122 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. [Chap. I. 



I 



dents often occur from the irons of single-trees, put on like rings, getting 

 loose and working off". Such things seem always to happen at the most un- 

 propitious times. AVc knew one man well, wlio lost his life in consequence 

 of just such an accident. lie was crossing one of the Western prairies upon 

 a cold, stormy night, when the accident occurred, by which he was unable 

 to proceed, and, as was supposed, while getting his horses loose, that he 

 might ride to the nearest house, soino miles distant, he became so chilled as 

 to be unable to mount on horseback, and before morning his horses 'left him 

 alone to perish — all in consequence of having bad gearing. 



We have ourselves had some very unpleasant experience in our prairie 

 traveling, arising from broken swing-trees, and therefore warn you to make 

 them very strong — no matter about the looks. Utility is everything. 



J'/oivin// loithfoitr horses, though not much practiced in this country, is 

 sometimes necessary, and, for want of practice, but few know how to attach 

 four horses to a plow so as to work in the easiest manner. 



The common way is to hitch the double-tree of the leading pair to a liook 

 in the center of the double-tree of the rear pair. This gives a dead pull to 

 the leaders without aii'ecting the other pair. To obviate this, and give a 

 compensating balance to both pair, the following plan has been ado])ted : 

 Attached to the hook of the plow-beam is an iron pulley, about six inches 

 diameter. The chain from the first set of double-trees, instead of being 

 hooked to the plow-beam, is rove through this pulley, and tlie end carried 

 forward and hooked to the forward double-trees. The working of this is, 

 that neither'pair can give a dead pull independent of the other pair. If you 

 touch up the hind pair so that they start suddenly forward, the pull does 

 not give the plow a jerk, because the chain yields, around the pulley and 

 soon draws back upon the leaders, giving them a hint to press forward, and 

 thus keep the strain even. To prevent either pair from drawing too much 

 of the chain through the pulley, you can insert an open ring into a link at a 

 suitable distance on either side. 



There is no other plan that we have ever seen in operation, so simple as 

 this is, to give a perfect equilibrium and balance the forces of each pair of 

 horses. In fact, the whole four, by the aid of the swing-trees and pulley, are 

 all kept in equilibrium. 



It will be well for the hind pair of horses to wear a common wagon neck- 

 yoke, and pass the chain that extends to tlie double-trees of the forward 

 horses through the ring, or if that is too high, through a loop attached to 

 the ring. The chain is sometimes supported by a strap swinging between 

 the rear horses, each end attached to a back band on to the hames. 



