24 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. II. 



them hv a cross-bar, called a " way-tree," attached at each end to the bulls 

 by short chains, and fastened by moveable pins, as at A in the annexed cut. 



The swingle-trees by which the cattle are harnessed are, it will a])pear, 

 hooked into a plate, or to a chain, placed between the bulls on the left, 

 admitting the line of draught to be shifted as occasion may require, as 

 at BB, so that the harrows are drawn in a diagonal direction. The teeth of 

 the harrows, it will therefore be observed by the lines drawn from them at C, 

 cut the ground at irregular distances, and in some places follow the exact 

 track of each other; thus stirring the eartlVunequally. This indeed arises more 

 from the mode of draught than from the form of the implement, and it bas 

 therefore been frequently proposed by writers on the subject to alter the 

 method of draught, so as to allow the cattle to draw in a direct line abreast ; 

 by which means they affirm that less force would be required to be exerted 

 bv the team, and the work would be executed with greater uniformity. On 

 this, however, it may be remarked, that the diiierence of draught can only 

 be trilling; that the uniformity of the work is, in almost all cases, nearly 

 ensured by the operation being repeated in a different direction ; and that 

 the irregular motion of the harrow, occasioned by its being drawn sideways, 

 and thus being shaken and tossed about, is favourable to the perfect exe- 

 cution of the work : for thus, in cleaning the land, the clods of earth are 

 more effectually broken and cleared of weeds, than they could be were tlie 

 motion in a direct line ; and in seedine:, the object is evidently not so much 

 to penetrate the soil as to cause the teeth to stir as much of the surface as 

 possible, and thus to cover the corn. Most farmers, therefore, continue 

 the common mode of draught, using the implement, though of different 

 sizes, in the same way, botli for pulverizing the ground, cleaning it from 

 weeds, and again for covering the seed ; and generally find those several 

 objects to be attained with tolerable correctness. 



The seed-harrows, though seldom of a lighter construction than the for- 

 mer, are yet by some persons made with small tines, not more than four 

 inches in length, and occasionally with wooden teeth, especially for 

 sandy or otlier very light land, in order to prevent the seed from being too 

 deeply buried beneath the soil when covering it after the sowing ; an object 

 which is certainly of great moment, and merits the cautious attention of 

 every farmer, as seed, if sown too far below the surface of the earth, will 

 not vegetate to perfection. If the frame of the harrow be as light as the 

 necessary degree of strength will admit, it will necessarily ride high ; but 

 if required to work deeper, that object may be attained by tying a heavy 



