1837-07-01 British Farmer Magazine - Budding's Patent

The above observations occurred to us on receiving from Messrs. Ransome a drawing of Smith's Subsoil Plough, from which we have had made the engraving which is prefixed to our present number. We hope it will serve to give the reader a satisfactory idea of this very useful implement, of which Messrs. Ransome are the authorised manufacturers. An elaborate description of the sketch is hardly necessary. The design is so obvious and simple that it speaks for itself; and we are quite sure, that if only half the statements we have heard respecting it are true, it will be found a most valuable appendage, not only to stiff clays, but sharp gravelly soils. We shall merely state, en passant, that the plough is very substantial, and all of wrought iron, excepting the slade.

Before parting with Messrs. Ransome, we hope they will not think us impertinent in throwing out a hint respecting Buding's [sic] grass cutter, of which, if we mistake not, they are also manufacturers. We are great advocates for this very clever and effective implement. It occurred to us whilst using it, that the principle of it might be applied to the cutting and collecting of white clover heads, often, as most farmers can testify, very difficult to get together, from their growing so short and near the ground. Now, every one who has used Budding's cutter on lawns, particularly in the early part of the summer, must have noticed the number of daisies taken off and thrown by the cutter into the box. With a very little alteration, it seems to us that it might be rendered equally effective in cutting and gathering a white clover seed crop, the very best of which is often either wholly lost, or greatly wasted, by the difficulty in securing it. We publish the cut of the subsoil plough, sent us, with plea- sure; and with equal pleasure shall we devote our pages to any other of the many useful inventions with which we may be favoured from the Ipswich foundry, or from the manufactory of any other mechanic who may have produced skilful implements for advancing agriculture.