Book IV. 



SWING PLOUGHS. 



393 



to the body of the plough like glue, by which the draught is increased probably double 

 or treble." By substituting tliree or four iron rods for the mould-board, the soil is pre- 



vented from adhering, while the operation of ploughing is at the same time performed 

 in an equally perfect manner with two horses as with four. This is accounted for " by 

 the whole surface of this plough not being more than one third or one fourth the surface 

 of other ploughs." In like manner, when it is necessary to dig or trench very strong 

 clayey soil between the wet and the dry, the operation is performed with much greater 



ease by a two-pronged fork. It is important to agriculturists to know the opinion and 

 experience of a man of so much science and extensive practice as the late Mr. Finlayson, 

 who says, " from my own experience I have no hesitation in saying that the most adhe- 

 sive land may, with ease, be ploughed by the skeleton plough, and one pair of good 

 horses." (British Farmer, p. 165.) 



2607. Finlayson s line plough [jig. 299.) is characterised by a rod (a), which proceeds 



299 



from the sheath of the plough to the muzzle, which is put on when the plough is drawn 

 by horses in a line — a very disadvantageous manner, but yet common in many parts of 

 England. 



