372 



SYLVA AMERICANA. 



which divides the turf for 

 each side of the double 

 moldboard, six inches high 

 at the shoulder, with a 

 sharp edge tapering to a 

 point at (b) . The sole of the 

 plough is screwed and bolt- 

 ed to the instrument by the 

 bolt sockets (e), and the nut 

 screw sockets (d). The 

 base of the triangular plate 

 (/, Fig. 9) is twenty-one 

 inches, with a curve of 

 one inch, which facilitates 

 the action of the instrument 

 plate ex. when paring in gravelly or 



stoney ground. The whole length of the plate is thirty-five 

 inches from the base (/) to the point of the share (b). Wherever 

 the land is of a moderately level surface, and when paring is de- 

 sirable, this plough will be found a valuable implement. The 

 whole surface may be pared as in clayey soils, where burning the 

 turf is essential ; or spaces of twenty-one inches, as in heath 

 soils, may be pared off with intervals of thirteen inches, on which 

 the reversed turf may rest to decay, and become food for the 

 roots of the trees. When the soil is of sufficient depth to allow 

 of trenching, the common plough, following the track of the par- 

 ing plough, will effect this object at a comparatively small ex- 

 pense. 



Much difference of opinion prevails on the comparative advan- 

 tages and disadvantages of trenching ground for forest trees ; 

 nothing is more certain than that trenching and manuring is more 

 advantageous to the trees than holing, or any other mode of pre- 

 paration. But there are certain soils which will produce valuable 

 timber, and that cannot be ploughed or trenched ; these have 

 already been mentioned : there are others which are capable of 

 receiving benefit from this mode of preparation, but where it 

 would be inexpedient to bestow it. There is one instance in 



