RULES FOR MANAGING THE PLOUGH. 21 



through, and will not perform it well without much 

 diligence. His duty is to take charge of a pair of 

 horses, and to work them not only at the plough, but 

 at eveiy kind of work for which they may be wanted 

 on the farm.- He has also to take care of his horses, 

 and to groom them between the hours of labour : and 

 when ploughing is not going on, he continues to take 

 care of them, and must also be ready to turn his hand 

 to whatever employment may be required of him, and 

 to do it cheerfully, and to the best of his power. All 

 this cannot be done properly without settled habits of 

 activity, and these the ploughman should endeavour to 

 acquire. 



The ploughman should be a teachable man, glad to 

 learn the best way of doing different kinds of work. 

 He is not always at the plough, but sometimes has to 

 do with sowing, thrashing out the corn, &c. He must 

 therefore get a good deal of general knowledge of farm- 

 ing operations besides mere ploughing. But if he had 

 nothing at all but the ploxigh to attend to, he would 

 still have enough to learn. The following rules, chiefly 

 laid down by an expert practical ploughman,* give an 

 idea of the method of managing a plough ; but practice 

 only can teach the particular knack required to guide 

 this implement with good effect. 



I. The horses should be harnessed as near to the 

 plough as they can be placed without impeding the 

 freedom of their step ; for the closer they are to the 

 point of draught, the less exertion will be required to 

 overcome the resistance. 



II. When ploughing with a pair abreast, the most 

 forward and powerful horse should be worked in the 

 furrow ; but if the team be harnessed in line, and there 

 be any difference in the height of the cattle, the tallest 

 should be put foremost, if he be in every other respect 

 equal to the others. 



III. When at work, they should be kept going at 



* Mr. Finlayson. 



