27

Implements of Ilufbandr'j.—Hollers,

proper, as well as to receive Hones or other matters that may be picked up fromthe ground. Pieces of wood or Hone, as heavy as a man can lift, are the modfuitable fubftances for loading thefe implements with, where they have not the ad-vantage of boxes.

The Common Rollers, fuch as are moflly ufed for rolling wheat in the fpring, andgrafs feeds, are generally about five or fix feet long, and from fifteen to thirty inchesin diameter; but thofe employed for flattening one-bout ridges, in order to preparethem for drilling turnips upon, are commonly fhorter and of much lefs diameter.

Spike-Roller .—This kind of implement is formed pretty much in the fame man-ner as the common roller, except in having the addition of a confiderable number offpikes made to it. Thefe rollers are principally employed where the foil is ftift'and cloddy, in order to reduce and break down the lumpinefs, and bring the land intoa fine Hate ; and when well conftrufted are, in many cafes, good and effective toolsfor the purpofe.

Drill-Roller .—The Norfolk farmers, we believe, have the merit of this inven-tion. It is formed with rings of caft-iron, round that part which conflitutes theroller, at fmall diftances from each other; by which means drills are made in theland, and the intermediate parts rifing into ridges, the corn of courfe chiefly fallsinto them, being thereby better depofited in the earth, and better covered than itwould have been if fown upon the furrows without them. The main objeft of thispractice is the faving the expence of dibbling, though it is not by any means fo gooda praftice. On light grounds, where prefl'ure is required, it may, however, be em-ployed with great advantage. It may alfo be made ufe of in dry feafons for reducingftiff clayey lands which are under fallow ; for which purpofe it is, perhaps, a moreefficient implement than the fpike-roller. Where this roller is made ufe of, the feed isfown broad-caff, and covered by means of a fmall or buffi harrow. The wooden rollerswhich are frequently, and with great propriety, had recourfe to, for rendering grafsand pafture lands fmooth and even, are in many places much too large to producethe powerful effect they are intended to have, without a proportionate increafe ofweight was added, for the reafons which have been juft given. They fhould there-fore be made lefs in fize, and be loaded, in order to produce the great degree ofpreffure which is wanted in thefe cafes.

As in turning at the ends of ridges or fields, rollers, from their not mov-ing upon their axis, but being drawn along the furface of the ground, areliable to tear it up, and make deep holes and depreffions before they comeagain into the direft line of draught, and are not brought round without greatexertion in the team ; it has been attempted, in order to obviate thefe inconve-niences, to conftruft rollers in two pieces, and by the divifion in the middle to