228 HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN, AND 



mous in awarding to Messrs. Prouty & Mears, the society's 

 premium for the best sward plough. 



Of the different sizes of "centre-draft" ploughs, put into 

 their hands for trial, the committee recommend, as a plough 

 for all work, the No. 5i, S. S., as the best plough within their 

 knowledge. Of easy draft, it turns the sward most perfectly, 

 and in a clear, free soil, preserves its furrow without a holder ; 

 and if the ground is in the best condition for ploughing, nearly 

 prepares it for seeding, by its peculiar shape, and turn of share 

 and mould-board, which pulverize and disarrange the particles 

 of the furrow slice, and conseqently, aid fermentation and de- 

 composition, and the elaboration of food for plants, from the 

 organic matter in the soil ; all at much less expense than the 

 same point is obtained by the harrow, and in perfection, per- 

 haps, fully equal to that " spade husbandry," which has been 

 termed "the perfection of good culture." 



In stubble land, the work of this plough was found to be 

 very good, and with the aid of a light chain, made fast, one 

 end near the plough clevis, and the other to the right hand 

 whiffletree, with sufficient slack chain to sweep the ground, 

 say, one foot in advance of the plough, the stubble was entirely 

 covered in, and the work pronounced to be of the most perfect 

 and satisfactory description. This plough is a self-sharpener, 

 and of full medium size, suitable for a single team, and, in the 

 opinion of the committee, should be owned by every farmer 

 who keeps but one plough, until it is superseded by abetter one. 

 Its self-sharpening point and share add very much to its value, 

 by saving, perhaps, one-half the expense of repairing, necessary 

 with the common plough point ; and this, together with the 

 additional tilth, or pulverization given under favorable circum- 

 stances over the smooth, hard, flat furrow plough, superseding, 

 or greatly reducing the immediate use of the harrow, may be 

 safely said to amount to an ultimate saving of more than the 

 whole first cost of the plough. To follow this plough, is to 

 like it. 



Plough No. 25., is a trifle smaller than No. 5|., and in com- 

 parison with the weight of sod turned, is rather the lightest 

 draft of any plough brought forward at the trial. It holds 



