384 



SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part II. 



2542. Wilkie's horse-hoe and drill-j)ldugh is considered an efFectivo implement. Tlic 

 mould-boards arc taken off when used as a horse-hoc, and the hoes taken ofF and the 

 mould-boards replaced, when earthing up the crops ; thus combining, in one implement, 

 a complete horse-hoe and double mould-board plough. A good horse-hoe being the 

 principal object in the construction of this implement, the method of fixing the hoes 

 claimed particular atteniion ; in order to combine lightness with strength and firmness, 

 and admit, at the same time, of being set at different degrees of width and depth ; all of 

 which are accomplished on an improved principle. The wheel at the point of the beam 

 regulates the depth ; the right and left hoes are hinged, at the back end, to the handles 

 of the plough, while by moving on the circular cross bar, on which they are fastened 

 with wedges, they may Ix; set to any width, from about twelve to nearly twenty-four 

 inches. 



2543. Wilkie's horse-hoe and drill-harroiv (^fig- 305.), is intended to be introduced be- 

 tween the drills as soon as the plants appear above ground, and the operation is repeated 

 at intervals, till the crop is thoroughly cleaned. The centre hoe is stationary, and the 



vight and left expand and contract in the same manner as in the horse-hoe. The depth 

 is regulated by the wheel at the point of the beam, and may be varied from one to six 

 inches. The hoes cut the bottom of the space between the drills completely, while the 

 harrow following, pulverises the soil, and rakes out the weeds. Should circumstances 

 require, the wings of the harrow may be taken off, and the hoes only used ; or the hoes 

 displaced, and the harrow only employed. 



2544. Ulaikics inverted horse-hoe consists of a line of coulters set in a beam, and this 

 beam attached to the axle of a pair of common wheels. It hoes several rows at once, and 

 instead of being straight the coulters are all curved or kneed, and set back to back so as 

 to include a row between each pair. The advantage of the kneed or bent form of the 

 lower part of the coulter is, that the soil is pared off in a sloping direction from the 

 plants, which are thus not so liable to be choked up with earth as by a broad hoe or 

 share ; or to have their roots so much exposed to the air as by cutting perpendicularly 

 down close to the row by a common coulter. It is chiefly adapted for drilled corn, and 

 then it works several rows : in turnips it may work one or two according to the soil ; in 

 all cases where the width between the rows admits, the agricultor should be more anxious 

 to stir the soil to a good depth than to skim over a great extent of surface, merely cutting 

 over the weeds. 



2545. Morton^ s universal drill plough and harrow {fig. 306.) answers both as a double 

 mould-board plough, and a horse-hoe j is much approved of in the culture of drilled 



806 



crops ; and with some slight attentions it may be also employed as a small plougli for 

 taking the earth from the sides of the ridglets. When it is used as a horse-hoe, the 

 mould-boards are taken off, and two curved cutters or coulters, expand from the beam on 



