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" The share being twelve inches wide, cuts the full width of 

 the mould-board at the heel, by which the whole width of the 

 furrow is raised and mellowed. The land-side of the plough 

 is of equal height with the mould-board, which makes greater 

 resistance to the lateral pressure on that side, giving steadiness 

 to the plough in its course, and preventing obstructions of ev- 

 ery kind from hanging on that side or falling into the furrow." 



For the ploughing of greensward, where it is desired com- 

 pletely to invert the sod, this plough is not so well adapted. 



4. Hay-Knife. — The farmers here use a long knife, in the 

 shape of a ditching-knife, for the purpose of cutting down their 

 hay as they feed it to their cattle. I refer to it, not that there is 

 any thing remarkable in its construction, or that it is unknown 

 in other places, but for the sake of recommending a practice 

 which is somewhat peculiar to this part of the country. The 

 mow of hay, when it is fed to the stock, is carefully cut down 

 in slices of three or four feet width, as exactly as a loaf of 

 bread would be cut, and the hay is not, as in most cases, 

 pitched off as it is wanted promiscuously from any part of the 

 mow. This slice is used from the top to the bottom as it is 

 needed ; it is in this way more easily handled ; the top of the 

 whole mow is not turned up and exposed to the air, and to be 

 trodden upon ; and besides the neatness of the practice, the hay 

 is undoubtedly expended with more carefulness. 



XXVII. Condition of the Rural Population. — The con- 

 dition of the agricultural population of Franklin county is com- 

 fortable, and upon the whole prosperous. Some few years ago 

 the debts of the farmers in the county were understood to be 

 large ; but they are known to have been greatly reduced and are 

 in the process of gradual extinction. In some of the towns 

 not promising most, it is said that the farmers, after paying all 

 their bills and expenses, will lay up two hundred dollars a year ; 

 in other towns, from two to six hundred, to eight hundred, and 

 in some cases to a thousand. It is understood in this case that 

 the farmer charges himself with all his hired labor and all he 

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