326 THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 



up and down the under side wears off much faster than the 

 upper side ; consequently, after the under side of a point has 

 become worn off but little, there is a tendency of the plow to run 

 up out of the ground. For plowing ground that is full of fast 

 stone, a thicker plow point is necessary, as thin, slender ones will 

 break too frequently. But as every plowshare should be made 

 with a fin-cutter to separate the furrow-slice from the unplowed 

 land, the lower part of the fin may extend almost to the end of the 

 point, which will strengthen the point very much. Plowshares 

 should always be made with fin-cutters, because they lessen the 

 draft of a plow ; and a plow works much better with them than 

 without them. 



452. Plow points as well as plows, should always be ground so 

 smooth before using, that the earth will not adhere to them. 

 Grind any kind of cast-iron without water, as a grindstone will 

 grind it much faster than it will when wet. 



453. When the young farmer has found a style of plow to 

 suit him, when he is about to purchase a new one, order one 

 made, and charge the manufacturers to make the mold-board 

 of old iron, such as old stoves and old plow-points ; as such iron 

 will form new iron which will wear far better and longer than if it 

 were run out of pig-iron. Tell them to endeavor to make the 

 mold-board as smooth as possible, as a rough mold-board is a very 

 disagreeable thing to plow with. Charge him to use the best of 

 timber in wooding it ; and give him directions, in feet and inches, 

 just how high to make the handles. Have the left handle bent 

 to the left not less than seven inches from a right line, so that 

 the plowman can walk in the furrow without the left handle close 

 to his side. A plowman cannot exert as much strength in hold 

 ing a plow, when the handles are as high, or even higher than 

 his hips, and when the left handle is constantly against his side. 

 The best and most proper height for plow handles is, just high 

 enough for the plowman, when he stands erect, to grasp them 

 with his hands without bending his body forward, and having his 

 arms straight. When the handles are so low that the plowman 

 can just grasp them without bending his arms, he can hold a 



