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XVIII. IMPLEMENTS, &c. OF THE FARM. 



IN this branch of our subject we shall examine very briefly 

 the mechanical agents or implements, machines, &.C., employed 

 in agricultural operations. Though the most important imple- 

 ments of agriculture are drawn or put in action by beasts of 

 labour, yet a few which cannot be dispensed with, are used by 

 man alone. These of course will be noticed in their proper 

 place. 



It is rarely, indeed, necessary that the farmer shall himself 

 be able to construct machines; because in all places where the 

 arts are cultivated, there will be found a class of artisans, who 

 can supply to him the common instruments of which he stands 

 in need, and at a price much less than he can construct them. 

 But it is nevertheless proper that he be acquainted with the 

 principles upon which his machines should be constructed, and 

 so be able to supply, if necessary, the want of skill in the 

 workman. 



THE PLOUGH. 



The plough being the fundamental implement of agricul- 

 ture, is common to all ages and countries, and, in its primitive 

 form, is almost every where the same. Those used by the 

 Greeks and Romans, spread over Europe, and underwent, 

 probably, but little or no change until the sixteenth century, 

 when they gave way to the improved Dutch and Flemish 

 ploughs. 



In the seventeenth century the plough underwent further 

 and highly important improvements, particularly in England; 

 and in the eighteenth it was still further greatly improved 

 in Scotland and the improved Scotch plough, as it was then 

 called, is still in high repute in many of the best agricultural 

 districts. 



Our early agricultural implements, and the models of some 

 now in use among us, were derived originally from the mother 

 country Britain. There are now a great many different sorts; 

 and, besides the variety of construction occasioned by the dif- 

 ference of soils, and the various purposes for which they are 

 employed even on the same soil, there is a considerable di- 

 versity in the form, in districts where both the soil and mode 

 of culture are nearly similar. 



