84 B.EPORT ON Trials of Plows. 



above the solo of the land side, and two and a half inches on the 

 mould-board side, so that it slopes towards the land side and 

 towards the point. A flange is cast on each side in which the 

 bar runs which forms the point. The other parts of the plow 

 are described with sufiicient clearness in the specification. 



This is the first attempt that we have been able to find to meet 

 a want which had been long and which is still felt, of guarding 

 against the rapid wearing away of the point of the plow. This 

 plow was once quite popular in Washington and the adjoining 

 counties, but the difiiculties in the use of the sliding point finally 

 overcame the advantages arising from its use, and it finally dis- 

 appeared from the market. The cases of the patent office are 

 loaded with models showing a great variety of contrivances for 

 an independent sliding and reversible point. The best of these 

 contrivances was probably that of Prouty & Mears, of Boston ; 

 at all events, a greater number of these were sold, and they 

 remained longer in use than any other ; but at present the agri- 

 cultural community have almost all gone back to the point cast 

 on the share. 



The use of two large wooden wheels running upon an axis, 

 upon which the beam rested, is, as we have seen, a very old con- 

 trivance ; but the single wheel, running by suitable attachments 

 under the fore part of the wheel, is a modern contrivance of 

 which it is generally believed Zadock Harris was the inventor. 

 We are not sure of the fact, but the current of testimony is 

 undoubtedly in his favor. He first attached one of these wheels 

 to one of his own plows in the summer of the year 1820. It is 

 certain that he introduced their use into the northern part of New 

 York. 



On the first of September, 1819, Jethro Wood, of Scipio, N. Y., 

 took out a patent for his improved plow. This contained his 

 most mature views upon the subject, and describes the pattern 

 from which he never afterwards varied. Very large numbers of 

 plows were made from patterns furnished by him, and even to 

 this day there are many plows made in various parts of the 

 country which depart very slightly from the principles estab- 

 lished by him. If we are not mistaken, the plow known as the 

 Livingston county is an example of this class. 



Jethro Wood was born, we believe, in Westchester county. 

 New York, and in early life removed to Scipio, Cayuga county, 

 in that part now known as the village of Aurora. There Avas a 



