286 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, 



perform the work of inverting tlie soil in a satisfactory manner, 

 and have depended entirely on some other implement for the more 

 important work of making it fine. A properly constructed plow 

 is the best implement for performing this part of the work, that 

 was ever invented ; and the plow that performs the pulverization 

 of the surface soil in the best manner may possess the other quali- 

 fication of inverting the furrow slice in the most perfect manner, 

 thus combining both of the invaluable requisites in the same imple- 

 ment. And further than this, while constructing a plow with a 

 view to the very best work in these two directions, experience 

 proves that it is not seriously to the disadvantage of the draft of 

 the plow. Thus while we are obtaining the most desirable points 

 of excellence in a plow, we are not obliged to surrender minor 

 points of excellence, but find they can all be combined in one im- 

 plement. 



The advantage derived from using a plow which will pulverize 

 the soil at the same time that it inverts the furrow, is found in 

 practice to be greater than is at first apparent. The harrow is an 

 imperfect implement at best for the purpose of mellowing the soil. 

 It is true that a portion of the inverted soil, when it is in just the 

 right condition, can be made fine with a harrow, but it is very 

 superficial work at best. It levels the uneven furrows, but if the 

 work were long continued the soil would become completely 

 packed instead of its accomplishing the object in view — that of 

 thoroughly disintegrating it. The cultivator does the work better 

 than the harrow, but is open to the same objections, only in 

 a less degree. With either of these implements the labor "spent 

 in the secondary operation of mellowing inverted furrows is nearly 

 equal to the cost of the plowing itself; and yet the disintegration 

 is only " skin deep," while the principal part of the furrow lies as 

 compact as it did before the share entered the soil. Experience, 

 then, proves the plow to be the most efictual as well as the most 

 economical mellower of the soil we have. Cultivators of the soil 

 will do well to give this point of the subject careful consideration. 

 As pulpit teachers often say, "take the subject right home with 

 you " and study it while about your labor. Study it philosophically, 

 chemically, mechanically, and financially, and see if science and 

 art do not combine to teach the facts which I have sought to bring 

 to your notice — see if this is not the philosopher's stone which will 

 turn all the base elements of the soil into a golden harvest.- Con- 

 sider whether you are not suffering an annual loss from the use of 



