HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 229 



easy, turns a smooth, flat furrow, and may safely be recom- 

 mended to those who prefer that khid of work, without regard 

 to pulverization, as the best sod plough for a single team. 

 Plough No. 72., excited the admiration of the committee, by its 

 easy holding, comparative light draft and good work, and ob- 

 tained their recommendation as the best sod plough for deep 

 ploughing, or heavy work, requiring a double team. 



A true, "centre draft" plough is so constructed, that the 

 central point of its line of draft, will balance on the central 

 point of the line of resistance, and maintain its given depth 

 and width of furrow in a free and clear soil, without assistance. 

 If otherwise constructed, the line of draft is more or less ob- 

 lique to the line of resistance, and requires the labor of a 

 ploughman to counteract the oblique tendency, and conse- 

 quently increases the labor of the team in proportion to the 

 waywardness of the plough, and the counteracting struggles 

 of the ploughman. This, was so manifest, during the examina- 

 tion and trial, that some of the committee were led to believe, 

 that the vaunted office of the " wrestling ploughman," was 

 nothing more or less than a necessity growing out of the im- 

 perfect construction of the plough ; or in other words, the 

 plough holder was needed mainly, to conceal the ignorance or 

 mistakes of the plough maker. 



This view so strongly impressed itself, that it was proposed 

 to recommend to the society, to offer, at their next ploughing 

 match, a list of premiums for the best samples of ploughing, 

 performed by ploughs without a hand to turn or guide them, 

 except putting in and taking out at the end of the furrows, or 

 when thrown out by accident. Aside from its novelty, which 

 may be attractive, it will exhibit the running quality of each 

 plough, without concealment, and consequently call out the 

 skill of the plough maker. A plough which, unaided, will 

 keep its depth and width of furrow the most even and perfect, 

 in a clear soil, will require the less aid in a rough soil, and its 

 easy draft and easy holding, are scarcely less important in the 

 latter than in the former. 



A plough should not depend for its reputation upon the skill 

 of the ploughman, as is many times the case j but it should 



