Chap. I. O F P L O U G H S. 421 



We find with pleafure, continues our author, that a fufficient 

 number of experiments has now been made, to create a confidence 

 in this new method of cultivating land, and that proper inftruments 

 for that purpofe have been invented. It therefore remains that we 

 give a defcription of thefe inflruments, beginning with the ploughs. 



Two things are effentially neceffary to all ploughs : the one is, 

 that the fhare and coulter ihould enter fufficiently deep into the 

 unplowed earth, to turn it over into the furrow : the plough is fitted 

 for this purpofe, by having its flaare and coulter placed in a direc- 

 tion fomewhat oblique to the beam, inclining towards the ground 

 that is to be turned over: and the other, which is flill more im- 

 portant, is, that the plough be made to pierce to a depth fuited to 

 the quality of the foil. This is eafily efteded with ploughs, that 

 have a fore-carriage : and as to thofe which have none, the plow- 

 man may, by the help of their handles, if fufficiently long, as with 

 a lever, make the Ihare pierce to whatever depth may be thought 

 moft proper. 



M. de Chateau-vieux obferves, that, in order to plow well, the 

 furrow which is turned over ought not to be cut too wide. The 

 breadth of it fliould be determined by the quality of the foil, accord- 

 ing as it is ftiff or light, dry or moid. His furrows are generally 

 between eight and nine inches wide: and as to their depth, he is 

 guided in that refpedt by the nature of the foil. Sometimes he has 

 plowed a foot deep; but then the furrows were cut narrow, in order 

 to proportion the refiftance of the earth, to the ftrength of the 

 horfes : for it is as eafy to them to plow twelve inches deep, with a 

 narrow furrow, as it would be to plow only to the depth of fix 

 inches, with a wider one. 



M. Duhamel took the firfi: hint of his plough, from one that he 

 faw near Rochefort, the whole fore-carriage of which confifted of 

 only one very fmall wheel, whereby the beam was fupported at a 

 proper height. While this plough was making, he received M. de 

 Chateau-vieux's defcription of his : but too late to follow entirely the 

 ideas of that gentleman. However, he was ftill in time to make 

 fome alteration in his fore-carriage, by means of which, he thinks 

 his plough has all the advantages of M. de Chateau-vieux's, and 

 that it is even more convenient in fome refpefts. We, with M. Du- 

 hamel, fliall leave the public to judge which of the two is heft, after 

 giving a drawing and defcription of each of them. 



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