244 



Former!}', to overcome these obstacles and make any considerable progress in 

 the \\'ork of " breaking," four or six yoke of oxen and two men were found 

 necessary, but ingenuity and enterprize have wrought a great change in this im- 

 portant department of labor. Instead of the heavy, uncouth, and unmanageable 

 wooden ploughs, with iron or steel points, formerly used, various kinds of improved 

 breaking ploughs are brought into requisition, reducing the cost of breaking to 

 one-third or one-half the former price. 



Among these improved ploughs may be noticed a singular and unique looking 

 one called the sA-eleton plough, which turns the furrow with a gradual motion, 

 by means of small iron rods instead of a mould boai-d, thus reducing the friction 

 and making the draft very hght. Sometimes wheels are attached and so arranged 

 that the plough is self-holding, and the depth of the furrow regulated by a lever. 

 This arrangement dispenses with the labor of one man. 



In later years, small ploughs that can be used by one man and a span of horses 

 are considered the most valuable. One description of these small breaking 

 ploughs has for its foundation a thin plate of wrought iron or steel, combining 

 lightness with strength. The coulter is composed of a single plate of steel about 

 three feet long, pointed at both ends, and fastened by a single bolt near its centre, 

 to the plough post, about six inches below the beam. When one end is dulled 

 by use, the other is presented by reversing its position. 



The share and coulter of breaking ploughs should be of the best steel, such as 

 is used for edge tools, the angle of the share relatively with the landside should 

 be about thirty degrees, and the angle of the coulter about twenty degrees. 



If good materials is used, the above angles (substantially) observed, and the 

 plough otherwise constructed with due regard to proportion, an implement will 

 be produced that will cleave the sward easily, and dispose of the fui-row with the 

 utmost precision, and at a cost not exceeding that of breaking meadow or pasture 

 sward land, in the eastern or middle States. It is not uncommon for a man, with 

 one span of horses, to break one and one-half or two acres of j^i'airie per day, 

 during the season. 



The width of furrow, the depth most desirable, and the best season of the year 

 for breaking prairie, are questions in regard to which a variety of opinions have 

 existed. Noav, however, amongst practical men the nai'row furrow is generally 

 preferred, as it is more readily pulverized under the harrow, in preparing the 

 ground for seeding, while the best depth, undoubtedly, is two and a half or three 

 inches. A greater thickness of the furrow slice will tend to preclude the atmos- 

 pheric and chemical influences necessary to the decomposition of the vegetable 

 portion of the sward, and', as a consequence, the ground will be unfit for fall 

 seeding. 



If a less thickness than two and a half inches is made, there is danger that 



