332 THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 



the coulter directly over the left corner of the point. But in plow 

 ing where there are some stone in the soil, it will be found that 

 stones will throw out the plow much oftener when the coulter is 

 adjusted as in the figure, than they will if it is adjusted forward 

 of the point so far that most of the stone will pass between the 

 end of the coulter and the point of the plow, when they will not 

 throw the plow out. And I am fully persuaded and my expe 

 rience coincides with all the good plowmen with whom I have 

 ever conversed on this subject that when the blade of a coulter 

 is of a good length, and sharp, and of the form shown by the 

 next figure, and stands about as slanting as shown in the figure, 

 with the point from two to three or four inches forward of the 

 plow point, it will work better than it will in any other position. 

 It requires but little force to draw a sharp coulter through the 

 sod, and when the blade of it is made of the form shown in the 

 figure, common sense teaches us, that if it stands slanting as a 

 knife for ripping it will clog less, and lessen the draft of the 

 plow. Always keep the coulter sharp-pointed, and the edge sharp. 

 464. Fig. 140 represents a very useful instrument for prevent 

 ing weeds, manure, grass, &c., from clogging a plow. It was 

 invented by Mr. E. C. Bills, Perry, Wyoming co., N. Y. It 

 consists of a corrugated conical cylinder, attached to the coulter, 

 as represented in the figure, which turns freely either way. The 

 bearing of the lower end of the cylinder plays in a hole in the 

 front side of the coulter, and the upper end plays in a hole in a 

 clasp, which is fastened to the coulter by means of a set-screw. 

 When straw, or clover, or manure, comes in contact with the 

 coulter, it slides up against the cylinder ; and as it is free to turn, 

 as one side of such materials will usually draw more than the other, 

 the cylinder revolves and carries it all on one side of the plow, 

 and thus keeps the coulter clear. With such a contrivance a 

 plow will seldom clog. 



