INVENTOR OF THE MODERN PLOW. 41 



the immovable rocks as if they were icebergs. 

 "Incensed at the non-fulfillment of his proph- 

 ecy, the farmer finally drove the plow with 

 all force upon a large bowlder, and found to 

 h's amazement that it was uninjured by the 

 collision. It proved a day of triumph for 

 Jetliro Wood, and from that time he heard few 

 taunts about the pot-metal. 



"It was soon discovered that his plow turned 

 up the soil with so much ease that two horses 

 could do the work for which a yoke of oxen 

 and a span of horses had sometimes been in- 

 sufficient before ; that it made a better furrow, 

 and that it could be bought for seven or eight 

 dollars ; no more running to the blacksmith, 

 either, to have it sharpened. It was proved a 

 thorough and valuable success. Thomas Jef- 

 ferson, from his retirement at Monticello, wrote 

 "Wood a letter of congratulation, and although 

 his theory of the construction of mould-boards 

 had differed entirely from the inventor's, gave 



