338 THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 



at the same depth in striking out a ridge, and in plowing after 

 two or three furrows have been plowed. Therefore, if a team is 

 very spirited or fractious, and disinclined to press steadily into 

 the yoke or collar, which is no uncommon occurrence with 

 many good teams, adjust the plow to cut a very shallow furrow, 

 and go twice in one place until the team will work steadily. 

 Many a valuable horse has been balked, and "fooled," and well- 

 nigh spoiled for service, simply because this precaution was not 

 observed. "When a team has lain idle for a long, and sometimes 

 for only a short period of time, and they are hitched to a plow, 

 and it is put in the soil at the ordinary depth, their necks and 

 shoulders are very often tender, and they will flinch at a heavy 

 draft. Therefore they must be hitched to something, and made 

 to haul it about until they will not flinch when drawing a plow 

 when it runs at the ordinary depth. 



471. In order to strike out a ridge straight, plant not less than 

 three stakes in a row ; and if the distance is over twenty-five 

 rods there ought to be four stakes. Let the plowman put the 

 lines around his body, and keep an eye on the stakes, between 

 the horses, and have the lines just tight enough to enable him to 

 guide his team by turning his body to the right or to the left. 

 This is a far better way than to have the lines on 'the neck and 

 shoulders. I have always found, that with the lines around my 

 body I could strike a ridge fifty or sixty rods long as straight as 

 a line, without touching my lines ; whereas, if they were about 

 my neck I could not do it. 



472. The beauty and excellence of plowing are, to keep the fur 

 rows as straight as a line, and of a uniform depth. He who can 

 not take a team alone and strike out his lands and finish them, 

 and adjust and re-adjust his plow to suit all circumstances, and 

 perform a job in a neat manner, cannot expect to receive the 

 appellation of a complete plowman. 



473. In order to finish a land neatly when plowing sod ground, 

 the plowman must make calculations to leave a strip of sod just 

 as wide as two ordinary furrow-slices. Now elevate the end of 

 the plow-beam by lowering the gauge-wheel so that the plow will 



