86 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



to the nature of the soil ; and it is probable that sixteen may be 

 necessary in some obstinate clays. The pace of the horses must 

 be slow, say two miles an hour ; and the plough is easily di 

 rected by one man. After the plough has done its work, men 

 follow with small spades, to take out a space for tiles or for 

 broken stones, and to correct any deviation from the uniform fall 

 of the bottom, caused by any unevenness in the ground. The 

 tiles or stones are then put in, and the furrow turned in over 

 them by the same plough.&quot; 



&quot; If the horses were to move continually, at a rate of two 

 miles per hour, they would turn out 782 roods, of 36 yards, in 

 eight hours j but in so heavy an operation, much time is lost in 

 turnings and otherwise, so that one third may be deducted to 

 cover loss of time, which will leave 521 roods of work done.&quot; 



11 The horses go on each side of the line of drain, the near 

 horse of the off-side division going in the furrow, all being 

 yoked to a strong main bar, or master-tree, ten feet long, and 

 arranged in fours and sixes abreast, as may be necessary ; four 

 abreast when eight horses are used, and six when twelve are 

 used. The leading horses draw from a second main bar attached 

 to the muzzle by a chain passing along betwixt the middle 

 horses behind. When the plough reaches the end of a line of 

 drain, and is about to be turned, the draught chain of the leading 

 horses is detached ; and a man taking hold of the chain, the bar, 

 resting on the ground, follows round till in a position to be 

 yoked for the next line of drain, the plough following drawn by 

 the rear horses. When working, each pair of horses is led by a 

 man ; one man to each range of horses, going in the middle, and 

 leading a horse in each hand, and a man going on each flank, 

 leading the horses next him the steadiest man being put in the 

 middle, to keep a direct line for the drain. The man who lifts 

 the chain assists the ploughman in raising the plough from the 

 drain just completed ; and in going round and entering for the 

 next drain.&quot; 



With striking simplicity the writer of this account adds, - 

 u The drain plough, like all things else of the same magnitude, 

 and when in the hands of inexperienced persons, requires great 

 patience and perseverance, especially when applied in a land of a 

 hard and stony nature, and can never succeed in the hands of 

 impatient and careless people. But to those who take time and 



