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is almost alone in the field, exhibiting acres on acres of farm implements 
and machines, many of which were in motion, being driven by steam. 
From the nature of these exhibits and the absence of shelving and stand 
inclosures a better general view of this branch of the exposition is prae- 
ticable. It is impossible to describe the animation of the scene and the 
remarkable beauty of the machinery upon which the resources of deco- 
rative art have been lavished. The smaller implements are arranged in 
eases, frequently showing fine artistic taste in their arrangement. 
Even the large machines are arranged with reference to picturesque 
effect upon finely-carpeted stages, in remarkable contrast with the rough 
field-work in which they find their legitimate exercise. 
In the official catalogue the first class embraces machines and imple- 
ments of tillage, such as spades, hoes, rakes, and other tools, plows, 
cultivators, rollers, harrows, pulverizers, propelled by animal force, and 
the same, on a larger scale, propelled by steam. Hand-tools are exhib- 
ited in endless variety of shape and material. It would seem that in- 
ventive genius has anticipated the necessities of soil-culture, and has 
imagined itself in all possible circumstances, to enable it to detect the 
difficulties and to facilitate the execution of labor. Spades, shovels, 
forks, axes, hatchets, hoes, hand-rakes, are arranged in almost every 
conceivable shape that would overcome or diminish the resistance of 
the ground. For the breaking-up and pulverization of the soil, plows, 
cultivators, harrows, rollers, pulverizers, &c., exhibit not only exten- 
sive adaptations of old principles, but also new inventions and princi- 
ples whose validity is yet to be tested in practice. The latter contriv- 
ances aim at the accomplishment of the same work with less resistance 
and consequent expenditure of power, or an increased efficiency with 
the same exertion. Contrivances to lessen or overcome side-draft, and 
to utilize the whole motive-power in the direct work of the instrument, 
indicate one of the objective points of invention. The adaptation of 
plows to hill-side work, by shifting the mold-board in alternate direc- 
tions, is an important specialty contemplated in the improvement of 
tillage. Mold-boards are made of peculiar combinations of metal, hav- 
ing the least practicable affinity for water and mud, in order to meet the 
requirement of wet, swampy soils. The sulky-plow invites the plowman 
to an elevated seat, from which he can direct the movement of the in- 
strument and at the same time enjoy the pleasure of a ride. This sav- 
ing of muscular force in the laborer is in the direction of modern civil- 
ization, which as far and as fast as possible relieves the tasks of elemen- 
tary production. The swivel-plow, leaving no dead furrows, has enlisted 
many bright, inventive minds inits perfection. Plows adapted to heavy 
excavation, for railroads and other great enterprises, are constructed on 
principles differing in some aspects from those of plows for tillage. All 
of these necessities appear to have been appreciated, and combinations 
of form and material suited to these circumstances are quite numerous. 
Experiments with steel and chilled iron have been so far satisfactory as 
to cause a large investment in plows of these materials. One manu- 
facturing company has invented a new metal for mold-boards, called 
carbon, a mixture of refined steel, wrought iron, and other metals, which, 
it is claimed, is harder than steel or any surface-chilled iron. A singular 
novelty is found in what is called the rotary gang-plow. The mold- 
board is in the shape of a truncated cone, the edge of its wider diam- 
eter being sharpened and made to revolve around the axis of the cone. 
Its plane of movement is parallel to the line of draft and its sharp edge 
cuts a furrow whose depth is regulated by a simple mechanism. It may 
be either directed by handles, as in old-fashioned plows, or it may be 
