SEEDERS AM) DRILLS, All classes of seeders have been improved and simplified to such an extent as to come into general use, so that hand sowing has been quite superseded. The Moline broadcast seeder (Fig. 1) is made by the Deere & Mansur Co., for use with or with out the harrowing attachment, which is made detachable, and with pivoted or " slip " teeth, held to work by springs capable of yielding to the resistance of immovable obstacles, so that the teeth may rise and draw over them without breakage. This seeder has a series of seed-vents in the bottom of the hopper, adjustable to suit the kind of seed sown, and over each vent a stirring-wheel, rotated by the main axle, to prevent clogging and insure a uni form flow of seed. The adjustability of the vents is shown in Fig. 2, an arrangement which adapts the machine to sowing the small seeds of grasses as well as grain. The low delivery admits of use in windy weather.
In the so-called Hoosier grain-drill there is a ratchet device in the hub of each ground.wheel, rendering both wheels driving wheels ; and either will drive the feed or back out of gear. The ad justable fluted-roll force-feed may be adjusted respectively for sowing smaller and larger quanti ties. Beneath the hopper of the machine, within the feed-eups, is a series of these fluted feed-rolls. In each cup is a scalloped ring which revolves with the fluted roll, fitting into its grooves. The rolls are all fastened to the square feed-rod shown, and are movable length wise with it by means of a suitable hand lever, the movement of which to right or leftcauses more or less of the face of the feed-rolls to pass into or out of the scalloped rings, and to be thereby removed from or brought into contact with the grain. Within the feed-cup and on the opposite side from the scalloped ring, attached to the feed-rod close against the rolls, is a hub or follower cutting off the flow of seed from that portion of the cup not exposed to the feed-roll when the feed is set to sow anything less than full capacity. The graduated scale seen on the back of the hopper is provided with an indicator secured to the feed-rod and affected by its movements, showing on the indieator-plate the quantity of wheat, oats, barley, or flax-seed the machine is set to sow at any given time, and the hand lever for regulating quantity is held by a thumb nut at any desired point. The "force" feature, it will be seen, is constant, whatever the quantity or character of seed delivered. When the ground-hoes are raised the feed-rolls are thrown out of gear by a suitable shifter, and again put in motion by letting the hoes down. The sowing of fertilizers is attended with difficulty. Combined
grain and fertilizer drills are made to sow grain or grass seed and fertilizer simultaneously, or either alone. On account of the weight of load carried, the wheels have 3-in. tires to support them on soft ground. A distinctive improvement is the fertilizer force-feed, which delivers the fertilizer into the top of a large rubber spout, forming a junction below with a branch spout from the grain force-feed, where the grain and fertilizer unite to pass through - a hollow hoe-shank to the ground. The fertilizer feed is a series of nicely-fitted circular plates rotating horizontally. one for each hoe, forming a considerable part of the hopper bottom. As the plates revolve, the contents of the hopper resting on them are carried to oblique gates at the rear, and a stream of the fertilizer is forcibly cut' off and discharged.
The opening or vent is enlarged or diminished in all the gales simultaneously. When the machine stops, the feed ceases to rotate, and the flow of the fertilizer cannot continue, as the vent does not open downwards—thus the delivery is free when in motion, without waste when stopping, and is proportioned exactly to the speed of the team. This fertilizer feed may be thrown in and out of gear independently of the grain-feed and without disturbing the adjustment for quantity, to skip strips of rich ground. It is now quite common to combine the function of seeding with any style of the rotary or "cutaway" harrows, as illustrated, for ex ample, in Clark's machine, Fig. 3, the seed being dropped just in front of the gang. Itiost soils dint have been plowed within a year can be seeded in one operation, in this way, by placing the seed in a division of one-half of the seed box, driving- the har row a half lap, and completing the work the second time around with the other gang. By thus operat ing, a good seed-bed is made and the seeds planted therein half the width of the machine with each roomi, Lund rolling the soil after sowing, germination is hastened and a level sur face is provided. which facilitates harvesting. Fig. 4 is a roller made by the Van Brunt & Davis Co., lIoricon, Wis. It cramps and turns like a wagon. Its rolls are made small, to concentrate weight and compress the soil more compactly in proportion to weight. In each pair the front roll is arranged to press comparatively lightly and prepare the surface of the ground for heavier pressure from the second roll, leaving it more even than single rolls.