SOUTHDOWN SHEPHERD 25= 



thus the plough travels straight up and down, 

 always turning the furrow the same way, in- 

 stead of, as in the valleys, making a short cir- 

 cuit at each end, and throwing the earth in 

 opposite directions. The result is a perfectly 

 level field, which, though not designed for it, 

 must suit the reaping-machine better than the 

 drain furrows and raised " lands " of the valley 

 system. 



It is somewhat curious that the steam plough, 

 the most remarkable application of machinery to 

 agriculture, in this respect resembles the village- 

 made wheel plough. "The plough drawn by steam 

 power in like manner turns the second furrow 

 side by side into the first, always throwing the 

 earth the same way, and leaving the ground level. 

 This is one of its defects on heavy wet land, 

 as it does not drain the surface. But upon the 

 slopes of the Downs no drains or raised " lands " 

 are needed, and the wheel plough answers 

 perfectly. 



So perfectly, indeed, does it answer that no 

 iron plough has yet been invented that can beat 

 it, and while the valleys and plains are now al- 

 most wholly worked with factory-made ploughs, 

 the South Downs are cultivated with the ploughs 

 made in the villages by the wheelwrights. A 

 wheelwright is generally regularly employed by 



