INSTRUMENTS OF HUSBANDRY. 7 



two horses are yoked one after the other, unless the driver 

 is very attentive, they seldom draw together, sometimes 

 one drawing the whole, and sometimes the other. He has 

 only used single carts for twelve or fourteen moixths ; but, 

 from the trial he has made, he is convinced, that two horses 

 in single-horse carts, will, with equal ease to themselves, 

 draw at least one-fourth more than in a double-horse cart 

 when yoked one after the other. Another great advantage 

 attends single-horse carts ; the carters cannot run races when 

 going for lime and coals, by which the horses are often ren- 

 dered lame, and sometimes destroyed outright. This is a 

 practice that too much prevails, notwithstanding the frequent 

 punishments inflicted, and examples made, for that offence. 

 It has been observed, indeed, that nothing can be said in 

 favour of double-horse carts, (in nine cases out often,) that 

 may not be as justly urged in favour of waggons and ploughs 

 with four horses. It is a singular contrast to see the farmers 

 of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, carrying from 15 to 20 cwL, 

 and sometimes a great deal more, in a one-horse cart, whilst 

 in other districts, from attachment to old habits, two strong 

 horses are employed, to bring a load of dung, not much hea- 

 vier, from the dung-hill in the same field, to the turnip 

 drill, even where there is little or no declivity, and where the 

 additional horse must do damage to the ground in drills. 



In summer, more especially, single-horse carts are pre- 

 ferred by intelligent farmers, as the roads are then good, 

 and the horses will bring home more lime to the farm, or 

 carry more produce to market, in two carts than one. By 

 dividing the load also, both carts and harness will last 

 much longer. What weighs much with many sensible men 

 is, their observing that the people who drive their own horses, 

 always yoke them in single-horse carts. Others contend, that 

 though persons driving their own horses, with great cure, 

 may adopt such a plan, that is no reason why the same sys-* 



