496 MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE., 



should be done. This is a defect in their structure that can 

 readily be remedied. It will not often produce any practical 

 inconvenience, where the furrow slice is limited to a width of 

 about ten inches, which is as wide as we prefer to have it 

 turned. We have been thus particular in speaking of this form 

 of the plough, because it has been among us but a short time, 

 and because we would not say anything more in its favor than 

 we are fully persuaded it will bear. 



With many cultivators, the side-hill plough has of late been 

 brought into general use, even on level land. It has the ad- 

 vantage of leaving the field in a more finished condition, by 

 avoiding those hollows that are consequent upon the turning of 

 the last furrow of the land ploughed, and by producing a uni- 

 formity of appearance at the end. These are slight considera- 

 tions, but still of sufficient importance to be deemed material, 

 by those who would have work done in the best manner. 



Every section of the country has its favorite form of the 

 plough, adopted, often, as much from local or personal consid- 

 erations, as from any peculiar merits in the structure. For a 

 time, after the introduction of Wood's cast-iron plough. New 

 York took the lead in this class of agricultural implements. 

 But of late, since the ploughs made by Ruggles & Co., Prouty 

 &. Co., and Howard and Martin, have been so generally spread 

 abroad, Massachusetts has a ploughing fame, world renowned. 



It has seemed to us that a primary object with this board 

 should be, to ascertain what has been learned for certainty in 

 relation to ploughing, and to mark that ; and to inquire on 

 what points information is most needed, and the best manner 

 of obtaining it. For this purpose, to point out a mode of offer- 

 ing premiums, with more distinctness and precision, and to re- 

 quire of committees corresponding reports. If uniformity in 

 the offer of premiums, and in the reports of societies, could be 

 introduced, this would afford a ready mode of comparison. A 

 series of experiments for a few years, probably conducted in 

 this manner, would go far towards settling all those points which 

 are deemed most material. We are not unmindful that differ- 

 ent soils and different crops, require operations as different as 

 are their qualities. Instance the rocky lands in Worcester, and 



