28 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



Dear Sir, — Cheerfully do I state my impressions on wit- 

 nessing the operations of " Bartlett's Double Plough," premising 

 that I make no pretension to skill in the use of the plough, 

 other than what I have learned by observation, and a deep 

 interest in the subject. 



There were three sizes of the plough presented, each of 

 which was used for the purposes designed. The grass land 

 was on the same field where the other ploughing was done, — 

 a deep rich soil, that had borne a large burden of grass, and 

 was closely matted with the roots of the grass. The land 

 was level and entirely free of stones, rather dry, except the 

 moisture of the slight rain of the evening previous. The 

 largest size were drawn by three yoke of cattle, and gauged 

 to cut furrows, each nine inches deep and sixteen inches wide. 

 This work was perfectly well done, and the furrow slice laid 

 as accurately as with a single plough. The team had to labor 

 in a manner that could not long be continued. It was an 

 experiment in ploughing not adapted to common use. There 

 can be no objection to the furrow being cut of this depth, but 

 two furrows, nine or ten inches wide, would be much better 

 than one fourteen or sixteen inches wide. I do not approve of 

 the practice of cutting wide furrows and laying them entirely 

 flat. The English practice of cutting narrow furrows, just so 

 wide as they can be fairly turned, has many reasons in its 

 favor. If the double plough can he used to turn the furrows 

 in this way, and double the number of furrows can he made in 

 the same ground in the same titne, even though no more land 

 will he broken, much will he gained by its use. 



The middle size ploughs were moved by two yoke of cattle, 

 They were gauged to cut the furrows thirteen inches wide 

 and seven inches deep. This work was done without any 

 extra effort, in a manner that could be continued. I could not 

 see that the work was not done equally well as that by the 

 team along side, attached to single ploughs. Without doubt, 

 more power was required to do the work, but how much more 

 I had no means of determining. I feel confident, not twice as 

 much. The labor of one man, at least, was saved in the 

 operation. With this work we were entirely satisfied. 



