ded. Moor ponds should be dragged in autumn or summer with a chain or heavy rope, to facilitate the rise of poisonous gases. When the water freezes, the supply and discharge channels should be kept constantly open. If, however, the water supply is insufficient, it is necessary to try to get rid of the decomposition gases by dragging to and fro under the ice a so-called "Strohleine" (a rope furnished with wisps of straw at intervals of a yard). The rope can also be weighted and drawn along the bottom, so that the gases may rise and escape through the ice-holes. At the same time, the surface of the ice should be kept as free from snow as possible, so as to allow of the development of the small green algae and cause them to give off oxygen. The appearance of different water insects in the open supply channel of the pond is a sure sign of the water becoming foul. First comes Corisa, which is followed soon by Nepa cinerea and Notonecta glauca. As the pond weeds on which these insects pass the winter have already decomposed, they seek oxygen in more wholesome waters. If no suitable remedy is found, during the next 24 hours Ranatra linearis makes its warning appearance. The advent of Hydrophilus piceus denotes that the greater number of the fish are congregated round the edges of the pond beneath the ice seeking in vain for water richer in oxygen and are destined there to perish miserably. 287 Experiment in Feeding Carp on Acorns at Trachenberg, Germany. Results: 8.85 cwt. of crushed acorns, costing 8s. 10d. delivered at the pond, produced 1.9 cwt. of fish for the table. AGRICULTURAL AND FARM ENGINEERING. 288 Watzl's Regulator for Ploughs. REZEK, I and RICHTER, L. Pflugführung Watzl. K. k. Hochschule für Bodenkultur. Prüfungsstation für landwirtschaftliche Maschinen und Geräte.- Wiener Landwirtschaftliche Zeitung, Year, 63, No. 3, p. 27. Vienna, January 8, 1913. The regulator for ploughs shown in the annexed figure is used as follows: The hollow cylinder 5 is fastened by means of the set screw 8 on the more or less cylindrical beam of an ordinary plough, while the shackle 12 is fastened anyhow to the wooden or iron fore-carriage of the plough. The regular working of the plough is based on the fact that the ring bearing 2, in which the above-mentioned hollow cylinder 5 is borne, being fixed to the fore-carriage, cannot revolve round the axis of the beam; and in the position shown in the drawing the rotation of the cylinder 5 (and consequently the rotation of the plough beam) is prevented by the ring 3 which works in the groove 5' of the cylinder 5 by means of the small springs 3' and is coupled to the bearing 2 by the butt ends of the springs 3' catching in a notch of the bearing 2. This coupling of the ring 3 with the bearing 2 is maintained, while the plough is working, by the spring 7 which presses the ring 3 against the bearing 2. When the plough reaches the end of the furrow the lever 4 is pulled by means of a string, the other end of which is fastened to the handles, and overcoming the resistance of the spring 7 the ring 3 is pushed so far forward as to be released and free to turn with the hollow cylinder 5 and the whole plough beam. Thus the plough can be turned over as is usually done at the end of the furrow. When a new furrow is started the ring 3 couples automatically with the bearing 2. Experiments have demonstrated that even imperfect wooden ploughs, or ploughs composed of parts not really belonging together, if provided with Watzl's regulator can be made to proceed as evenly in the furrow as the best modern iron ploughs, thus greatly facilitating the work of ploughing where modern implements have not yet been introduced. The writers believe that this regulator can be still further simplified without impairing its efficiency. Aus neuen Patent-Schriften. Landwirtschaftliche Maschinen und Geräte, 12th Year, No. 32, pp. 21-22; 13th Year, No. 1, p. 19. Artern, December 28, 1912, and January 4, 1913. The essential merit of this machine, the subject of two patents in Germany, consists in the even distribution of manure. Figs. I and II show the distributor for solid manures, in which the uniformity of distribution is obtained by means of a concave case which covers the distributing roller from the point at which the fertilizer falls onto it from the hopper, to the scraper. The space between this case and the roller can be increased or diminished so that the quantity of manure can be regulated. The manure in the hopper (a) falls on the grooves (b') of the roller (b), by which it is carried to the scraper; this rubs off the manure which has been pressed into the grooves by the counter roller (c) and allows it to fall to the ground. In the figure the case is shown in (f) and a bar of angle iron in (h). This bears an angle of sheet iron (g), to which the case is attached. The set screws (i) serve to regulate the position of the case. Figs. III and IV show the distributor for liquid manures, in which the distributing disk can be given different degrees of inclination to the surface of the ground. This distributor consists of a frame (a) bearing a U-shaped support (c), which, by means of the shaft (b), pivots on the frame. It carries the shaft (j) of the distributing disk. This shaft is caused to revolve by the spurred gears (g) and (h), which are connected with the driving axle (i) and thrown into or out of gear by the lever (k). With the object of shifting the position of the support (c), a swivel bearing (d) in which a worm shaft works, is attached to the frame. The worm shaft (m) is provided with a crank handle at its lower end and with a worm at its upper extremity working in a swivel nut (o) on the support. By causing the shaft (m) to rotate by means of the hand crank, the U-shaped support (c) turns on the shaft (b) and alters the inclination of the distributing disk. At the same time the worm shaft affords great stability to the support, which cannot shift by itself, and allows the disk and the gears to run smoothly. 290 Report of the Machine Experiment Station of the Agricultural Association of Prussian Rhineland on the Potato-sorting Machine “Diadem No. 1. ” GIESELER, E. Prüfungsbericht der Maschinenprüfungsstation des landwirtschaftlichen Vereins für Rheinpreussen über die Kartoffelsortiermaschine, " Diadem " Nr. 1.- Deutsche Landwirtschaftliche Presse, Year 40, No. 9, pp. 102-103. Berlin, January 29, 1913. The machine shown in the two annexed figures was tried twice. It is easily transportable, a strong boy can work it easily and its feed hopper is at a convenient height. Most of the earth falls before reaching the sorting sieves through a swinging screen at the back of the machine, and over a wooden gutter which at the same time protects the shaft and gearing. The riddles thus remain clean for a long time, unless the earth adhering to the potatoes is particularly sticky. The riddles are besides easy to clean and to change. Under normal conditions the machine grades about 5 tons of potatoes per hour, that is, as many as two workmen can feed to it. The potatoes fall well sorted into three grades into baskets. The construction of the machine is solid and durable, and the arrangements for lubrication are convenient. The working of the machine is the following: By turning the crank handle a set of geared wheels transmits motion to a horizontal shaft which goes right through the wooden frame of the machine. In the middle, this shaft is bent to a crank bearing one end of a connecting rod, the other end of which is fastened to the lower screen, causing it to move forwards and backwards. The upper end of this screen is borne by two oscillating long wooden springs fixed to the lower bars of the frame, while its lower end is supported by the lower arm of a vertical lever pivoting round its centre. The upper arm of this vertical lever bears the lower end of the upper screen. |