126 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



be neither too wet nor too dry. A suitable moisture is highly 

 necessary to a smoothly-turned furrow, and the work is done 

 with much greater ease. A day or two following a moderate 

 rain is a suitable period for ploughing, more particularly on 

 sward land. Secondly, the plough must be of the right kind, 

 and constructed on scientific principles. No man, however 

 skilful, can do the work well with a poor plough. And there 

 is no good excuse for using poor ploughs at the present day. 

 American ingenuity has brought the implement so nearly to 

 perfection that few more improvements can be made ; and the 

 prices are low enough, so that every farmer, however moderate 

 his circumstances, can own the very best. We have a great 

 many excellent varieties. There are so many that do the 

 work very perfectly that farmers can select without much 

 hesitation. 



The different varieties have their peculiar excellences. 

 Some are more suitable for stony, others for sandy, land. 

 Some do the work best in light, others in heavy, soils. Anoth- 

 er is suitable for one section of country, while a different style 

 and size arc just the thing, where the first would do badly. All 

 latitudes, lands, and tastes can be suited and well served ; and 

 the ploughman, if he possesses a proper judgment, can easily 

 adapt his implement to the condition of his land. 



Thirdly, a proper and well-trained team is an important 

 item in good ploughing. One that will go over the most ground 

 with a good deal of hawing, and geeing, and goading, is by 

 no means the best team. More land may be badly ploughed, 

 to be sure, by " cutting and covering," and leaving the work 

 half done ; but what arc the results ? The team, at night, will 

 be jaded; the ploughman hoarse and full of vexation by hal- 

 looing to his team, and lame in every joint ; and, worse than 

 all, the ploughed field will appear more like the " sea in a 

 storm " than a lot of well-turned furrows, and will be withal ill 

 prepared for future uso. One acre of sward land is enough 

 for two yoke of oxen to plough in a day. They should be 

 trained to work evenly and without fretting. They should be 

 of tlic right ago, condition, and strength to draw the plough 

 steadily along tho furrow. They should be well fed, kindly 

 treated, and have a suitable driver. 



