THE FARMER AT HOME. 33 1 



)loughs are in the shape of a mould-board, and contrivances for regu 

 ating the line of draught so as to go at an equal depth, and cut off a 

 egular slice of equal breadth, without any great force being applied 

 ay the ploughman. In addition to a regard to the form of the plough 

 oest accomplishing these objects, it is but little less important to com- 

 bine lightness with strength, and with a reference to the least resist- 

 ance in its progress by friction or otherwise, so as to diminish to the 

 lowest possible degree the power to be applied in drawing it onward. 

 If by improvements in these latter respects two oxen can accomplish 

 what four oxen formerly did in the same time, and, if in the former 

 respects, a boy is enabled, as ploughman, to perform with ease the 

 labor formerly requiring the strongest man, the magnitude of saving 

 to the whole agricultural community is immense. The substitution 

 of iron for wood in the construction of the plough, and the present 

 peculiar adaptation of form ibr an easy accomplishment of the objects 

 to be attained, is a saving to that amount if no more. 



PLOUGH. 



Mechanical philosophy has rarely or never done a better service 

 than in making improvements in an agricultural implement, of which 

 from fifty to one hundred thousand are manufactured every year. 

 We know single establishments that make each ten thousand in a 

 year. Hitherto for some years past, so numerous have been the im- 

 provements in them, that it might seem that the article at present 

 nearly approximates perfection. The kind of ploughs we used half a 

 dozen years ago, then recommended as the best to be had, we have 

 laid by to be preserved as memorials of a bygone period, and adopted 

 others better adapted to our wants. It is scarcely to be' presumed 

 that one establishment can for any long period produce an implement 

 materially of better form than all others ; for any one neglecting to 

 adopt improvements of general notoriety, would soon be left without 

 patronage. When the particular form of ploughs in particular estab- 

 lishments is no longer susceptible of improvement, the reputation of 

 them is to be kept up by superior artistic finish, in connection with 

 an invariable use of the best wood and iron in their construction. 

 The ploughs of Prouty and Mears have an enviable reputation, and 



