PLOWS AND PLOWING. 301 



their manure, so that it must depend, as far as my experience goes, 

 entirely upon the character of the soil. 



To conclude ray remai'ks with regard to the Collins' plow, I 

 have had but one — the letter C. It was designed both for turf and 

 stubble plowing. It did not turn my turf — a heavy, strong turf — 

 very well, and was not entirely satisfactory. We tried it this 

 year, upon our lighter turf, with more satisfaction. We tried it, 

 however, in heavy soil, that had been under the plow several 

 years — quite heavy, quite rich and deep — and it pulverized it per- 

 fectly, and left itself absolutely clean ; just as bright as when it 

 was put into the soil ; as clean as the blade of a knife ; never 

 allowiog any of the clay or muck-soil to adhere to it; and every 

 plowman knows that it is a very great pleasure to have his plow 

 always clean and bright. It is said tliat it will keep bright in any 

 soil, no matter how tenacious it may be. These are the special 

 advantages claimed for it, and as it is a strong plow, a light plow, 

 and has that other advantage that no cast-iron plow possesses, I 

 believe it may be safely recommended for use upon such soils. 



Mr. Thing. In your fields that have been used for pastures for 

 80 long without plowing, are you troubled with moss or knolls ? 



Mr. Gold. Our pastures and outlying lands, upon which the 

 cattle range, but never lie down, always come off from them at 

 night, do become moss-covered, and bushes spring up. 



Mr. Thing. Have you any remedy for the moss ? 



Mr. Gold. I think ashes are are as good as anything that can 

 be applied. 



Question. Have you ever harrowed a mossy knoll with a heavy 

 harrow ? 



Mr. Gold. I have never done it. Some have tried sowing 

 clover, with very good results. 



Question. What would be the effect of salt on those mossy 

 knolls ? 



Mr. Gold. We cannot get salt enough in the interior of the 

 State to use very extensively. I occasionally get a bushel of 

 refuse salt from a merchant, and I usually put it in my manure 

 heap. 



Question. Would not a strong application kill off all the moss, 

 and everything else that is connected with these moss knolls ? 



Mr. Gold. Salt has been used with very great advantage upon 

 some farms where it could be obtained very cheaply, say for ten 

 cents a bushel. This was refuse salt, that came with cargoes of 



