282 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



factured, and which is almost universally adopted by all plow 

 makers. These plows made good work, and are still popular. 



An important improvement in the mathematical construction of 

 mould-boards was perfected by Samuel A. Knox of Worcester, for 

 many years ^he designer for Ruggles, Nourse & Mason. His 

 mould-boards were constructed on strictly geometrical principles, 

 and consist of a series of straight lines, running from the point to 

 the rear of the mould-boards, gradually expanding at the rear as 

 they approach the top, thereby forming the desired twist. The 

 furrow slice is but slightly lifted, and moves in all its parts on the 

 straight lines of the mould-board, thus causing the very least re- 

 sistance possible and rendering the plow of very light draught. 

 While the furrow is being turned it is twisted in a manner that 

 completely pulverizes the whole mass. The action is simple, and 

 the furrow retains its shape and is placed with great precision into 

 the desired position. The land on working is found to be light 

 and mellow, requiring but little labor to prepare it in the best 

 manner for the application of the seed. J. Stanton Gould in his 

 history of the plow, says of Knox's mould-board that " it turns the 

 furrow very handsomely as well as evenly, but its pulverizing 

 power is somewhat deficient." This opinion must have been ex- 

 pressed at random, without a practical knowledge of the work of 

 these plows when compax-ed with others claiming the same merits. 

 Wherever used they are justly celebrated for the very thing which 

 he says they are deficient in, and as the firm who own Knox's 

 patent manufacture more plows than any other firm in the world, 

 the evidence is conclusive that their plows possess the merits 

 which intelligent farmers at this time demand in a plow. 



A patent was granted to Aaron Smith of Bloomfield, Michigan, 

 dated May 10, 1844, for a plow which was introduced under the 

 name of the " Michigan Plow." This plow is made up of two 

 distinct plows attached to the same beam. The plow was manu- 

 factured for many years by the well known firm of Frouty & Mears. 

 A plow called the "Sod and Subsoil Plow," constructed on the 

 same principle but from a diflfercnt pattern of mould-boards, for 

 both plows were at the same time manufactured by Nourse, Mason 

 &Co., and are still manufactured by tlieir successors, the Ames Plow 

 Company. These double plows are the best ever invented for sod 

 lands that are comparatively free from obstructions, and will be 

 further noticed under another head of my subjett. 



Other patents have recently been granted, and parties ar^ now 



