Book IV. 



WHEEL PLOUGHS. 



401 



317 



2642. The gutter plough (Jig- 31 7-) is made use of for forming gutter drains in grass 

 lands, where the soil is of a retentive 

 nature. The power of six horses 

 is required in drawing it for the 

 first time ; but four horses are 

 found sufficient for opening the old 

 gutters. 



2643. The mole plough (fig. 318.) 

 was invented by Adam Scott, and 

 improved by Lumbert of Gloucester- 

 shire. It is said to be an implement which, in ductile soils and situations, as in pleasurc- 



318 ^-» grounds, and where much regard is 



had to the surface-appearance of the 

 land; may be of considerable benefit 

 in forming temporary drains. It 

 makes a drain without opening the 

 ' surface any more than merely for the 

 passage of a thin coulter, the mark 

 r*us»- of which soon disappears : it is chiefly 



employed in such grass-lands as have a declination of surface, and where there are not 

 many obstructions to contend with ; but some think it may be used in other kinds of 

 land, as on turnip-grounds that are too wet for the sheep to feed them off, or where, on 

 account of the wetness, the seed cannot be put into the earth. With this plough the 

 drains should be made at the distance of ten or fifteen feet in straight lines, and also 

 contrived so as to discharge themselves into one large open furrow, or grip, at the bottom 

 of the field. As it requires great strength to draw this implement, it can only be used 

 where a good team is kept. 



2644. Lumbert not only brought this plough to its present shape; but, finding the 

 surface greatly injured by the feet of so many horses as were found necessary to draw it, 

 he invented a piece of machinery (fig. 319.), consisting of a windlass, frame, and anchor, 



by which it is worked by the labour of four men. Young, and other members of the 

 Board of Agriculture, expressed themselves greatly enamoured of this plan ; but it is 

 obviously too complicate and expensive for general use. 



2645. A subsequent improvement, by Lumbert, consisted in the addition of a gin-wheel 

 and lever, by which the machine was worked by one horse walking round it, as in a 

 common horse-mill ; and this last form has again been improved by the late mechanist, 

 Weir, of Oxford-street, London, by the addition of a vertical cylinder, which winds up 

 the chain without any attention from the driver. Weir has also simplified and 

 strengthened this machine in other respects; so that his modification of it (fg. 320.) is, 



320 



' — my 



€ftee 



at present, by far the best. Still we think it an implement that very seldom // 

 can be profitably used : that this may be the case, the surface of the field r 



D d 



