8 



Report on Trials of Plows. 



Fig. 1 is copied from an ancient monument in Asia Minor, made 

 wholly of the natural crooks of the branch of a tree, the only arti- 

 ficial contrivances being the brace e, which strengthens the share 

 c bj and the pins in the fore part of the beam a b, and connect it with 

 the central division of the yoke^r. It was with a plow like this 

 that the servants of Job were " plowing in the field when the 

 Sabeans came upon them and drove them away." It was with 

 such an one that Ulysses plowed among the sands of the shore at 

 Ithaca, when he feigned madness before the messengers of Aga- 

 memnon. 



r 



p 



The most ancient monuments of Egypt, dating back at least 

 three thousand years before the Christian era, reveal to us a 

 slight modification of this implement, quite as rude in form, yet 

 somewhat more powerful in execution. 



Fig. 2 is a copy of these figures. It will be seen that the share 

 being triangular in form, will take a broader furrow, while two 

 handles in the place of one give the plowman a greater command 

 over the instrument. 



