Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/465

433&#93; IT AR Tt is composed of a plank of tim- ber, si feel Ion ; nine inches broad, and two inches thick, in which are I two rows of teeth, viz. twelve in the front, and thirteen behind: each row is about fo ir inches apart, •uul the teeth are live inches dis- t.mr ; so that they operate at the distance of l inches from each other. They are in length about lowthe wood, three- quarters of an inch square, and pointed diamdnd-wise, so as only to catch whatever may be brought above ground by previous harrow- ing, without penetrating the soil. To the plank are joined shafts for a horse, and handles for a man to guide it, of such length and strength as may be deemed necessary. This machine is used in the fol- lowing manner: When all the weeds are brought to the surface, the wrack-harrow is drawn across the field ; the person who holds the handles pressing a litlle on them, till the plank has passed over the first furrow, on which the harrow is suddenly lifted, without stopping the horse ; thus, all the weeds col- lected by the harrow will rail into the furrow, whence they may be removed or burnt, at the option of the farmer. If, however, the horse be not steady; it will be requisite to employ a boy for the purpose of leading him: in order that the couch-grass, 6cc. may be properly eradicated. A patent was granted in the vear 1799, '" Mr. William Lester, of Yardley-Ha.tings, Northamp- ton, for his invention of a harrow, by which the ineonveniencies at- tending the implements constructed on the common plan may be effec- tually obviated. The patentee makes his harrows of various sizes, to be drawn by one, xo, vm. — VOL. II. H AR [433 four, or six horse., so as to suit everj kind of soil. The fit t size is Btx feet in width, an 1 of equal length] the teeth an- twelve inches distant in everydire&ion, and there is an interval of one inch and a half between their tracks, in every line of draught. This size is more pe- culiarly adapted to harrowing-in every species of grain and seed, especially on lay, fag, or whole- land. The second size is 7*- feet wide, and 6 feet pinches in length; the teeth are 14 inches asunder in every direction, and an intermedi- ate space of two inches occurs be- tween their tracks, in each line of draught. This implement is par- ticularly calculated for clearing foul land. The third size is Q feet in length, by 7 feet 9 inches in breadth; the teeth are 16 inches apart in every direction, and a space of 2 inches intervenes between the tracks in each line of draught. The last mentioned harrow is, in the opinion of the patentee, eminently adapted to the cultivation of foul land, especially for clearing fen* fallows of couch-grass. The superiority of Mr. Lester's patent-harrow is stated to consist in the impossibility of its clogging, or driving the soil together in heaps. Jteing divided into two parts, of equal length (which are drawn by two centers united in a third), it has a steady uniform motion, and is effectually prevented from di- verging into any oblique direction. Another excellence in this contri- vance is, its couching over both ridges and furrows, and its yield- ing to all the inequalities of the soil ; besides, from the diagonal position of the bulls, and the irre- gular arrangement of the teeth, each tine is drawn in a different direction, so that no one tooth can F f follow