THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



2-41 



but, like mo3t iarmers everywhere else, as obdarate as mules 

 in resistiu;^ every scheme of improvement. No class of meu 

 are so wedded to the practical wisdom of their agricultural 

 ancestors. They are very independent and high-minded — 

 keeping away from bargaining. At that tliey have no equals. 

 You would call their genius in this respect cheating; but, alas! 

 old moral notions are of little service in this new world. 



The school is to be found everywhere over the face of New 

 England, and open to all free of charge, or almost so. Town 

 taxes only amount to about 43. 6d, per caput per annum, and 



that covers everything iu the way of general taxation — for 

 roads and everything else— schools included. The character 

 of education is not very high in country districts, but the 

 library and the newspaper do much to help it on. The ob- 

 servances of religion are pretty strictly attended to ; although 

 it is not at all unusual to see a youth carry a gun or a fishing 

 rod in his hand past the church door on a Sunday on the way 

 to his spoit. There are few polemics among us. Political 

 demagogues are the prevailing crop. But 1 must stay this 

 rambling. — Ayrshire Express' United States' Correspondent. 



WHEEL VERSUS SWING PLOUGHS. 



' Facts are chiels that winna ding 

 An' canna be dispuled." 



I do not assume the office of dictator, but rather appear as a 

 learner desirous of further information, and the elucidation of 

 both sides of the question. With steam tillage looming iu the 

 not far distant future — whether under the shape of Fowler's 

 Ploughs, Smith's Cultivator, or Halkett's " Guideway" — it 

 may be thought late in the day to take up the pen on such a 

 subject. But believing that the death-knell of the plough will 

 not be sounded in our day, I embrace the leisure of a winter's 

 evening to jot down a few thoughts thereon, original or other- 

 wise. 



It is usually found that local customs have some solid basis, 

 and it is not wise rashly to depart therefrom. By doing so, 

 many a one has had to gain wisdom, and pay the heavy fees 

 in the School of Experience; while the jog-trot practitioner 

 has been reaping a golden harvest iu the well-trodden path. 

 Therefore we do not ask from our brethren on the north of 

 the Tweed either a hasty acquiesence in, or a churlish dissent 

 from, anything that may be advanced. Take the remarks for 

 what they are worth. If all is chaff or verbosity, cast it aside; 

 but if there is any grain of truth — even although disagreeing 

 with a previously-formed belief — let it have its due weight iu 

 practice. Although upwards of three hundred wheel ploughs 

 have been introduced into Scotland during the last three years, 

 there is still a considerable amount of distaste— {I do not call it 

 prejudice, for that is a weed that I hope does not vegetate 

 freely in the minds of the intelligent farmers beyond the Tweed) 

 — with which they are regarded. But those who have known 

 and used the best of both classes of implements — who have 

 both a Scottish and English experience — ought to be in the 

 best position for the formation of a correct judgment on this 

 point. I have, therefore, obtained from men of undoubted 

 ability aud position, who combine the two requirements above 

 named, opinions that I have no hesitation in endorsing. 



We have at present nothing whatever to do with the ploughs 

 turned out by Howard, Kansome, Ball, Busby, or Hensman in 

 the south, as a class; nor of Kirkwood'a, Scoular's, Cowan's, 

 Ponton's, Sellar's, or Barrowman's, in the north. It is simply 

 the principle of IVkecls or no Wheels —a principle often ob- 

 jected to, as being a piece of unnecessary complication, with- 

 out any counterbalancing advantages. But there are those ad- 

 vantages, whether you choose to admit them or not. Compli- 

 cation they can hardly be charged with, since we see daily 

 proofs to the contrary. The system in Scotland fortunately 

 does not send the lads to the iields at so tender an age as with 

 us. But here you often find good regular ploughing turned 

 out by youths who would only be entrusted with the " ora 

 horse" in Scotland, Strange proof of complication this I In 



a neighbouring parish— where, however, a considerable stimulus 

 has been exerted by a few men of intelligence and industry — 

 we mean Berkswell, the majority of the ploughmeu are huljlans 

 — the implements manufactured at Bedford or Ipswich — and 

 the turning over of the soil second in quality or quantity to no 

 district with which we are acquainted. The late lamented Earl 

 of Aylesford, whose seat is in this parish, held an annual 

 ploughing match on the Home Farm, at which it was a perfect 

 treat to see the work, the workmen, aud the tools. The fact 

 is, that a good wheel plough, when well set, depends far less 

 for the perfect execution of its work on the skill of the holder 

 than does its swing compeer of the most approved construc- 

 tion. It was but this morning that we saw a ploughman en- 

 gaged in the double operation of ploughing and, at the same 

 time, removing a partial rauge of hurdles which threatened to 

 interfere with his return furrow. Over some ten or twelve 

 chains of its length he never touched the plough with a finger, 

 while the furrow was laid correctly and beautifully, at the ap- 

 proved dimensions of six by nine. Not that there is no room 

 for the due exercise of skill and judgment in the use of this 

 implement ; for with it as with any other, we find that the 

 quality of the work is proportioned to the skill of the plough- 

 man. Still, we do contend that with a secondary amount of 

 ability, the results are cent, per cent, in favour of the wheels. 

 A first-class ploughman is undoubtedly a great acquisition 

 on a farm, and the yearly or half-yearly feeing markets fully 

 recognise this. Some farmers will have such hands at what- 

 ever cost, and, like the late Mr. Gorrie, in the Carse of Gowrie, 

 grudge not the extra few pounds thus entailed. But it is evi- 

 dent that all cannot obtain the best men ; and on the gene- 

 rality of Scotch farms, probably not more than one or two of 

 such will be found. Hence arises one advantage of the im- 

 proved wheel ploughs, in that you can obtain as gool and 

 equable work, or nearly so, from the second or third-rate 

 hands, without any deterioration to that produced by the 

 others. The farmer obtains the advantage, and is rendered far 

 less dependent on those in his employment. His foreman, or 

 himself, can see, if needful, the setting of the wheels, which 

 are simple of adjustment, and readily altered according to the 

 nature of the work. The new lever neck is an efficient cou- 

 trivance for giving the ploughshare more or less dip into the 

 land, while the coulter fittings afford unequalled facilities for 

 placing this part in any required position. All the wearing 

 parts can also be readily replaced in the field by a ploughman 

 of average capacity, which saves many a weary and tedious 

 journey to the smithy. Their strength and durability are be- 

 yond question, and with new wearing parts, as required, they 



