SPADE HUSBANDRY. 557 



years, to trench their land completely, to the depth of fifteen or 

 seventeen inches, with the spade. 



I saw nothing in the carts, wagons, or vehicles in use on the 

 Continent in any way to recommend them ejther to English or 

 American farmers. Nothing, however, can be more complete 

 than the fitting out of a Flemish or Dutch farmer s team. The 

 equipments in France and Italy are in general wretched in the 

 extreme. In Italy and in Switzerland, oxen and cows are prin 

 cipally used for draught. In Italy the breed of cattle is extremely 

 beautiful in appearance. The oxen there are often brought out 

 upon the roads to assist in dragging the coaches up their steep 

 hills. They ordinarily draw by the horns or forehead ; but 

 where a yoke is used over the neck, I have found a basket of 

 stones hung at the centre to keep it down, that it might not 

 impede the breathing of the cattle. Instead of bows, there were 

 ropes round the necks of the cattle. 



The Dutch collar for draught horses has been the subject of 

 much improvement, and the horses used in the Belgian artillery are 

 said to have derived an immense advantage from its improved 

 character. The first object has been to avoid, as much as possi 

 ble, a horizontal draught; and, therefore, the point of attaching 

 the chain or trace is placed high on the collar, so that it may not 

 affect the breathing of the animal ; the second, to avoid galling 

 the neck of the horse ; and for this reason the collars are made 

 open, to buckle at the top, by which means they can be better 

 adj Listed to the neck of the animal. Great stress, and I believe 

 very justly, is laid upon having the collars made so as to open at 

 one end at pleasure. 



CXL. SPADE HUSBANDRY. 



An implement which has accomplished an immense amount 

 in some parts of continental Europe, is the spade ; and when 

 we reflect upon the actual amount of labor effected by this sim 

 ple tool, managed by the human hand alone, the elevations 

 which have been levelled, the canals which have been dug, and 

 the mighty embankments which have been raised, we are filled 

 with astonishment at the great effects which are brought about 

 4.7* 



