62 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



treated, and every farmer sees that he cannot use the same instru- 

 ment to produce directly opposite effects. Hence the great 

 variety of plouglis we now see in every agricultural warehouse. 



As to the manufacture of the plough, the custom has as 

 greatly changed as the form of the implement itself; for while 

 a half century ago it was made by the blacksmith and in a great 

 many places in all parts of the State, it is now made in large 

 establishments by those who devote themselves to the business, 

 and these establishments have gradually diminished in number, 

 while the whole number of ploughs manufactured has greatly 

 increased. Even so recently as 18-15 there were no less than 

 seventy-three plough manufactories in the State, making annu- 

 ally 61,331 ploughs and other agricultural irnplements, while 

 now there are but twenty-two plough manufactories, making 

 152,686 ploughs, valued at 1707,175.86. So great indeed has 

 been the interest taken in the improvement of this implement, 

 that up to last year no less than 372 patents had been granted 

 by the government for different forms of it. 



But we have not yet reached perfection, and veivy much still 

 remains to be done to lighten the draught, and thus to enable 

 the farmer to accomplish the same or a greater amount of work 

 with less expenditure of animal power and muscular force. 



Experiments are now in progress by which it is thought the 

 work of a thorough pulverization of the soil will be effected with 

 greater economy of time and strength ; and though all changes 

 are not substantial improvements, still we should remember 

 that we have not reached the height of perfection, that it was 

 only by repeated and long-continued study and experiment that 

 past improvements have been made, and also that it is by these 

 means alone that we can hope to progress, or to perfect this 

 most important implement of agriculture. 



The harrow naturally follows the plough, for the purpose of 

 effecting a more complete and perfect pulverization of the soil. 

 It has undergone less changes and modifications than most 

 other farm implements ; and most forms of the modern harrow 

 bear some resemblance to those of the ancients, as illustrated on 

 medals and sculptures. It is a simple implement, but scarcely 

 less important than the plough itself. 



The old harrow was constructed of wood, of simple bars and 

 oross-bars furnished with teeth. More recently the material 



