A little model well, mounted on a stand, is shown to the company, and is
held upside down to prove that it is empty. Four different kinds of
seed, as rape, hemp, canary, millet, and so on, are mixed together (or
coloured sweetmeats, those called “hundreds-and-thousands” being
suitable), and the mass is thrown down the well. The company then decide
in what order they will have the sorts of seed separately drawn up, and
this had better be written down to prevent difficulties, as
1st, Hempseed; 2nd, canary; 3rd, rape; 4th, millet.
A little bucket attached to a revolving beam above the well is let down,
and each time that it is drawn up, bring up the seeds in the order
prearranged.
_Explanation._—In the lower half of the well, level with each other, are
four cells, at the height of the bucket from the bottom of the well. The
floor of these cells is inclined towards the well, so that, on the doors
of these cells being opened, their contents must slide out into the
well. In each cell is one sort of seed. The doors are valves opened by
pressure on secret springs on the outside of the well, like the keys of
a flute. The well narrows at the bottom so as to only admit the bucket.
At the bottom of the well is a secret trap, down which the mixed seed
falls and is no more seen.
_Operation._—When the mixed seed has been thrown down and falls into the
secret receptacle, the performer takes the well in his hand, and places
his fingers on the little slightly projecting pins which work the valves
of the cells. All that is now to be done is to make that valve open
which will open the cell of the seed demanded.
[Illustration]