20 JETHRO WOOD; 



then in use, for although he abandoned it al- 

 most from the first, a great many of them 

 were sold during the period between the first 

 and the second patents. The second patent 

 dates from 1819. The natal day of the mod- 

 ern plow may be fairly set down as September 

 1, 1819. The original specifications in this 

 plow deserve to be given in full, and may 

 well be inserted in this connection. The doc- 

 ument was the handiwork of Mr. Wood him- 

 self, and runs thus : 



" The Schedule referred to in these Letters 

 Patent, and making part of the same, contain- 

 ing a description in the words of the said 

 Jethro Wood himself of his improvement in 

 the construction of Ploughs. 



" Considering the manifold errors and defects 

 in the construction of Ploughs, and the in- 

 conveniences experienced in the use of them, 

 the petitioner and inventor hath applied the 

 powers of his mind to the improvement of 



