14:4: HANDT-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



which is acquired at the plow-stilts, not over books. The best 

 instructor in plowing is a good team and plow on good land. 

 The only principle that can be set forth here, with much advan- 

 tage, is that the plow should be so adjusted that it will almost 

 " go alone." The forces and the resistances should be so 

 balanced that the implement will incline to keep its proper depth 

 and width, and its erect position. It should require very little 

 guiding, except when it meets with accidental irregularities of the 

 surface or with stones. All plows have a certain depth at which 

 they run naturally. To set them deeper than this necessitates a 

 constant bearing to the land side on the part of the plowman, and 

 for deeper work it is better, when practicable, to get a plow that 

 naturally runs deeper. 



The " line of draft " in all plows runs from the point of the 

 center of resistance (which is near the front of the plow in the 

 ground) straight to the ring on the ox-yoke or horse-collar, and 

 the point to which the draft chain is attached, at the end of the 

 beam, lies exactly in this line. If the line of draft is lengthened 

 it rises more gradually from the center of resistance, and the end 

 of the beam must descend to join it — this lowers the point of the 

 plow and makes it run deeper. If it is shortened, it rises more 

 abruptly, and causes a raising of the beam, and a less depth of cut. 

 These changes may be made by lengthening or shortening the 

 draft chain or traces. The length of the line of draft remaining 

 the same, if the chain (or whiffletree) is attached to the upper part 

 of the clevis, the end of the beam goes down until the line of 

 draft is met by the point to which the attachment is made — and 

 the plow goes deeper ; if attached to the bottom of the clevis, the 

 beam must rise- until this point meets the line of draft and the 

 plow runs less deep. 



By a movement of the clevis to the left side, the beam is 

 turned to the right, until the new point of attachment is in the 

 line of draft, and the plow takes less land. By moving the clevis 

 to the right, the plow is thrown to the left, and takes more land. 

 By throwing the clevis as far as possible to one side, the plow 

 may be made to work to the right or left, so that a furrow may 



