MACHINERY IN AGRICULTURE. 21 



but an iron plow was presented to the Society of Arts, 

 in London, as early as 1773, by a Mr. Brand. The 

 cast iron plow was introduced soon after. 



The first patent issued in the United States after 

 the organization of the Patent Office, was in June, 

 1797, to Charles Newbold, of Burlington, New Jersey, 

 for a cast iron plow which combined the mold board, 

 share, and land side, all in one casting. A series of 

 improvements in the cast iron plow was commenced 

 about 1810, by Josiah Ducher, of New York, some of 

 which are still retained in use. In 1814 Jethro Wood, 

 of Scipio, New York, was granted a patent for a cast 

 iron plow having the mold board, share, and land side 

 cast in three parts. Joel Nourse and his partners, of 

 Worcester, Massachusetts, improved and perfected 

 the cast iron plow, which, to his time, in 1836, was a 

 comparatively rude implement. 



Now we have plows of that lightness and easy draft 

 that one man, with a single horse, in light soils, will 

 turn two and one half acres in a day of ten hours, the 

 plow requiring very little effort, even with one hand, 

 to guide it. Some of our finest plows are made of 

 polished steel, and work to the greatest perfection. 

 Many in common use, known as sulkies, have the plow 

 affixed to an axle, between a pair of wheels, with a 

 comfortable seat above for the driver of the team. 

 Others have no land side, but will cut and turn a fur- 

 row eighteen inches wide in the most perfect manner. 

 In place of the straight coulter of our fathers, and 

 still in common use, a steel disc is now applied. With 

 two horses one man with these plows will break two 

 and one half acres a day on the western prairies ; and 



