Implements of Husbandry. 100 



at the same time, implements should be made as light as is 

 consistent with the strength that is necessary. 6. Their 

 price should be such, that farmers in moderate circumstan- 

 ces can afford to buy them ; yet for the sake of a low price, 

 the judicious farmer, will not purchase articles, either cf a 

 flimsy fabric, or a faulty form ; and, 7. Implements ought 

 to be suited to the nature of the country, whether hilly or 

 level, and more especially to the quality of the soil : for 

 those which are calculated for light land, will not answer 

 equally well in soils that are heavy and adhesive. 



The subject of implements may be considered under the 

 following general heads : 1. Implements of tillage; 2. For 

 drilling or sowing corn ; 3. For reaping corn ; 4. For har- 

 vesting corn ; 5. For thrashing and cleaning corn ; 6. For 

 mowing and harvesting hay ; 7. Of conveyance ; 8. For 

 draining; 9. For harnessing stock; 10. For rolling land; 

 1 1. For the dairy; and, 12. For various miscellaneous pur- 

 poses. The intelligent farmer will be enabled to judge, 

 from the description thus laid before him, what implements 

 are the most essential, and the best suited for the purposes 

 he requires. 



It is proposed to conclude with some remarks on the use 

 of the spade in husbandry. 



1. Implements of Tillage. 



These consist of ploughs, harrows, horse-hoes, scufflers, 

 and a more recent invention, known under various names, 

 scarifier, grubber, &c. 



1. The plough. It is proper to begin with the plough, 

 being the chief of all the implements employed in the exten- 

 sive art of agriculture. There are several instruments used 

 in husbandry, which, perhaps, might be dispensed with; 

 but land cannot be cultivated to any considerable extent, or 

 to much advantage, without the plough : for it is by means 

 of that implement, that the strength of domesticated animals 

 can be most usefully employed in the cultivation of the soil. 

 In the formation of ploughs there is a great difference ; and 

 indeed they vary in almost every county, according to the 

 nature of the soil, and other circumstances. But the great 

 distinction necessary to be adverted to in this place, is, be- 

 tween the swing plough, and the wheel plough. 



I. The swing plough. The advantages of the swing plough, 

 compared with the wheel plough, are, that its original cost 



