ROLLER. An implement of simple construc tion, the main object of which is to render smooth the surface of arable lands. It is an imple ment in which greater diversity of form is found to exist than in most agricultural machines. Rollers are of all sizes, weights, and lengths; and the material of which they are made is occasionally iron, sometimes stone, but most commonly wood. Of these, the first is unloubt edly the best, and particularly for tbe jointed roller, by which the operation of turning at the ends of the ridges is materially facilitated, and the crowding of the earth which would otherwise take place on the head-lands, not only to their great detriment, but in the increase of labor to the team, is thereby prevented. The use of the roller is now confined to compressing the soil, and except on roads, walks, and causeways, is less used than formerly. It having heen found in practice that this implement seldom crushes the clods of hard earth, but simply presses them level with the surface. Hence, other implements
which grind as well as press. have in a great measure, taken their place. One of the best of these is a plank twelve or fourteen inches wide, to which the team is hitched, and upon which the driver rides. Another implement for level ing and grinding is made of three two-by-four hard wood scantling, fastened together by rods, and placed about ten inches apart, answers excellently. A roller formed by a series of discs placed together in two ranks, the rear rank cutting between the tracks of the forward ones, grinds hard clays admirably, but is heavy and tedious, and compacts the soil too firmly. Hence farmers are now depending more on fall plow ing, in tenacious soils than formerly, using the roller simply to compress the earth about the seeds, and render the surface uniform.