74 INSTRUMENTS OF HUSBANDRY. 



must depend on the nature of the soil. Those which are 

 best calculated for strong clay, cannot be suited to light 

 sands and loams. It is a general rule, however, that the 

 teeth should be round, as they keep themselves cleaner than 

 the square, or any other shape, and work easier after the 

 horses. 



3. CARTS. It is a general rule with Scotch farmers, 

 that every man-servant shall have a cart, a plough, and a 

 set of harrows, for each pair of horses, so that whether the 

 weather answers for carting, ploughing, or harrowing, the 

 whole horses and servants are always employed. 



Siiigle-horse carts are, in general, preferred ; but when 

 the land is deep, the roads bad, the ascent great, or the 

 load heavy, two horses are frequently made use of.* A 

 most intelligent farmer on the border observes, that when 



* Some farmers think, that where six ploughs are kept, there ought, 

 to be twelve carts ; though by having a cart for each horse, the expence 

 of that article is increased, yet the waste of a cart that carries a ton, is 

 greatly more than where only half that weight is carried. Two horses, 

 however, must be occasionally used. The steady horse, in that case, 

 should be put in the trams, and the spirited horse as leader, as he is apt 

 to do more work than he should. Others are of opinion, that two carts 

 for each pair of horses, are an unnecessary expence upon an extensive 

 scale of farming; and, in particular, that at a distance from large towns 

 twelve carts are quite sufficient for twenty horses, in all the operations 

 of the farm. In winter, horses can be changed forenoon and afternoon* 

 by being wrought in single carts, and the horses are the better occasion- 

 ally of easy work. But it is proper that each horse should have a cart- 

 saddle to fit his back, and that each man take care of his own harness. 

 It is much the more correct plan, upon a great concern, that four or six 

 men be entrusted with the delivery of all the grain. It is needless, 

 therefore, to give each man the charge of two carts ; for though no re- 

 quisite outlay on a farm ought to be withheld, yet no requisite expence 

 ought to be avoided. 



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