AN IMPROVED IMPLEMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN REMOVING OR STRIP- PING CHARLOCK AND OTHER WEEDS OUT OF GROWING CORN WITHOUT INJURING THE SAID CORN
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hodge Ferris, of Ardevora Veor, in the Parish
of Philleigh, in the County of Cornwall, Fariner, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED IMPLEMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN REMOVING OR STRIP-
PING CHARLOCK AND OTHER WEEDS OUT OF GROWING CORN WITHOUT
INJURING THE SAID CORN."
Sealed the 24th July 1877, and dated the 10th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hodge Ferris at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th May 1877.
WILLIAM HODGE FERRIS, of Ardevora Veor, in the Parish of Philleigh, in the
County of Cornwall, Farmer. "AN IMPROVED IMPLEMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE USED
IN REMOVING OR STRIPPING CHARLOCK AND OTHER WEEDS OUT OF GROWING
CORN WITHOUT INJURING THE SAID CORN."
The improved implement or apparatus which I propose to use for the purpose of
removing or stripping charlock or other weeds out of growing corn without injuring
the said corn, and which I call "Ferris's charlock destroyer," consists of a rake
with flat, sharp, pointed teeth, such teeth meeting each other at the place of junction
with the head of the rake. Over the teeth passes a sliding cleaning bar, which, kept
out of the cut of the teeth by a spring, cleans off when the rake is full the charlock
and weeds, &c., gathered up by passing over the teeth and clearing them when the
rake, turned upside down, is pressed against the ground.
It is evident that my improved implement, called "Ferris's charlock destroyer,"
may either be used by hand or may be drawn by a horse.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Hodge Ferris in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
November 1877.
WILLIAM HODGE FERRIS, of Ardevora Veor, in the Parish of Philleigh, in the
County of Cornwall. "AN IMPROVED IMPLEMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE USED
IN REMOVING OR STRIPPING CHARLOCK AND OTHER WEEDS OUT OF GROWING
CORN WITHOUT INJURING THE SAID CORN."
This Invention has reference to an improved implement or apparatus which I call
"Ferris's charlock destroyer," for removing or stripping charlock and other weeds
out of growing corn without injuring the said corn.
1
This improved implement is represented in the accompanying Drawing, and
consists of a rake X, X, X, X, attached as shewn to a handle Y. The rake is furnished
with flat, sharp, pointed teeth, such teeth meeting each other at the point of junction
with the head of the rake. Over the teeth of the rake a sliding cleaning bar, A, A,
is so arranged that it may pass over such teeth, and when the rake is being used in
raking the charlock and other weeds, this sliding cleaning bar is kept back out of
the cut of the teeth by the spring B, B, which presses against a bar C, C, which is
attached to the sliding cleaning bar A, A, by the connecting rods D, D. When the
rake is full of charlock or other weeds, the oporator, in order to clear the rake
turns the rake upside down, and by pressing the bar C, C, against the ground
compresses the spring B, B, and causes the bar A, A, to pass over the teeth of the
rake into the position represented by the dotted lines, thereby cleansing the said
teeth of the rake of the charlock or other weeds. As soon as the rake is thus
cleansed, the operator releases the pressure upon the bar C, C, and the spring draws
back the cleansing bar A, A, into its proper position to enable the raking to be
proceeded with.
Although I have shewn the implement which I call "Ferris's charlock destroyer"
as a hand machine, it is evident that it may be readily adapted for being used by
horse power.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
cion, and the manner in which the same may be performed, I declare that what I
claim as the Invention which I desire to have secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the improved implement or apparatus herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, which implement I call
Ferris's charlock destroyer," or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hodge Ferris, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the above-named William Hodge
Ferris, in the presence of
HY. LIBBY,
Solicitor's Clerk,
Truro.
W. HODGE FERRIS. (L.S.)