US1252668A

US1252668A - Plant-setting machine.

Info

Publication number: US1252668A
Application number: US8468116A
Authority: US
Inventors: James C Crawford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-03-16
Filing date: 1916-03-16
Publication date: 1918-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1935-01-08

Description

J. c. CR'AWFORD.

PLANT SETTING MACHINE AF 'PLICATION FILED MAR. I6. 1916.

11 52m Patented J an. 8, 1918 5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. C. CRAWFORD.

PLANT SETTJNG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR-16. I916.

LQ5Q 66$ Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

J. C. CRAWFORD.

PLANT SETTING'MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR-I6, I916.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. C. CRAWFORD. PLANT SETTING MACHINE. APPLICATION man MAR-16, 191s.

Patented Ja11.8,l918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. C. CRAWFORD.

PLANT SETTING MACHINE. APPLICATION mm MAR. 16. l9l6.

Patented J an. 8, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

mam lnaa/zmr ML I mega: 6 W%%% ra'rnn'r JAMES C. CRAWFORD, 015 LOS AN GELES, CALIFORNIA.

PLANT-SETTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

Application filed March 16, 1916. Serial No. 84,681.

To all whom it may concern provide a machine of simplified form plants with Be it known that I, J AMES 0. CRAWFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Plant-Setting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to plant setting machines and the primary object thereof is .to and economical in operation which may be used to a great advantage by truck gardeners and farmers for setting out various kinds of a minimum amount of manual effort and by means of which a relatively large area of ground may be planted in a given length of time as compared with the methods and machines now well known in the agricultural pursuits.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for storing a large quantity of the plants in the machine and for feeding the plants so stored to the plant setting means at regular intervals, burying the plants in the furrow and covering them in a single operation.

A further object is to provide means whereby the machine may be moved over the surface of the ground in the plant setting operation and whereby a sufficient amount of water may be upplied to each of the plants automatically with the setting of the plants in the ground.

- A further object is to provide means for "adjusting the plant setting means relative to the vehicle running gear in order to accommodate the machine to variations in the width of the. rows so that the traction wheels of the vehicle may be made to run between the rows at all times, and thus prevent damage to rows previously set: the plant setting means being also adjustable vertically so as to permit the raising thereof as a unit with the plow at the ends of the rows when a turn is made and another row started.

A further object is to provide means for mounting the plow for making the furrow, the plant holding means and coveringmeans therefor, means for pressing the dirt firmly down over the roots of the plants. and means for slightly loosening the surface of the ground around the plants, on a common beamso as to render all of Said elements simul n u lraaerable.

Other objects may appear in the subjoined detail description.

Referring to the'drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate the same parts 1 is a plan of my machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation; Fig. 4 is a front elevation; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the water barrel and support therefor: Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5, partly in section; Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan of the pilot wheel head and forward portion of the running gear frame; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional elevation of Fig. 7 showing the upper portion of the pilot Wheel yoke;- Fig. 9 is a fragmentary bottom plan of the plant holding reel and support therefor; Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the plow, plow beam and operating means therefor; Fig. 12 is a front elevation of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevation of the plow beam operating lever and support. 7

Fig. 14 is a plan of Figs. 11 and 12 showing also the pressing wheels and surface loosening means attached to the rear of the plow beam; Fig. 15 is a plan of the plant holding reel and mounting, the plow and covering means showing the valve for regulating the flow of the water to the furrow; Fig. 16 is a rear elevation of the plow and mounting therefor and the water regulating means; Fig. 17 is a longitudinal section through the plow and water regulating valve, as shown in Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a sectional plan of the plow and mechanism shown iii-Figs. 16 and 17; Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional plan of the water valve; Fig. 20 is a, plan of the harrow pins and mounting therefor; Fig. 21 is an elevation of Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is a transverse section of Fig. 21; and Fig. 23 is a fragmentary throughout the several views, Figureelevation of the tape for holding the plants Y therewith so that the proper alinement may at all times be preserved.

Guideways are provided through which the tape extends to the rear of the plow into the furrow and means for supplying water to the furrow areprovided which are capable of regulation by the movement of the tape over the guideways, the arrangement being such that a predetermined amount of Water may be deposited in the furrow 'coincidcntly with the setting ofreach of the plants therein. The earth thrown up by the plow is caused to be thrown in and around the furrow asthe machine moves forward by means ofsuitable covering and "screws 1'8 to the pilot deflecting means, and the dirt at the sides of the furrow in which the plants are set is' then pressed firmly down around the plants and the surface of the ground slightly loosened by small harrow pins.

The tape for holding the plants may be prepared and the plants arranged at regular intervals therein previous to the setting operation, and a number of additional reels i of the plant holding tape maybe conveniently stored on the ve'hicleso that when the tape "on'one of the reels has been played out another reel may be quickly substituted therefor. I will now describe my invention in detail.

The running gear of the vehicle is com- ;posed of a pair of relatively large traction wheels 1 which are mounted on the ends 2 of the preferably square axle 3, and the frame 4 which is curved around at the rear of the *vehicle and the opposite sides of which are secured by bolts 5 between the lugs 6 and 7 on the brackets 8. The brackets 8 have vertical arms 9 with flanges 10 formed on the upper ends thereof which serve as supports for the water barrel 11, the barrel being suspended between the arms above the axle 3 and rigidly held thereon by means of lag screws 12 extending through the The brackets 8 are secured to the axle 3 by means of the bolts :13 and suitable ribs 14 are formed on the arms 9 of thefbrackets for affording rigidity thereto.

Slightly forward'of the water barrel 11 a seat 15 is provided for the driver of the vehicle and this seat is rigidly securedto an upwardly extending brace'1-6 which is attached by means of bolts or rivets 17 extending through the ends'of the brace to the sides/4 of the frame. The forward ends of the frame 4 are secured by means of wheel head 19 and the rearsarm 2020f the draft yokeQI 'ispiv oted between the ends of the frame on a bolt 22, the yoke 21 being arranged to receive and hold a double tree or swingle tree to which ahorse or draft animal may be hitched 1 '19 and for a convenient distance thereabove, the stem being held in position by means of a nut 30 at the top of the head 19-an'd the head '31 at the bottom of the bore in the yoke 26.

Flanges

32 and 33 are formed on the head 19 at the top and bottom, "respectively, which overlap the upper and lower edges of the frame. members 4 and theweb 34 of the head is adapted to receive the bolts =or'screws 1'8 for'holding the frame and head firmly together. The lower flange 33 of the head 19 and the si-milar'flange 35 which is formed on the upper end of the yoke 26 are adjacent and are provided with raceways 36 to receive the balls 37, so that the pivotal movement of the yoke 26 on the stemj28 may be accomplished "with a minimum amount of friction. v

A transversely disposed shaft 38 extends entirely across the width of the machine about midway of the pilot and rear wheels and the reduced ends 39 ofth'i'sshaft are pivotally held in

bearings

40 and 41 secured to the opposite frame-members 4" bymeans of bolts 42. The left hand bearing 40 has a ratchet sector 43 formed thereon which extends substantially above the upper edge of the frame 4, and a lever-44 is attached to the shaft 38 by means of a set screw 45 which seats in a longitudinal groovef46 extending entirely throughout the length of the shaft, the hub 47 of the lever being positioned adjacent to the bearing 40 and a dog 48 being pivotallylield on the lever 44 by means of a rivet or bolt 49 and adapted to engage the teeth 50 in the ratchet 43 for holding the shaft 38 in a desired position.

About midway between the frame sides 4 a pair of arms '51 which have hubs 52 and are substantially spaced apart arejslidably mounted on theshaft 38 and are adapted to be held innn'ovablv on the shaft, by aneans of set screws 53 which seat at their lower ends in the longitudinal groove 46 in the shaft. The arms 51 are normally downwardly directed at an angle of about 45'de- 'grees and are recessed to receive'the upper ends of the members 54 of the'b'eam; which members are secured "to the arms by means direction of each other at points below the ends of the arms where spacing blocks 56 are inserted between the members 5 10f the beam and secured thereto by means of rivets 57, the members 55 at the points where the blocks 56 are attached being substantially horizontal andparallel with the frame men bers 4'. The inner edges of the blocks 56 are curved slightly and a sufficient space is left between the curved edges of the blocks to permit the movement therethrough of the plow stem, as shown in Fig. 11. At points to the rear of the spacing blocks 56 the beam members 54 are again deflected in the direction of each other and are directed downwardly at a substantial angle and secured and held in spaced relation by means of a spacing bolt 58. The lower extremities 59 of the members 54: below the bolt 58 are spread apart to form a yoke for receiving and revolubly holding the presser wheels 60, as shown in Fig. 14, the ends of the members being secured by means of bolts 61 to arms 62 which serve as supports for the ends of the axle 63.

The plow 64 is rigidly held on the stem by means of rivets 65 extending through the members 66 of the stem, and the stem members are spread apart at the bottom so as to provide ample clearance for the upper portion of the plants, as will be hereinafter described. The plow is curved on the face, thus presenting a convex surface to the earth through which it moves when in operation, and the point of the plow is slightly curved forward from the bottom in advance of the body, for obvious reasons. At a convenient point above the plow 64: the stem members 66 are inwardly deflected, as shown in Fig. 12, and are held in spaced relation by means of the spacing block 67 which is secured to the stem by means of rivets 68, the upper end of the stem being movably inserted in the space between the blocks 56 on the beam 54 and having extensions 69 adapted to be pivotally connected with the arm 70 of the plow raising lever 71 by means of the pin 72. Rollers 72 are provided on the ends of the pin 72 on the outside of the members 66 which serve to limit the downward movement of the plow stem by contact with the upper edges of the beam members 54; and the rear ends of the braces 97 which support the plant holding means, hereinafter described, limit the movement of the plow stem in the opposite direction and in the same manner.

A guide lever 73 is pivoted to and between. the beam members 54 at a point slightly above the yoke ends thereof and the forward end of this lever is pivoted to and between the stem members 66 at a point below the spacing block 67 on a pin 74, the plow beam being thus pivotally supported both above and belowthe beam members 54.. The

71, the lever being secured to the socket by means of bolts 77, and the lever and mounting therefor being movably pivotally about the shaft 38.

A latch lever 78 is pivoted on a pin 79 to the central portion of the lever 71 and the lower end 80 thereof carries a horizontally disposed rod 81 which is also supported in an auxiliary arm 82 on the opposite side of the lever 71, the arm 82 being pivoted on the pin 79 to the lever 71, the forward portion of the periphery of the hubs 52 of the arms 51 having lugs 83 formed thereon which are adapted to be engaged at the shoulders 84c by the rod 81 for locking the plow stem in its raised position. WVhen the plow is in normal position in the ground, as shown in Fig. 11, the latching rod 81 will rest on the ecc'entrically formed surface of the lugs 83, but as the plow is raised, the rod will move downwardly over this surface until the plow has reached its upward limit of movement,

when the rod will engage the shoulders 84:

on the arms and retain the plow in its upper- 'most position. The latching lever 78 is actuated by means of a spring 85 which is attached by means of a screw 86 to the lever 71, the upper end of the spring engaging a pin 87 in the lever 78 and the lower portion thereof engaging a similar pin 88 in the lever 71 above the screw 86.

The angular brackets 89 which are secured to the plow stem members 66 on opposite sides of the plow 64 by means of bolts 90, serve as supports for the deflecting vanes or blades 91 which are adjustably secured to the brackets by means of the bolts 92 extending through the arcuate slots 93 in the extensions 94: of the brackets. The blades 91 converge at the rear of the plow and diverge substantially at the front of the plow so as to permit the entrance of the broken up dirt to the space between the blades as it is thrown up at the sides of the plow. The deflecting blades 91 have top portions 95 which attain their greatest width at the front and gradually decrease. as the rear ends are approached, at which point the tops merge into the sides and disappear. I It is desirable that the blades 91 be capable of ad- -.wardly.of thev plow 64 by meansof braces :97 attached to the sides 98 by means of the rivets 99, the other ends of the braces being pivotally held on the plow beam 66 above the plow on the pin 74. The sizes 98 and the flat bottom 100 of the receptacle. 96 are extended inwardly to and'are secured to the plow 64 by means of rivets 101 extending through lugs 102 from the sides, the bottom and sides thus extended forming a narrow 'guideway for the paper tape 103. An opening 104 is provided in the plow 64 to receive the guideway thus provided and the sides of 'the guideway are made to conform to the flare of the opening in the plow so as to insure the displacement of the dirt thrown up by the plow laterally of the guideway and prevent the lodgment of the dirt thus thrown up at points beneath the guideway.

The tape holding reel has a relatively thin flat metallic bottom 105 and a central hub 106 which is provided with a central bore to receive the stem 107 attached to the bottom of the receptacle 96 and rigidly held reel. In order, however, to prevent the too rapid turning of the reel when the tape is being unwound therefrom, I provide a friction brake on the bottom of the receptacle which is composed of a resilient strip of metal 111 secured to the'bottom of the receptacle 96 by means of screws 112 and the inner end of which extends-through an aperture 113 in the bottom 100 and is adapted to frictionally engage the bottom of the receptacle, the operation and use of which is obvious.

One of the sides of the guideway extending from the reel holding receptacle 96 to the plow 64 terminates at a point flush with the inner surface of the plow, while the other side 114 is extended substantially to the rear of the plow, as shown in Fig. 15, and is additionally braced by means of the angle strap 115 secured at opposite ends to the side 114 and the associated plow stem member 66 by means of rivets 116. The bottom 100 of the receptacle and guideway is extended rearwardly from the front of the plow to a point slightly back of the rearedges of the plow stem members 66 and is slightly curved, asshown in Fig. 16. 'A valve body 117 is secured to the plow stem member 66 at the left of and within the plow inclosure'by means of screws 118 extending through the base 119. An extension 120 is formed on the valve body 117 which projects forwardly to a point just inside of the plow 64 where a fiat metalli.c.'stabilizer 121 is-pivot'ally. held on the armor extension by means eta vertica1e1 pg'ated pin-.122 secured rat-its 1,252,e cs

lower end in the extension 120, the stabilizer 121 being extended rearwardly from its pivot pin to a pointopposite the rear end of the side114 of the guideway and being held resiliently in contact with the tape 103 by means of a spring 123 attached thereto and pressing againstthe valve body- 117.

The central portion 124 of the'lvalve body has a bore or chamber 125 in which is seated the valve 126 having the port 127 in the wall thereof and the central passage or chamber 128 with which the port communicates, the upper end of the valve chamber being closed by a web 129 and having 'a stem 130, and the lower end of the valve chamber communicating with the passage 131 in the tubular extension 132 at the bottom in the valve body. The upper endof .the valve body chamber 125 is closed by means of a removable capor head 133 which may be threaded or otherwise suitably secured on the valve body and a suitable packing 134 may be inserted between the valve 126 and the head to prevent a leakage of-the water therethrough. The stem .130 of the valve extends upwardly through the head 133-and carries an arm 135 which is held thereon by means of'the nut 136, as shown in Figs, 16, 17 and 18. A tubular extension 137 projects rearwardly from the valve body 117 and has a passage 138 which communicates with the bore or chamber 125, and the outer end of this extension is adapted to be attachedv to a hose 139 leading to the faucet 140 on the end of the water barrel 11 for the purpose of supplying water to the valve. A boss 140 is formed on the upper portion of the periphery of the extens on 137 to which is pivoted a bell crank 141, the shorter arm 142 of which is pivotally con nected with the arm 135 on the valve stem by means of the pin 143, and the longer arm 144 extends through an opening 145 in the stabilizer vane 121 and carries a roller 146 on a pin-147, a spring 148 being wound around the lug or boss 140. and the opposite ends of the spring being held respectively against the edge of the arm 144 and the plow stem member 66, thus serving to hold the valve normally closed and the valve. operat ing mechanism in the relation shown in Fig. 18.

The tubular extension 132 at the bottom of the valve body extends diagonally from the valve in the direction of the guideway between the side 114 and the stabilizer 121 between which the paper tape moves asthe vehicle is moved forward and to a point beneath the floor of the guideway, so that the waterfrom the valve may be deposited in the bottom of the furrow simultaneously with the deposit of the plant therein. The guide: way in which the tape moves is inclined so that thevrear end of theguideway will prac+ ticai ly urenrt iehettony errearthe hot:

tom of the furrow, and the paper being unwound from the reel is guided directly into the furrow as the vehicle is moved forward, both the paper tape and the plants which are held at regular intervals in the tape being sustained in vertical. position during the movement of the vehicle and the tape being covered over with the dirt together with the plants by means of the deflectors at the sides .of the plow,

' The harrow pins 149 which are held in the straps 150 attached to the presser wheel axles are arranged in two separate sets, one set being on each side of the center of the beam 54, and space is thus provided between the sets of pins and also between the presser wheels to permit the passage of the tops of the plants in the row planted. The harrow pins, as shown, may be rigidly suported from the presser wheel axle supports so that the tendency of the pins to dig into the ground may be limited, or they may be pivoted on the axles and permitted to drag along over the surface, the depth into the ground which they are permitted to extend being limited by the weight of the pins and their supports.

In Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, I show a removable cap 151 which is adapted to be screwed on the extension 152 from the flange 153 secured to the upper portion of the water barrel 11 by means of the rivets or screws 154, this devic serving as means for filling the water barrel, but any other suitable means for this purpose may be provided. The pilot wheel yoke stems 29 may be extended substantially above the head 19, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, for the purpose of holding a plurality of the tape reels 105, the stem 29 in such case being inserted in the bore of the reel hubs, and the reels being removed from the stem and placed in position in the reel holding means when necessary for use.

In operation, when the vehicle is started in motion and the rear end of the tape 103 has been embedded in the ground, the tape will be unwound from the reel on which it is carried, as previously described, the plants will be deposited in regular succession in the furrow at points to the rear of the plow, the passage of the tape between the side 114 of the guideway and the movable stabilizer serving to hold the paper and the plants in an upright position and the passage of the enlarged portions of the tape, as at 155 in Fig. 18, in which the plants are held, through the restricted portion of the guideway and by the roller 146 will cause the roller 146 to move out of the guideway through the opening 145 in the stabilizer 121, thus opening the valve by causing the registration of the port 127 in the valve with the inlet passage 138 and permitting the flow of water through the valve into and from the tubular extension 132 and from plants.

The watering of the plants having been thus accomplished, the dirt at the sides of the plow 64 is thrown inwardly by means of the deflectors, the plants and tape which holds the plants are covered over with dirt, the presser wheels which follow the deflectors press the dirt firmly down around the plants, and the surface of the ground is then loosened by the harrow pins at the rear of the wheels. It should be noted that with tne valve actuating mechanism described, the release of the water from the valve may be only accomplished at times when plants are being deposited in the furrow, and not at other times, thus insuring a proper water supply for all plants. The valve may be so arranged, as to the extent of the movement of the actuating arms, that the area of the water passage, as determined by the extent of the opening of the port, may be regulated so as to distribute a greater or less quantity. of water at each operation of the valve, for it is obvious that some plants require more water than others, but each valve used will be limited to the maximum area of the valve port in such case.

By means of the mechanism shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the plow may be raised from the furrow independently of the beam from which it is suspended, the operation of the plow raising lever 71 and the associated arms and levers, causing a slight initial rearward movement of the plow in the furrow, and a final forward and vertical movement until the plow is entirely above the ground.

l/Vith the plow in either its raised or lowered positions, the beam 54 may be raised by moving the lever 44 forward, thus raising the presser wheels, harrow pins, plow, deflectors and tape holding means as a unit so as to clear the surface of the ground when making; a turn at the end of a row, or for other purposes.

One or more additional sets of planting means may be provided on the shaft 38 according to necessity, and in such case while the plows in each set would be capable of independent operation, the beams on which they are carried would be capable of simultaneous operation by the movement of the lever 44. For the purpose of accommodating a plurality of setting means, the running gear of the machine would of necessity be substantially wider than shown, according to the character of the plants to be set, though for two or possibly three rows of plants of certain character especially where the rows are closely spaced, a relatively narrow running gear may be used.

Vhile I show only means for setting a single row of plants in this invention, I desire it to be understood'th'atI conceive it running gear for traversing the line of the furrow, the plow for making the furrow, plant holding means supported in operative position thereon, and yieldable means on said plow for guiding the plants to the furrow in successive order, said plant holding means being adapted to hold the plants in spaced relation during the movement there of to the furrow and subsequent to the covering operation.

2. A plant setting machine including a running gear for traversing the line of the furrow, the plow for making the furrow, plant holding stationary and yieldable means supported in operative position thereon, means for guiding said plant holding means through the plow to the furrow, said plant holding means including flexible tapes forholding the plants in spaced relation during the setting operation.

3. A plant setting machine comprising a running gear for traversing the line of a furrow, a plow for making the furrow, a stationary plant holder supported on said plow, a reel revolubly mounted on said holder, a tape carried by said reel for holding the plants in vertical positions and in,

spaced relation in readiness to be set, and yieldable means supported on said plow for guiding said tape therethrough to the furrows.

4. A plant setting machine comprising a running gear for traversing the line of the furrows, a plow adjustable thereon, a reel revolubly supported on said plow, a plant holding tape carried by said reel, and yield able guide means supported on the plow and extending into the furrow for guiding said tape thereto.

5. A plant setting machine comprising a running gear for traversing the line of the furrow, a plow adjustable thereon, plant holding means comprising reels havingflexible plant holders thereon, means extending from the plow for supporting the plant holding means, and stationary and rela-, tively yieldable means on said plow for guiding saidholdingmeans to thefurrow, said. flexible plant holders being movable through. the. plow. to and capable of being embedded in the furrow with the plants.

6; A plant setting machine comprising a running gear for traversing the line of the:

by the plow,

furrows, a vertically adjustable plow sup ported thereon, plant holding means sup.-

ported on said plow in readiness for use,.,

plant holding tape holding means revolubly on and forward. of"

double thickness for holding the plants said plow, yieldable guidelmeans. rearw-ard'fi of said plow, and means for permitting the saidplow to the furrow.v

.75, I. passage of the plant holding tapeszthrough 7. A plant setting machine including vehiclerunning gear having means for revo.-.

lubly supporting the plants to be set in com pact form and arranged to deliver the plants in continuous processlonto and: set them 1n the furrow, a plow for making the furrow arranged to. permit the passage of the' plants therethrough in a plane substantially paralleling the furrow, yieldable means attached to said plow for guiding the} plants to the furrow, and means supported" on the plow for covering andwatering the plants as they are deposited in the furrow. 8. A plant setting; machine including; the

vehicle running gear arranged to support a' continuous procession of regularly spaced plants revolubly thereon; and to deliverthe plants in succession to the furrow, aiplowfor making the furrows, arranged for guiding the plants therethrough in a substantially horizontal, plane, and for supporting the plants in: upright positions in the furrow, covering means, adjustably supported on the plow, and water supply means a'ctueated by the passage of the plants thereby arranged to discharge a volume of; water simultaneously with the deposit of each plant in the furrow.

for supporting a quantity of regular spaced plants 1n setting and arranged to permit the substantially horizontal movement of the; plants there guideways extending into the furrow for support--- ing the plants vertically therein, adjustable through, yieldable from the plow covering means for the furrows supportedble of operation by the passage of the plants to the furrows for discharging a. volume of water thereto simultaneouslywith the deposit of theplants therein.

10. A plant setting machine comprising;

the plow for making the furrow for the plants, flexible carrier means supported on;

the plow and adjustable therewith for hold ing a quantity of plants. in readiness to, be set, means for efl'ectingthe delivery of; said furrow.

and water; supply means capa-,

. v 9. A plant setting machine having means ly positiu tallel revolur bly thereon, a plow adj ustably supported 11. A plant setting machine comprising a vehicle running gear having vertically adjustable plant setting means suspended therefrom, plant holding means supported near the front thereof, an adj ustably mounted plow for digging the furrow for the plants, means carried by the plow for holding the plants to be set, means for guiding the plants therefrom to the furrow, means for covering the plants and means for supplying water thereto at the time of their deposit in the furrow.

12. A plant setting machine including a vehicle running gear, a beam adjustably supported thereon, presser wheels carried by and for supporting the outer end of said beam and for pressing the dirt around the plants, a plow suspended from said running gear and adjustable independently of said beam for regulating the depth of the furrow, plant carrier means movable through the plow for conveying the plants to the furrow, and means supported on said plow for setting the plants in regular succession, means for watering the plants in the setting operation, and means for covering the furrow thereafter.

13. A plant setting machine comprising the vehicle running gear having the commonly adjustable plow and plant setting means supported thereon, means for adjusting said plow, and setting means, flexible carrier means for holding a plurality of plants at regular intervals and in an upright position in readiness to be set, and means actuated by the movement of the vehicle for effecting the delivery of said plants to the furrow in regular order, said plant carrier being movable horizontally through the plow and adapted to be embedded with the plants.

14. A plant setting machine comprising the vehicle running gear, the adjustably supported plow carried thereby for making the furrow for the plants, and means for setting Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the a plurality of plants in successive order in the furrow including the reel for holding the plants to be set, said reel being supported on and adjustable with said plow, flexible carrier means for supporting the plants in vertical position on said reel and for delivering said plants in such position to the furrow, said carrier being embedded with the plants therein, means for supplying water to the plants capable of regulation by the movement of the plants thereby, and means for covering and firmly pressing the dirt around said plants after being set, all of said elements being adjustable laterally of the machine for regulating the spacing of the rows.

15. A plant setting machine including the plow for making the furrow for the plants, a removable plant carrier for supporting the plants in setting position, means supported by the plow for holding and setting the plants in regular order and at regular intervals in the furrow, yieldable means for guiding the plants through the plow in the setting operation, and means actuated by the passage of the plants therethrough for supplying water to the plants.

16. A plant setting machine including the plow for making the furrow for the plants, means forward of the plow and movable therewith for holding a quantity of the plants to be set and for guiding said plants through said plow into the furrow in regular succession and at regular intervals, means actuated by the passage of the plants through the plow for supplying water to the furrow for each of the plants, and means for covering the plant roots.

Signed at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, this 10th day of March, 1916.

JAMES C. CRAW'FORD.

Witnesses:

J xo. A. Hams, M. LANGDON.

Commissioner of I'atents,

Washington, D. C.