PLATE VIII.

Drill Machines.

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Fig . i. Reprefents the infide part of an ufeful drill machine, by which the quantity of feedis regulated, a. x an iron axle, 1 or 1J inch fquare, upon which are fixed, at 9 or 10 inchesdiltance, five, fix, or more, brafs fluted cylinders, the flutes being rather more than afemi-circle $ of an inch diameter, or £ wide and £ deep. r. m are hollow cylindrical rimsof hammered iron, which have fegments turned down at right angles, to fit exaftly theflutes of the brafs cylinders; the cavities of which are increafed or diminilhed by the feg-ments of the iron cylindrical rims Aiding backwards or forwards in the flutes. This is per-formed in all the cylinders at the fame time, by a reflangular fpace ( n ) being made in thebrafs cylinders, through which pafles a flraight piece of iron i. n, moving on fri&ion wheelsat /, and fattened to the plates at /. k, and alfo to the cylindrical rims r. m. 1 . v. is a lever,the fulcrum of which is f, and moved by a fcrew S, pafling through the frame at V. Theend at /. k is forked, and made to fit exactly the fides of the collar or plates of iron /. k. Byturning the fcrew S, the lever moves the whole of the rims at once, and the cavities are in-creafed or diminilhed at pleafure : this is done with the greateft: facility and readinefs, evenwhile the machine is going and at work ; which is frequently neceflary, where the land variesconfiderably in quality, upon different parts of the fame ridge : and almoft inftantaneoufly, tofow any kind of grain, and in any proportion ; which is fhown upon the fcale e. 0. p> by theindex k. 0 fixed to the end of the lever at k.

Fig. 2 . Is a view of the machine when ready for work. The coulters and fpouts may behung differently, as reprefented by the dotted lines, and which is probably the better modefor hilly lands. When employed for fowing turnips, the large hopper is taken off, and a fetof fmall ones fixed upon the half-egg cavities at the end of the brafs cylinders: the quantityis regulated by a tongue fcrewing up and down.

This machine was invented by Mr. Bury, and defcribed in the Northumberland Report.

Fig. 3. A drill plough very ufeful in fowing turnips, invented by Mr. Mure, a the fpindleon which the feed-box is fixed ; b b the crofs piece in which the drill coulter c is faftened;d the mould board ; e the beam ; ff the handles ; g the copfe by which it is drawn.

Fig. 4. Is the reprefentation of a turnip-drill, invented by Mr. Knight, a the iron wheelrunning on the edge formed by two concave fides, makes the groove for the feed; b a wheelmoving on the fame axis with the former, and turning the wheel c by a (trap, gives out the feed.By having different fizes of wheels, d. b, more or lefs feed is fown as they increafe or diminilhthe rapidity of c. d the tube through which the feed pafles into the channel formed by theiron wheel; e feet of the implement; _/fix lengths of jack chain for covering the feed ; g thefeed-box ; b h the handles. There are two holes before the axis of the great wheel for re-ceiving two pieces of cane, which mark the proper width of the intervals between the rows.-The angle on the edge of the wheel, and the weight of the implement, are more or lefs acuteand heavy according to the ftrength of the foil.

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