SECRETARY'S REPORT. 67 



Modern improvements have aimed, therefore, to overcome the 

 friction and resistance by an improved construct ofion the 

 mould-board, and by the use of better materials ; and it is well 

 settled by practical experiment that the draught depends less 

 on the weight of the plough itself than on its construction. 

 The draught does not increase in proportion to an increase of 

 weight, and hence, though some object to the modern ploughs 

 as compared with the models in use fifty years ago, that they 

 are heavier, it is a common remark that their draught is easier 

 and they require less strength of team. 



The ploughs in use in this country a century ago wore not 

 very unlike those used by the old Romans before the Christian 

 era, and by some of the nations of Southern Europe at the 

 present day. The most common model was that designated as 

 the " bull " or the " hog plough," on account, probably, of its 

 propensity to root in and out of the ground. The ploughs used 

 here, even after the beginning of the present century, were 

 made of wood, except the coulter and the share, which had 

 been made of iron, even before the landing of the pilgrims. 



These were constructed awkwardly enough ; but the 

 form of the mould-board was especially defective, and great 

 strength of team was necessary to accomplish Yery indifferent 

 work. It was undoubtedly suitable for working in some soils, 

 as very light sandy plains, for instance, and if its draught had 

 been easier, it might have been considered a decided improve- 

 ment on older models. But the mould-board and the share 

 were so attached as to make the wedge too blunt, which, of 

 course, made the friction excessive. It broke and crumbled 

 the furrow-slice, it is true, in places, and was not calculated to 

 turn a flat furrow. So far its work was very well, though 

 neither of the extremes is always desirable. But the action of 

 the old plough was not uniform, some furrows being set too 

 much on the edge, while others were laid quite flat. It was, as 

 a general thing, lighter than the ploughs now used ; but its 

 construction not being based on such principles as to make it of 

 easy draught, it ^\fas more difficult to hold, more easily thrown 

 out of the ground, and therefore required constant watciifuhiess 

 on the part of the ploughman. It was difficult to cultivate to 

 any considerable depth without the assistance of one or two 

 men to ride on the beam to " hold down." The mould-board 



