CPwESTED FUBEOW SLICES. 



127 



Fig. 135. 



SO as to cut deepest on the land-side, forming a sort of saw- 

 teeth section to the unmoved earth below, and leaving 

 what is termed crested or acute ridges at the top. (Fig. 

 134.) Such plowing requires as much force in cutting the 

 slice, and nearly 

 as much in turn- 

 ing it over, as 

 when level fur- 

 rows are made, 

 and should there- 

 fore be avoided. 

 The same result 



is Droduced when ^^ straight Cutter^ Laying Lapped Furrows. 



the plow is improperly gauged, and the plowman is com- 

 pelled to press the handles to the left, to keep it from 

 running too much to land. 



On heavy or clay soils, it is sometimes desirable to place 

 inverted sod in an inclined or lapping position, in order to 

 give more exposure to the crumbling action of the weath- 

 er, and to effect better drainage beneath. Fig. 135 is a 

 section of these lapped furrows. In order to be equally in- 

 clined on both sides, their thickness must be precisely two- 

 thirds their breadth ; that is, if the plow runs eight inches 

 deep, the slices should be twelve 

 inches wide. This mode of plow- 

 ing is controlled by the position 

 of the cutter, which should be 

 very nearly upright, as shown in 

 Fig. 135. It has been justly re- 

 marked that the cutter to a plow 

 (Fig. 136,) is almost as important 

 as the rudder to a ship, and if 

 its position be altered, as shown in The CuUer. 



Fig. 137, so as to cut under the sod, the furrows will cease 

 to be lapped and will lie flat. This position is desirable 

 in light or loose soils where exposure to the action of the 



