This section is from "The Domestic Encyclopaedia Vol4", by A. F. M. Willich. Amazon: The Domestic Encyclopaedia.
Cultivator, is an implement of husbandry, lately invented by Mr. William Lester, of Northampton ; for the contrivance of which, the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, etc. in 1801, rewarded him with their silver medal. As this instrument promises to be of essential utility to agriculturists, we have given an engraved view of its construction.
Description of Mr. Lester's Cul-tivator.
(Fig.2, Plate I. Supplement ; A, is the beam.
B B, the handles.
C C, is a semi-circular cross-bar containing several holes, by means of which the two bars D D may be placed at a greater or less distance from each other, as occasion may require.
D D, represent two strong bars, that are moveable at one end upon a pivot marked E; and extend thence, in a triangular form, to the cross-bar C C. With the former are connected the shares F, the upper ends of which are in-serted through square holes, and may thus be fixed at any requisite height.
F, represents those seven shares, the lower extremities of which are shaped like small trowels, while the upper parts consist of square iron bars.
G, G, G, are three iron wheels, serving to move the machine, and which may be raised, or lowered, at pleasure.
H, an iron hook, to which the swingle-tree and horses are to be linked.
When the machine is first employed on land, the bars D D, are expanded as widely as possible : in proportion as the clods are broken, and the soil becomes loosened, they are brought closer to the centre, 90 that the shares occupy a smaller space, and consequently the land will be more easily reduced to powder.
The object of Mr. Lester's invention is, to shorten the labour at present required for breaking up soils ; and, as these are most effectually pulverized in dry weather, his implement is peculiarly adapted for such purpose : according to his account, he is confident that one man, a boy, and six horses, will break up as much faltow-land in one day, and with the same effect, as six ploughs. In some states of the soil, it will be necessary to alter the breadth of the shares ; but this circumstance must be regulated by the judgment of the husbandman ; and, though the points of the shares, in consequence of such expansion and contraction of the cultivator, are slightly moved out of the direct line, yet this irregularity does not impede the progress of the implement.
Mr. Lester's communication is accompanied by the certificate of a farmer, in the vicinity of Northampton, who states, that he employed the cultivator, in the summer of 1800, on a turnip-fallow; and believes it be very useful for cultivating such land ; that from its alternate contraction and expansion, it is calculated to work the same soil, in a rough or fine state; by which means it unites the principles of two implements in one; and he is opinion, that it may be worked at any depth required, for the purposes of general tillage.
 
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