from Southern Planter 1846

Pratt’s Corn Planter and Seed Sower

We have lately seen one of these implements, represented in the engraving, and we have been so well pleased with it that we have made arrangements for keeping a constant supply at our agricultural wareroom. It is simple in its construction and unerring in operation. Suppose the ground to be prepared for the seed, the wedge-like projection on the face of the wheel makes a furrow of the proper depth, into which the seed are dropped through a small tube leading to it. On the side edge of the wheel are pin holes into which pins may be screwed at pleasure; in the revolution of the wheel these pins strike and raise the projecting end of the lever, which a slide, connected with the other end of the lever moving through the bottom of the hopper, is drawn forward. In this slide there is an opening into which the seed falls, and this movement of the lever draws this opening forward over the upper end of the tube through which the seed falls in the furrow. – After the pin has passed round and let the lever fall, the slide is drawn back into its original position by a spring at the other end, and is again ready for another operation. The hole in the bottom of the hopper can be altered, at pleasure, to pass different sized seeds, or different quantities of the same seed, and the position of the pins can be carried according to the distance required between the droppings; an apparatus is affixed which secures a regular and even covering of the seed.

This machine is rolled forward by hand,and the furrowing, dropping and covering, are all accomplished by the machine, saving thereby the use (where the ground is checked) of two horses, two ploughs and two hands, doing the work with much more regularity than it can possibly be accomplished by the most skillful dropper.

The machine that we have at present, is designed for planting corn, beans and peas, only, but a smaller size for garden use is also furnished, for ten dollars. The corn planter is sold at twelve.

Burrall’s Corn-Sheller

We have received from Mr. T.D. Burrall, of Geneva, New York, a sample of a corn-sheller, which is represented in the engraving. It is a very neat and compact article, and the principle is simple and ingenious, but the workmanship is too slight, and the whole article much too diminutive for Southern use. Mr. Burrall is desirous that we should go into the manufacture of the article, and it is probable that we shall do so, but it will be to make them upon a much larger and stouter scale than the specimen now in our wareroom.

We have long made shellers upon Mr. Burrall’s plan, with this difference, that ours delivered the corn and cob together at one aperture, whilst Mr. Burrall, by a contrivance, extremely simple and ingenious, delivers the grain at one opening and the cob at another. If properly made, it is the best sheller for a man who is satisfied to get out 150 or 200 bushels a day, that we have ever seen.

How to Kill Flies

To kill flies you must take equal portions of fine black pepper fresh ground, and sugar; say enough of each to cover a ten cent piece; moisten and mix well with a spoonful of milk (a little cream is better,) keep that in your room and you will keep down the flies. One advantage over other poisons is, that it injures nothing else; and another, that the flies seek the air and never die in the house – the windows being open.

An old ad for a mystery mower maker.

Celery for Ducks

The common duck of the poultry yard, if fed (while fattening) copiously upon the tops of the celery plant, will attain a juiciness and a flavor that must call forth unqualified approbation from every epicure. It is the wild celery plant that gives peculiarity of enchantment to the canvassback, and the common celery top will add a charm to the duck of the yard, that cannot be conceived. You cannot make a tame bird equal one with the wild flavor of freedom and foreign travel, but still you can refine on poultry.