360 Report on the Exhibit Ion of Implements 



taken place in its indications during the experiments. The 

 instrument was found to have given strictly correct results 

 throughout the range of the draughts noted. It is also proper 

 to state that the ploughs, after being got into trim, Avere succes- 

 sively brought to the same part of the field, and the indication 

 of the force was recorded at the time of each plough's passage 

 through similar soil, the pace being as nearly as possible alike in 

 every case. The nature and form of the field selected for the 

 purpose compelled the judges — at a considerable loss of time — 

 to adopt this plan, as the quality of the soil varied materially 

 in different parts, and the sharp slope of the ground in some 

 parts of it would have rendered the experiments nugatory if the 

 force of draught had not been taken pretty nearly in one 

 locality. 



An analysis and comparison of the results obtained at Liverpool, 

 and Bristol, disclose facts of no slight importance to the agri- 

 culturist and the plough wright. 7^ he difference between the 

 mean draught of the wheel and swing ploughs at the former trial 

 was 17 per cent, in favour of the wheel-plough, and there was an 

 equality in this respect between the best implement of each kind. 

 At Bristol, one maker, Mr. Howard of Bedford, produced a 

 wheel -plough which beat his own swing by 18 per cent., the 

 latter being equal to the best on the ground. At Liverpool, the 

 difference between the maximum and minimum resistance of the 

 ploughs was nearly 43 per cent., whilst at Bristol it amounted to 

 683 per cent. ; in both cases in favour of the wheel-ploughs. What- 

 ever may be the cause of this enormous irregularity and disparity in 

 the force required to perform work identically similar, it is ap- 

 parent that the expenditure of animal power, and its cost to the 

 farmer, are altogether dependent on the implement he employs, 

 and proportional to the force used; also, that in the single ope- 

 ration of ploughing, he is frequently consuming at least one-half 

 more power than is necessary to perform his work. The ele- 

 mentary resistance of any given sort of soil is a constant quantity, 

 and the skill of the ploughwright should be exercised in the 

 endeavour to diminish, to its minimum amount, the excess of force 

 employed to move the implement over and above that which is 

 absolutely requisite to divide, under-cut, raise, and lay the fur- 

 rows-slice ; all which operations are implied under the technical 

 phrase ploucjldng . It is evident that, at Bristol, the difference 

 between the extremes of draught required in the same soil by 

 wheel-plouxjhs, and by those of the swlncj kind, was ecjuivalent 

 to a loss of power by the former of 36 per cent., and by the latter 

 of 38 per cent. ; and it resulted that a force not greater than 22 

 stones really sufficed to perform the same amount of work, or to 

 produce the same useful eff'ect, as a force of 32 and even of 30 

 stoneSj exerted by the same horses on other ploughs ! The pro- 



