144 OPERATIONS OF TILLAGE. 



9J inches wide and 3| deep ; when the length of the 

 horses' traces was 10 feet 5 inches from the point of the 

 share to the point upon their shoulders upon whence they 

 were drawing, the force exerted upon the point of draught 

 of the plough, or the power of their draught, was only 

 21 cwt. ; but when the traces were lengthened to 1 5 feet 

 6 inches, the force exerted to draw the plough was SJ 

 cwt. — See British Husbandry. 



§ 3. The Harrow. 



The uses of the Harrow are, 1st, to pulverize the 

 soil ; 2d, to clean the ground of the roots of foul plants, 

 as dock, quack, &c. ; and, 3d, to cover the seed. The 

 triangular drag, with stout iron teeth, which is well adapt- 

 ed to new lands, has been principally in use until a recent 

 period ; but we are now having them of various patterns, 

 and adapted to different soils and different purposes. 

 Upon new lands, and upon heavy clay soils, a strong, 

 heavy harrow is to be preferred, particularly in preparing 

 the ground for seed. A light harrow would not do for 

 either of these purposes, — it would neither tear up the 

 new soil, nor pulverize the stiff one. Upon lands already 

 under culture, or not stiff, square or angular harrows 

 are preferred ; while upon well-worked farms of light soil, 

 hghter jointed harrows, with smaller and closer-set teeth, 

 and frames that will conform to inequalities of surface, 

 are best, and are in all cases preferable for seed-harrows. 

 A farmer, therefore, who makes pretensions to good 

 management, ought to have at least one heavy harrow to 

 pulverize the soil, and another and a different one to cover 

 his seeds. 



In using the harrow, the teamster should understand 

 the object, and take care to accomplish it. If it be to 

 break down and mellow the soil, this should be done, 

 though it may require one, two, or three bouts. If it 

 be an object to eradicate the roots of perennial weeds, 

 these should be carefully collected, as they are thrown 

 to the surface, and carried off ; and if the harrow is ap- 

 plied to cover seeds, every particle of the surface should 

 be gone over, both ways of the field, and a smooth- 



