Ch. I.] 



RIBBING, TPvENClI, AND RKlAI PLOUGHg. 



11 



sown after a fallow. It was first employed in the Lotliians, but was intro- 

 duced, from Mr. Morton's manufactory of agricultural implements at Leitli, 

 by Mr. Charles Howard, into the East Eidino; of Yorkshire many years 

 ago, and it is now much used in that and several other districts. 



When the land has been prepared to receive the crop by a summer or 

 winter fallow, it is slightly liarrowed, to break the plough seam. Lines 

 are then formed by the small share of this plough, drawn by one horse, at 

 such intervals and such a depth as may be required. The seed is sown imme- 

 diately afterwards broadcast ; it falls chiefly into these lines, and the little 

 which remains lodged upon the intermediate ridges is, of course, drawn into 

 tliem by the harrows. The grain is thus deposited at a regular depth, 

 springing up in a straiglit line, and, though rather broader, or more spread, 

 than when drilled, is equally capable of being horse or hand-hoed. When 

 the land is in good order, one horse will rib about three acres a day at in- 

 tervals twelve inches apart, which is not an uncommon distance for wheat, 

 and nine inches for oats and barley. 



With this implement the neatest work is made by leaving tlie finished 

 work always on the left hand, and turning the fresh mould on the old 

 ploughed land, which is exactly the reverse of the common mode of plough- 

 ing, as by this means the crumbling mould is prevented from falling into 

 the last-made farrow. The width of the furrow may be regulated by the 

 expanding iron mould-board, in the same manner as the strike-furrow or 

 double-breasted plough, which is in common use, for landing up and earth- 

 ing plants sown in ridges, as well as for opening water-furrows ; but it will 

 be seen that the narrower that is kept, the closer will the grain rise in the 

 furrow. 



a, a the hinges of the expanding mould-board. 

 TRENCH AND SKIM PLOUGHS. 



The treiich plov^h is intended for cutting stubbles without either turning the 

 turf or makino- a furrow. This instrument has two shares placed behind eacli 

 other, the first at aliout one-third of the length of the beam, the other at the 

 same distance from the first. Each of these shares is supported by two iron 

 bars, or coulters, of iron about 2^ inches wide, and three-quarters of an 

 inch thick, which pass through the beam, and are let up and down in the 

 same manner as any common coulter: the fronts of these are also brought 

 to an ed"e in order that they may cut their way eifectually through the 



