26 TRENCHING AND SUBSOILING 



may reduce the number of shiftings by placing the capstan 

 in the middle of the plot, instead of a corner. In this case, 

 with a cable 274 yards long, one may, without shifting the 

 capstan, plough about 15 acres. At the end of the work non- 

 ploughed headlands are left. On the side where the capstan 

 and pulley are fixed the headland is 23 to 26 feet in width ; 

 on the other side, about the length of a horse. The headlands 

 are ploughed in the same way as above described, leaving 

 only four small squares unploughed at each corner of the field. 



The traction cable is not buried, and passes across the 

 circular track made by the horses. They have to walk over 

 it. They very quickly become accustomed to this, and the 

 slow rate of the cable renders it very easy, the drum being 

 level with the ground the height of the cable does not 

 exceed 9 inches from the surface. This arrangement has 

 been proved to be the most practicable and simple, and 

 without danger to the horses. 



Two objections may be raised against the Beauquesne 

 system. The first is relative to the difficulty of anchoring 

 the fixed pulley, the second relates to the shifting of the 

 capstan from one place to another. Notwithstanding these 

 objections, this horse-gin remains the most practical, and on 

 account of its simplicity and strength it has and will still 

 render great services to viticulturists. Its price is 48, 

 including 220 yards of cable, plough excluded. 



The plough used by Beauquesne is that made by Pol 

 Fondeur, at Viry (Aisne) specially strengthened to resist the 

 enormous effort it has to support (Fig. 9). It is a good 



Fig. 9. Pol Fondeur's Trenching Plough 



