THE PiOUGH, 211 



it is easier to form the mould board I speak of, with precision, 

 than to describe that method, either by words or figures. 



The following rules for constructing a plough are from a 

 Pennsylvania farmer :— In constructing ploughs, the beam 

 ought to be placed directly over the land side of the plough, 

 so that the cut of the coulter may be square with the cut of 

 the share ; and the land should be given to the plough be- 

 tween the coulter mortise and the fore end of the beam : for 

 if the cutting of the share and coulter makes an acute angle 

 with the land, then the plough will incline to fall to the right : 

 but if it makes an obtuse angle, then it will incline to fall to 

 the left. A plough for two horses ought not to be less than 

 nine inches, nor more than ten inches wide, in the bottom ; 

 and for three horses, from eleven to twelve inches wide. The 

 share should never differ much in width from the plough. 

 The cut of the share and bottom of the plough should be ex= 

 actly in one plane. A three-horse plough requires no land in 

 -Its construction. A crook of three inches and a half in the 

 beam, before the coulter mortise, to the right, will suffice for 

 the land of a two-horse plough. A plough with a long beam 

 runs the steadiest, and it being long prevents the plough from 

 kicking ; and long shafts give the ploughman a greater com- 

 mand of its direction. The cast iron plate ought to be ecour- 

 ^ with a grit-etone before it is used. 



