122 PKACTICAL INSTEUCTIONS REGARDING THE USE OF 



fixed pulley, that is simply a confession of their ignorance 

 as to the. methods of effecting it, and we will insist on the 

 essential conditions, which are simple and practical to any- 

 one who has knowledge of that kind of work. 



With the object always of reducing cost, implement 

 makers when constructing double-effect winding drums 

 only use a small simple pulley for the return cable. This 

 pulley is kept in position by means of a chain made with 

 large links, through which a peg, passing through the 

 links of another chain, is fixed in a direction parallel to 

 the opposite headland. The latter chain must be securely 

 fixed at both extremities to anchors or wooden beams held 

 by pegs. When the plough has opened two or three 

 furrows, the peg is taken out, the pulley and the cable 

 shifted by hand, which requires considerable effort, especially 

 if the ground is wet ; the peg is then replaced in another 

 link of the chain. The latter must be securely anchored, 

 as the effort it bears is double that of the direct traction, 

 but, as implement makers seemingly wanted to increase the 

 difficulties of anchoring, they made pulleys too small in 

 diameter, and supported by a too narrow plate, which 

 tends to come out of the ground when the plough starts . 

 This system can only work satisfactorily with pulleys of a 

 very large diameter, revolving on a very wide plate of 

 wood or iron, but then it is heavy, and consequently 

 difficult to move by hand. 



The best method of securing the return cable is un- 

 doubtedly a -large pulley, supported by a truck, provided 

 with four steel discs cutting into the ground and prevent- 

 ing sliding. Plate X. shows the solution of this difficulty. 

 It is certainly rather expensive, but it enables the work 

 to be done easily without stoppages, a greater area to be 

 ploughed, and consequently the cost per acre reduced. 



The engine, behind which is the winding drum carried 

 on its frame, travels against one of the boundaries. A 

 pulley is anchored at a distance of 109 yards in front. 

 The automatic anchor, having in its centre a large pulley, 

 travels on the opposite headland. A third pulley is anchored 

 in front of the automatic anchor. The winding system is 

 made with two drums, one hauling the plough directly from 

 the automatic anchor towards the engine, the other pulling it 

 back after passing over the three pulleys. With this arrange- 

 ment the strain on the automatic anchor is only one of the 



