary plough share for the reason that the ordinary plouga
shares are much too weak, become rapidly blunt and are thus unable to overcome
the hindrance offered by such said roots and in many cases simply push the roots
and other parts of the said weeds on one side without destroying the same.
In order that the plough may be prevented from cutting too deep into the

page_text: ground in turning I employ a suitable roller which said roller or small wheel
serves at the same time to balance the plough and also to facilitate the transporta-
tion of the same.
I also employ a looplike handle in place of the two handles generally used.
The plough spade or stick and the plough iron is pressed in under the plough share
so as to form a second handle to the plough. The plough can be arranged with one
or four shares according to the quality of the land.
By means of this plough alone am I able to successfully carry out my tillage
method or process.
According to the quality and capacity of the land the same is ploughed in a depth
of 16, 25 or up to 32 centimetres and then harrowed with an iron harrow to remove
the weeds and the roots of the same.
Pulverised dung is now strewn by means of a perforated cylinder or other
suitable machine. The land is now sown as customary directly above the fresh
strewn dung.
As soon as the seed is sown the land is again ploughed over on the average
6 to 7 centimetres deep (with oats 9 to 10 centimetres) and in stripes 10 to 13
Centimetres broad and is allowed to remain in this state until the crop has
reached a height of about 2 to 3 centimetres which generally occurs in about
14 days.
This part of my said invention forms the technical and chemical part of tho
treatment of the surface of the land which said treatment produces the following
advantages.
1. The weeds which according to the present mode of tillage find sufficient
moisture in the sown and harrowed land and sufficient warmth from above so that
the said weeds shoot up so as to overgrow and choke the young plants but where
the land is ploughed over a second time and the weeds covered with the said
land or mould and thus all air and light excluded the said weeds cannot grow so
rapidly but remain behind the grain or other sced in growth.
II. The loss of seed through birds and through the effects of the weather and
especially through the warmth of the sun which often dries up and destroys the
sparely covered seed is entirely prevented by the protective covering attained by
my said process.
III.-The dung being entirely covered commences fermentation, gives off its
nitrogeneous properties and transmits its entire power to the seed which said seed
not only receives full nourishment and is caused to germinate rapidly and healthier
than usual under the warm protective covering but is also able to outgrow the
weeds by at least 14 days.
As soon as the young crop appears the land is harrowed with a light wooden
harrow and thus the weeds remaining in the land removed or their growth
hindered for at least 14 days whereas the healthy crop does not in the least degree
suffer through the light harrow but outgrows the weeds by at least 4 weeks so that
the weeds which now grow up can exercise no injurious effect on the crop. This
process or method of treating the land, the seed and the young crop in combination
with the aforedescribed improved construction of plough constitutes the chief
points of my said invention by means of which said invention bad harvests are
prevented, a greater length of straw and a superior crop is attained showing as has
been proved by practical trials a result at least 25% superior to the results
attained by the ordinary method so that a farmer gains not only a better class
and large quantity of grain but also a much larger proportion of straw
and dung.