422 O F P L O U G H S, Part IV. 



SECT. I. 



Dejcr'iption of M. de Chateau-vIeiixV plough. 

 Of the Plough head. 



THE head of this plough is compofed of a wheel 32 inches in 

 diameter, which may be extended to 34 inches, or reduced to 

 30: but to fall fliort of, or to exceed thofe meafures, would be at- 

 tended with inconveniencies. This wheel may be made very light, 

 efpecially if it be incircled with a thin hoop of iron. It is reprefented 

 in Platell.fg. i, 2, 3. of which, 7%. 2, is the plan, and/^. i, the 

 profile. 



The frame in which the wheel is placed, is formed by two (hafts 

 AB, CD,fg. 2, diftant from each other 18 inches, from infide 

 to infide; which fixes the length of the nave of the wheel. Thefe 

 fliafts are four feet eight inches long, and may be reduced to four 

 feet four inches, by (liortening them at the ends, C and A. They are 

 about two inches and a quarter fquare: but the edges fhould be 

 rounded oif. Thefe two pieces are faflened together by the two 

 crofs ftaves E F, GH, which are two inches and a half wide, and 

 about an inch thick. They are riveted to one of the fliafts, at E and 

 G, where they are not to be loofened at all ; and at their other ends 

 F and H, the fhaft mud be moveable, fo as to be taken off, to 

 let the two crofs ftaves through two mortifes in the beam IK of the 

 plough; after which the fliaft C D is put in its place, and fixed with 

 two iron pins, a, b. Between the two fliafts is placed the wheel 

 LM, the nave of which is pierced through its center, with a hole 

 proportioned to the thicknefs of the iron pin or fpindle NO, 

 which ferves for an axle tree, and is reprefented by the two pricked 

 lines. This fpindle, or axle tree, the diameter of which is about 

 three quarters of an inch, ought not to projed beyond the outfide of 

 the fliafts, left it fliould lay hold of or hurt the ftalks of the corn, 

 when the plough is ufed. To fix it at iV, that end is flattened, and 

 bent over the (haft to the middle of its upper fide, where it is faftened 

 at d, by a fmall pin driven through it and the fliaft. 



On the upper furface of each of the fliafts, at the ends A and C, 

 are the hooks AC, to which the harnefs is faftened : and at the other 

 ends B and £>, are two rings, the ufe of which will be explained 

 hereafter. 



The 



