Book IV. SWING PtOUGHS. 373 



rude in construction in most countries, and only very lately brought to a high degree of 

 perfection in Britain. Dr. Anderson {Becreations in Agriculture, tjfc), writing in 1802, 

 observes, *' that there are no sorts of implements that admit of greater improvement than 

 those of husbaudry, on the principle of diminishing weight without in any degree abating 

 their strength." Since tliat very recent period, great improvements have taken place in 

 almost every agricultural implement, from the plough to the threshing machine, and 

 though these have not yet found their way into general use, especially in England, they 

 may be procured at the public manufactories of the capitals of the three kingdoms with 

 no trouble. It is incredible what benefits would result to agriculture if proper ploughs 

 and threshing machines were generally adopted ; and if the scuffler or cultivator were 

 applied in suitable soils, and under proper circumstances, not to mention one and two horse 

 carts, improved harrows, and the best winnowing machines. But the ignorance and anti- 

 pathy to innovation of the majority of farmers in almost every country, the backwardness of 

 laborers to learn new practices, and the expense of the implements, are drawbacks which 

 necessarily require time to overcome. It may also be observed, that in the progress of 

 improvement, many innovations which have been made, have turned out of no account, 

 or even worse than useless ; and this being observed by the sagacious countryman, con- 

 firms him in his rooted aversion to novelty and obange. In our selection, we shall pass 

 over a great variety of forms, the knowledge of which we consider of no use, unless it 

 were to guard against them, and sliall chiefly confine ourselves to such as are in use at 

 the present time by the best farmers of the best cultivated districts. These we shall 

 arrange as tillage implements, sowing and planting implements, reaping machines, 

 threshing machines, and machines of deportation. 



Sect. I. Of Tillage Implements. and Machines. 



2478. The tillage implements of agriculture comprise ploughs with and without wheels, 

 and pronged implements of various descriptions, as grubbers, cultivators, harrows, 

 rollers, &c. We shall take them in the order of swing ploughs, wheel ploughs, prong- 

 ed implements, harrows, and rollers, &c. 



SuBSECT. 1 . Of Swing Ploughs, or such as are consti'ucted without Wheels. 



, 2479. The plough is the first implement in agriculture, and hence the importance of 

 selecting the most improved form. As ploughing, however, like many other operations 

 in practical husbandry, must often vary in the manner of its being performed, it is evi- 

 dent, that no one particular sort of plough can be superior to all others, in every season, 

 and under every variety of soil or inclination of surface. Different soils, situations, and 

 uses, will of course require different kinds of ploughs, though there are undoubtedly 

 some that are capable of a much more general application than others. 



2480. Ploughs are of two kinds ; those fitted up with wheels, and called wheel jdoughs, 

 and those witliout wheels, called swing ploughs. The latter are the lightest of draught, but 

 require an experienced and attentive ploughman to use them ; the former work with greater 

 steadiness, and require much less skill in the manager : some sorts, indeed, do not require 

 holding at all, excepting at entering in, and turning on and off' the work at the ends of 

 the ridges. On the whole, taking ploughmen as they are, and ploughs as they are gene- 

 rally constructed, it will be found that a district ploughed with wheel ploughs, will show 

 greater neatness of work than one ploughed with swing ploughs. But on the other 

 liand, ttiking a district where the improved form of swing ploughs is generally adopted, 

 the ploughmen will be found superior workmen, and the work performed in a better man- 

 ner, and with less expense of labor than in the case of wheel ploughs. Northumberland 

 in this respect may be compared with Warwickshiie. In attempting to introduce the 

 improved swing plough into any district, it will be found a very useful mode to have 

 wheels applied to it in a temporary maimer, so as they may be removed altogether when 

 tlie operator becomes expert, or in the most favorable soils. 



2481. In the construcliun of plouglis, whatever be the sort used, there are a few gene- 

 ral principles that ought invariably to be attended to ; such as the giving the throat and 

 breast, or tliat part which enters, perforates, and breaks up the ground, that sort of long, 

 narrow, clean, tapering, sharpened form that affords the least resistance in passing 

 through the land ; and to the mould-board, that kind of hoUowed-out and twisted form, 

 which not only tends to lessen friction, but also to contribute greatly to the perfect turn- 

 ing over of the furrow-slice. The beam and muzzle should likewise be so contrived, as 

 that the moving power, or team, may be attached in the most advantageous line of draught. 

 This ii particularly necessary where a number of animals are employed together, in order 

 that the draught of the whole may coincide. 



2482. The construction of an improved swing plough is thus given mathematically by 

 Bailey of Chiiliugiuun, in his Essu^ on the Construction of the plough on Mathematical 



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