Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/188

168] drill, so as to be within the reach of the person guiding it; who, by pushing the slide forwards, completely covers the notched roller, and prevents any of the seed from being scattered, while the drill is turning at the end of the ridges. With this implement, a woman, or boy, is able to drill from 2 to $2 1⁄2$ acres in a day; the rows being at the distance of 20 inches.

The next contrivance is that of the ingenious Mr., whose indefatigable labours in promoting agriculture, are too well known to require our encomium. In the common drill-ploughs, there are generally two or three barrels, with corresponding hoppers, or receptacles for seed, through which it is committed to the ground. Such an arrangement renders them necessarily complex; and to obviate the defect resulting from it, Mr. has two divisions in the barrel, and two corresponding ones in the hopper, which are more pimple, and doubtless preferable to moveable boards. In his drill-plough the whole machinery is fixed, yet he sows with it single rows at any distance, double ones at two feet, or three rows at one foot; relinquishing the other powers of mechanism, to render the plough in all its parts stronger, and more steady. It is likewise calculated for the stiffest soil; and Mr. adds, that it will even deposit seed in drills cut through a clay field, without any previous ploughing. For a more detailed account of this excellent machine, we refer our readers to the 3d vol. of "Annals of Agriculture," p. 240, where it is fully described, and illustrated with an engraving. The expence of this implement, when complete, is about geyen guineas and a half, if made of iron; if of wood, it may be estimated at four.

The next we shall describe, is the celebrated drill-plough invented by the Rev., late of Heaton Norris, near Manchester, but now of Red Lion-square, London; for which he obtained a patent in, or prior to, the year 1784. Mr. C. has since made several improvements in, and additions to his machinery; in consequence of which a new patent was granted to him, about the year 1788.

Description of the Rev. Jas. Cooke's Patent Drill Machine simplified and improved, so that it may be converted into a Horse Hoe.

(With a Copy of an accurate Engraving, approved of by the Author).

Fig. 1. A, A, are the shafts of the machine, applied to the axis of the wheels, so that the horse may walk in the furrow, without treading on the land, either for the purpose of drilling or horse-hoeing.

B, B, the wheels.

C, C, coulter-beam, with holes or mortices for the coulters, at different distances.

D, D, handles of the machine, applied to the coulter-beam, and also to the axis of the wheels, by hooks and eyes, or staples.

E, E, the upper seed-box, in partitions, covered by a lid, to protect the grain from wind or rain.

F, F, lower seed-box, in partitions.

G, G, slides between the upper and lower seed-boxes, for regulating the quantity of seed sown.

H, H, a cylinder with cups or ladles of different sizes, for various sorts of grain or seed, by which the latter are taken up and dropped into the funnels I, I, and conducted through