THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



265 



SWING versus WHEEL PLOUGHS. 



It has been long acknowledged that in the multitude of 

 asricultiiral implements to be met with on the south of the 

 Tweed, there are many which, if not absolutely valueless, 

 can, at the best, be only designated as expensive toys. At 

 the present moment, the writer has an instance before his 

 mind, of a gentleman who is undoubtedly the leading agricul- 

 turist of the county in which he reside?, and in whose lum- 

 ber ahed the Srray of cast ofT implements (many of them 

 brought out by first-rate makers) would lorm no mean ad- 

 junct to the altractious of a moderately strong agricultural 

 ezh bition. A prtjudice has hence arisen in the minds of 

 many Scottish farmers against the use of auy English manu- 

 factured implement?. Now, there are amongst us thrashing 

 machines, haymakers, drills, manure distributors, cultivators 

 •^uay, even ploughs, which, we hesitate not to say, would be 

 a decided acquisition, if freely used by the go-ahead agricul- 

 turists who can afford to pay such long rents on the other side 

 of the Border. 



It is with the last-named implement that we have at pre- 

 sent to do. Often have we, in days bygone, when living at 

 the foot of the Grampians, heard it sneeringly observed by 

 Scotch ploughmen, with reference to their English brethren, 

 that " they needed wheels to make their ploughs go staight." 

 Now, there is a mistake here; practice shows that there is 

 such — for actions speak louder than words. We have known 

 Scotch ploughmen in several English counties ; but we have 

 ever seen that they speedily appreciated the value connected 

 with the easy adjustment and guidance of a well-made 

 Howard's, Ransome's, or Ball's wheel plough. We have 

 known several cases of Scotch ploughs being imported to the 

 midland and western cjunties, though we know not one of 

 them now seeing actual service. In Warwickshire, the fa- 

 vourite plough is that manufactured by the eminent firm, 

 Messrs. Howard, of Bedford. At the last county ploughing 

 match, nineteen-twentieths of those entered were of this 

 make ; and we question whether, in the best districts of Scot- 

 land, under equal circumstances, better work could have been 

 accomplished. In Class 3 were boys that in the north 

 would not be regarded as fit to do more than rake after a 

 couple of scjthes in harvest, or feed the cows on a small 

 farm in winter. These were ploughing, and ploughing well. 

 Now, we do not here enter into the question as to whether 

 It is desirable to employ such ploughmen or not. That would 

 involve several considerations. We only ask whether such a 

 turn-out could have been made with swing ploughs ? We 

 think not. This then — for the work was well executed — 

 proves their ready and efficient adjustment. And is not an 

 implement the better, and the more manageable for being 

 readily and easily adjusted? 



lu the matter of draught, we are unable to refer to any dyna- 

 mometrical results, and have only personal judgment to go by. 

 Our belief is, that in drawing a good wheel plough, well set, 

 there is less labour expended than with the swing plough. Then 

 there is the fine level bottom, or floor, obtained for the fur- 

 row — " a point in which many Scotch ploughs are sadly defi- 

 cient." Also that mo;t useful adjunct, a skim-coulter, to aid 

 in burying clover, grasses, or other vegetable matter. Again, 

 the excellent fastening to the coulter, so decidedly tuperior to 

 the stone-and- wedge system. Likewise the case-hardened 

 share, which, by having its upper surface softer thau its under 

 one, naturally continues sharp by the act of wearing, and thus 

 safes many a journey to the soiithy. Any of the wearing parts 

 of the plough are readily renewed by a common country black- 

 smith, the fittings being obtained from the manufacturers. 



It will be observed tliat these remarks have chiefly referred 

 to the Bedford ploughs, though they are not, assuredly, in- 

 tended as derogatory towards others. We speak from no 

 personal feelings ; the Messrs. Howard we are unacquainted 

 with, and we have only written as to what we know of their 

 implements. Still, a false delicacy need not prevent us saying 

 to Scottish farmers, " Give Howard's ploughs a trial — a fair 

 and honest trial it will be, for the Scottish maxim is, ' A fair 

 field, and no favour '—and we doubt not but the results will 

 be satisfactory." 



lu conclusion, we would quote the words of one who knows 

 the subject well, and who says, " With many, particularly the 

 Scotch, the wheels are a fatal objection ; their plea is, that they 



are an unnecessary complication, and that the weight and 

 draught are thereby increased." With regard to the latter, it 

 was shown at a late meeting of the Highland Society of Scot- 

 laud how ill-founded was the prejudice, for the only English 

 plough competing was proved to draw one-third or one-fourth 

 lighter than the best Scotch plough exhibitt-d, besides per- 

 forming its work in a very superior style. How can it be, ask 

 some, that a wheel-plough can take less power than a swing, 

 whilst you have so much more weight to draw ? This has 

 been a vexed question for years, whilst the thing lies in the 

 smallest possible compass. All ploughs are constructed with 

 a certain inclination to go down into the soil. In a wheel- 

 plough this tendency to draw into the soil is regulated, or ob- 

 viated, by the wheels, which turn the weight thus thrown upon 

 them, relieving the friction on the point and sole. On the 

 other hand, the swing-plough is kept from entering the soil too 

 deeply by the ploughman, whose whole weight is often re- 

 quired upon the handles to maintain the proper depth. It 

 will at once be seen that this weisrht at the end of so long a 

 lever throws much additional friction on the sole, which is of 

 itself sufficient to account for the great difference in draught. 

 The ol'jection with regard to complication is purely ideal, the 

 wheels being readily adjusted to any required depth and 

 width, and h\ the midland counties of England we have seen 

 mere boys using them, and making most beautiful and uniform 

 work. Thos. Bowick. 



Kenilworth, Jan. 14//i, 1S58. 



HOW TO FARM CLAY LANDS. 



Sir, — " Lucus a uon lucendo" is, I believe, something like 

 a dark lantern, and is well represented is the phrase of "car- 

 rying coals to Newcastle." 



I ventured last year to give some general advice to one o 

 your correspoudeuts, who was burdened with 500 acres of clay 

 land ; now, strange as it may appear, I, then an oracle, wait 

 for a response on the very same subject. The question I now 

 beg to propose for consideration is how to farm clay land of 

 inferior quality at a profit, with wheat at a low price, and every 

 probability of a still farther decline in its value. Many valued 

 productions I have read, offering all sorts of profitable sys- 

 tems and suggestions for the cultivation of clay soils; and in 

 many cases I have felt convinced that the writers on the sub- 

 ject know very little practically as to the capital needed to 

 effect the utter change, both on the part of landlord and te- 

 nant, which their advice would require. 



First, I wish to explain the nature of the clay soils, for 

 the profitable cultivatiou of which I should be glad to receive 

 suggestions, based on practice, conveying a system which any 

 tenant farmer with fair average means may safely adopt. The 

 soil I refer to, is met with in large tracts in the Midland coun- 

 ties amongst others, is about five inches deep, with a yellow 

 subsoil, and rubble or clay stone below, generally full of water. 



Secondly, I must state that, as far as my experience goes, 

 " circumstances over which there is no control" or "urgeut 

 private afi'airs" seem generally to be pleaded as excuse for that 

 ludiipensable article in expensive cultivation of this descrip- 

 tion of land — viz., "capital." 



A tenant with large capital will seldom engage in such an 

 undertaking, except with a long lease and at a very low rent; 

 and often a landlord's " burdens" prevent him indulging in the 

 improvement of his property at the expense of his lucome. 



Hence, for a tenant with ordinary capital, say £10 per acre, 

 farming this sort of land and drained in an effectual manner, 

 with buildings and accommodations usually met with, advice 

 is respectfully asked, from some of those who in the time of 

 low prices, found they could work with a profit. For final 

 particulars, broad clover, except with the interval of msny 

 years, cannot be grown with certainty; beans also have not 

 depth of soil suHicient to insure a crop. There is one plant, 

 however, always present to give a relish to the crust— the wi d 

 garlic or crow onion. 



If no kiud friend comes forward to solve doubts and quei- 

 tious that are raised, 1 must fain hereafter trouble you with a 

 fe* facts drawn from costly practice, and for proof substaut.- 

 atiug say " Experto crede/' ^ ,. ^, „ 



Yours obediently, "• 



