1849. 



THE GENESEE FAKMKR. 



<n 



THE FLOW -ITS HISTORY AND IMPROVEMENTS. 

 BY, HOK \< I I . Mil K\ . 



.•aid that u the history of the 

 is the history of civilization — thai the progress 

 I ovement marks the progress of society. 11 

 Thinking that a few remarks upon, and facts con- 

 cerning the past and presenl condition of the plow, 

 with a description of several of the must approved 

 tonus now in U66, showing their adaptation to the 

 various soils, modes of culture, k'\, kr., might not 

 be uninteresting to many of your readers, i oiler you 

 herewith a short communication upon the subject — 

 hoping to be able to complete the article in your 

 next number. I intend to show, by tho use of several 

 new cuts, the various forms of mould boards, and the 

 difference in the effect produced by them, both in the 

 • and different soils ; also the effect of different 

 construction of the wood work, the various modes of 

 attaching the team, and the comparative cost and 

 simplicity of the same. 



One of the first improvements upon the original 

 plow, or straight -pointed stick of wood, drawn 

 through the ground by manual power, was the sub- 

 stitution of the crotch of a tree, drawn by being 

 attached to the tail of an ox — afterwards, however, 

 by being attached to the horns, which last method is 

 still extant in some countries. From that era in the 

 history of the Plow, it has gradually received more 

 and more attention as its importance has become 

 known; but until within the nineteenth century the 

 implement has beon rude and imperfect, as compared 

 with our modern plows. 



I remember when mould-boards of plows were 

 made from the trunks of winding trees, cut into 

 pieces of proper length and split through the middle, 

 the face of each half thus forming a regular winding 

 surface. These sticks were then wrought from the 

 other side until a proper thickness was obtained — 

 the winding surface being preserved, formed the- 

 mould-board. These mould-boards were then covered 

 with strips of wrought iron and furnished with 

 wrougnt iron and steel edge coulters and points. 

 The beams and handles were similar to those of 

 modern plows, excepting that the handles w r ere made 

 with natural crooks for the top, by using the stumps 

 of oak trees, and a portion of the root near the sur- 

 face of the ground, which were obtained with much 

 labor; and, instead of a clevis on the end of the beam, a 

 staple was driven into the side, by which it was drawn. 



In making this kind of plows nearly the same pro- 

 cess is gone through in each one as in the making of 

 a pattern. Uniformity in their construction was not 

 thought of — in fact,almost every plow was made to or- 

 der, according to the peculiar notions of the pur- 

 chaser. As for repairs, they were made according to 

 the ability of the blacksmith, and nearly as often as 

 repaired the plow would be quite altered — sometimes 

 for the better and sometimes for the worse. A oood 

 plow maker in those days could obtain $12 to $16 

 for a plow of the size now sold for half the sum. 



One great step forward from the last described, was 

 the substitution of cast iron for the wearing parts in 

 separate pieces, so as to be replaced when worn or 

 broken — thereby preserving the original form, strength 

 and durability, and at the same time effectually redu- 

 cing the cost of repairs. The honor of this is gene- 

 rally accredited to Jet. no Wood ; at all events he 

 obtained the first patent for this invention and im- 

 provement. In process of time he produced manv 

 patterns of plows, some of which are still highly 



esteemed for their simplicity and adaptation to 

 uses : but he, like most inventors, bad much to con- 

 tend against in introducing them to the public, and 

 died without realizing due reward for his labor-- — 

 although bis heirs have, bj a renewal of the p 

 realized a handsome .-inn, yet it is now conj 

 property by its own limitations. < it iron 

 chiefly used for plows throughout this country,except- 

 ing in some portions of some of the Western St 

 where still plates are struck up in shapes ai d 

 the mould boards. 



The principal improvements which have been made 

 in the plow, since Mr. Wood's, have been in its form 

 — the composition of the metal, as regards its strength 

 and hardness, the connection of the several par' 

 the same, and the mode of attaching the wood work 

 to them ; also in the manner of constructing 

 work as regards simplicity and uniformity, so that 

 repairs for the wood are as easily made as for the irons, 

 and with the same perfection. Great improvements 

 have also been made in the manner of regulating and 

 adapting the same plow to a greater variety of work. 



The credit of these improvements belong to a great 

 number of persons — among whom may be named 

 Starbuck, Wright, Hitchcock, Hawkins, Emery, 

 Rich,Nourse, Minor, Prouty, Burrall and many-others. 

 Each of these men lias added something new and 

 useful in pattern, form, or construction, until the 

 business of building of plows has become systema- 

 tized and an immense amount of capital has been 

 invested in it : and it now is as distinct a business of 

 itself as carriage building. Albany, JV. F., 1849. 



SMITH'S HAY, STALK AND STRAW CUTTER. 



The above engraving represents a Straw Cutter, 

 invented and manufactured by H. E. Smith, of Fow- 

 lerville, N. Y. An examination and trial of this 

 machine will, we think, satisfy any practical man 

 that it is at least equal to many of the most cele- 

 brated cutters offered to the public. This is our im- 

 pression, after seeing and handling Mr. S.'s machine. 

 There are three sizes— the prices of which are $12, 

 £13 and $14. They can be obtained of the manu- 

 facturer, as above, or of Rapalje fc Briggs, E. Watts, 

 and Barton fc Belden, in this city. [A description 

 of the machine was prepared for this number, but is 

 necessarily deferred.] 



