INTRODUCTION. 129 



confidence of the increase of root crops ; since, with the exception of the potato, 

 all culture of that kind is still in its infancy. It is much to be regretted that 

 provision has not hitherto been made for obtaining statistics concerning the 

 quantity of land under cultivation, and the number of acres devoted to particular 

 crops and their extent ; since the information which might have been thus derived 

 would have been not merely useful in ascertaining the present condition of agri- 

 culture, but eminently conducive to its future improvement. 



The chief step in the improvement of the plough, was the invention by Jethro 

 Wood, which consisted in substituting in the construction of that instrument, 

 cast iron for wood and wrought iron. The new plough thus produced, was 

 more manageable, and more easily drawn ; and the apprehensions that its strength 

 would not be found sufficient to resist the power applied to draw it, were ulti- 

 mately found to be groundless. The utmost skill of mechanism has also been 

 applied in ascertaining the form best adapted to equalize the friction and resist- 

 ance with the work to be performed. Land is now more perfectly and quickly 

 tilled with the labor of two horses, than with double that power applied to the 

 implement before in use. Moore's plough, for use upon an inclined surface, 

 performs its work with as much ease and completeness as similar labor is per- 

 formed upon a plain. The threshing machine, a modern invention, has already 

 become indispensable to the farmer. With the horse hay-rake in the meadow, 

 labor is performed equal to that of six men ; while as a gleaner of the harvest 

 field, its use annually more than repays its cost. The cultivator has greatly 

 reduced the expense of producing indian corn. Modern improvements of the 

 harrow have diminished the weight of that instrument, and given it greater effi- 

 ciency in pulverizing the soil. The heavy wrought hoe, and the clumsy three- 

 pronged iron fork, have given place to the steel plate polished hoe, and to the 

 steel fork with four or six tines. We have machines which, with the application 

 of horse power, clear in a perfect manner ten or fifteen acres of grain per day ; 



Intr. 17 



