THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



159 



Grant that by the use of revolving tines following 

 close upon the action, and forming part of the me- 

 chanism of the plouyh, we completely obviate the hard 

 crust, and that by the use of the " subsoil trench 

 l)lough," with, its peculiar member we obtain a pul- 

 verized foil to a depth of nineteen to twenty inches. 

 Although in this latter case it will be seen that we still 

 reach a limit beyond which the pulverization ceases, 

 and tlie hard crust begins ; and that, although a deep 

 soil with a hard crust is better than a shallow one with 

 the oame obstruction, there is no reason why the depth 

 should be liDiitcd to 20 inches any more than it should be 

 carried out to six only, as some hold — granting so much, 

 would it not be cheaper to employ mechanism that would 

 at once give us a pulverized soil, the depth ofwhich could 

 be regulated at will, and at any point of which there 

 would be no hard sole or crust similar to that formed 

 by the plough ? And which, in fact, is a practical limi- 

 tation of the depth. Is it positively an essential to 

 good cultivation, that the soil must be laid over in 

 rnjidar slices, and that the weeds, leaves, &c. vmst be 

 buried under the surface ? Spade husbandry is sold by 

 nearly all to be the most efficient; yet the spade does 

 not lay the soil over, as the plough does ; neither as a 

 necessity of its mode of operation is a'l the surface 

 matter buried by its use ; and most assuredly it forms 

 no hard crust, on which water may lodge, or through 

 which the roots of plants may with difficulty penetrate. 

 That it effectually turns over the soil, and leaves it in a 

 condition fit for the action of the atmosphere, is ad- 

 mitted by all. A careful observer, uninfliiencedby the 

 force of habit or the trammels of preconceived notions, 

 would be inclined therefore to ask, Wliy is not this sys- 

 tem of cultivation carried out? And if met by the 

 objection that from the dearness of manual labour 

 the expense would practically be prohibitive of its 

 adoption, the answer — in view of what mechanism has 

 effected — would naturally occur to him that this was 

 simply a question of economy, which could be solvtd 

 by introducing some kind of mechanism, when the 

 same cultural results could be obtained as by the use of 

 the spade, and at a rate which would render the opera- 

 tion a paying one. Baton pushing inquiries further, 

 our observer would find unanimity of opinion in re- 

 ference to the value of spade husbandry merely nominal. 

 For while many say that it assuredly is the most 

 effectual mode of cultivation, it is notorious that they 

 act as if they did not believe it ; and so far from there 

 being an unanimity of opinion on the point, we find a 

 great diversity, so far at least as the application of the 

 spade to /ar/wtw^ pwj'jjoses is concerned; for it may to 

 some appear strange that, while admitted to be avail- 

 able for gardening purposes, and productive of good 

 results there, it is not so for the farm. 



Before asking our agricultural mechanics, then, either 

 to improve the present plough or to invent a substitute 

 for it, it seems but fair that agriculturists should decide 

 as to the peculiar state in which it is desired to have the 

 soil — Whether jdoughing, in short, is e?sential. Or whe- 

 ther simple disintegration is only required — the state 

 in which the surface is left, or its p culiar finish, being 

 a matter of ti-ifling or of no importance. Let it be under- 

 stood tliat a good implement must give two things — (1), 

 a well-stirred soil, with a depth easily regulated — know- 

 ing no practical limit, so far as the action of the imple- 

 ment is concerned)— and (2), a laying over of the soil so 

 stirred or moved at a determinate angle, forming a fur- 

 rowed surface. Or, on the other hand, that that which is 

 wanted from the implement is simply one thing — that it 

 shall give us the soil well stirred and disintegrated, with- 

 out reference to the way in which the surface is finished. 

 Let the agriculturist say what he wants, and we have so 

 much faith in the ability of our mechanicians as to be- 



lieve that they will be able to introduce something that 

 will supply the want. It is not fair to the mechanic, nor is 

 it giiod policy on the part of the agriculturist, for the 

 latter to throw on the shoulders of the former the double 

 onus of ascertaining what has to be 1 1 one, and how he is to 

 do it. The best and quickest way of arriving ist the 

 solution of the difhculty will be to combine the know- 

 ledge of the farmer with the skill of the mechanic. 

 Each aiding the other with the knowledge which long 

 experience in their occupatinns has given, we may hope 

 to see a machine or implement introduced which will, 

 withno hesitation or doubt on the part of the farmer, bo 

 accepted as iierforming all that he requires. 



The settlement of what is wnnte I is the first thing 

 that must be done, if true progress is wished for. So 

 long as we find two gnat parties— each holding opin- 

 ions nearly, if not totally, irreconcilable — so long will 

 we find that the efforts of our mechanicians will be 

 frittered away. It is hard to believe that both opinions 

 can be right. Grant that one is wrong, and it is evi- 

 dent that all the efforts of our mechanicians to meet its 

 requirements must be simply lost time, and must incur a 

 needless expenditure of money. Better far to decide on 

 the way we have to go, and secure the aid of our me- 

 chanicians to help us on in our journey. We shall, at 

 least, have the benefit of united effort. The points of" 

 the question to be decided present features of moment- 

 ous interest to the nation at large. We are, if we read 

 the signs of the times aright, on the verge of the ex- 

 tended use of anew power, which in other branches of 

 our national economy has effected amazing wonders; 

 and in view of this probable use of a new power, we 

 are afforded a most fitting opportunity of inquiry as to 

 whether the old implement of culture is adapted to it. 

 We have many lessons given to us, in the history of the 

 progress of other branches of our arts, to make ns 

 pause to give this inquiry full weight. In the early days 

 of the power of steam, wo find that it gave out its won- 

 drous might through the clumsy medium of N e wcomen's 

 atmospheric engine ; but the genius of Watt saw that 

 it could only put forth all its majesty through the 

 agency of mechanism adapted to all its peculiarities. 

 When the ambition of a Symington or a Fulton 

 prompted the application of steam to the propulsion of 

 vessels, with the power of man they discarded his time- 

 honoured implement the oar, and yoked the giant to 

 the whirling paddle-wheel. 



We have, at all events, arrived at a point affording 

 full facilities to an exhaustive inquiry, as to whether 

 the time-honoured plough is the fittest instrument of 

 cultivation. INo longer do we find those who ui)hoId it 

 as perfect. It has acknowledged defects, acknowledged 

 even by those who maintain that it is, nevertheless, 

 the best implement we can have. And if we find that 

 any modification of its mechanism, by which these de- 

 fects are obviated, brings about a condition of soil much 

 resembling that effected by other implements not jiossess- 

 ing the peculiar features of action of the plough, then 

 the question will be brought nearer to that point where 

 it narrows itself to one of comparative economy in work- 

 ing of diffijrent implements, no matter what their dis- 

 tinctive peculiarities may be. That the i.lough must 

 be modified, to enable it to do the work demanded by 

 a more comprehensive system of cultivation, is obvious 

 enough; and that these modifications wdl tend to 

 bring its operation nearer to that of implements or ma- 

 chines which by many are considered at present alto- 

 gether heteredox in principle, not a few are inclined to 

 think. Chief among the influences which will necessi- 

 tate these modifications will be the power of steam 



