History of the Plow. 99 



as curly as 1790, and patented the invention in 1797. The patent, 

 "which I have seen, was signed by the elder John Adams. The 

 casting of this plow went up through the beam like that of J. 

 Wood's. Mr. Peter T. Curtenius of this city had cast iron plows 

 for sale in 1800. They were of three pieces — mould-board, land 

 side and share. 



"In 1814, Mr. Wood obtained a patent, again in 1819, and l)y 

 special act of Congress procured a renewal of fourteen years, 

 making thirty-three years in all. He now seeks another renewal! 



"J. DUTCHER." 

 McCormick's Plow. 



This plow w^as in great reputation and use. The only reason 

 why we have not given a specification of it at large is, that having 

 given Davis' and others at full length, it would take up too much 

 room. There are, moreover, a great many points of resemblance 

 between this and Davis'. A general reference, therefore, to the 

 drawino- of it is given in connection with the followinoj extracts 

 from the original specification itself, which show that the improve- 

 ments consist chiefly in the following particulars, viz. (See Plate 

 VII): 



First — In the shape of the bar and point, as w^ell as the shoe 

 or fender to be attached to a wrought or cast iron land side. 



Second — In the face of the mould-board, and the method in 

 which it is wrought; the front edge of the mould-board; the curve 

 or projection over toward the land side; the method of making 

 the hole for the brace or bolt through the neck from the hind 

 part, or a ketch without a hole through; also, the ketch at the 

 bottom of the mould-board to fasten the share on; the concave 

 groove for the handle, and one hole for a bolt to fasten it, and the 

 method of hardening; the front edg-e and wearing of the mould- 



o o o 



board. 



Third — In the method of fastenino- the wrought share to the 

 cast land side and mould-board by ketches and projections; the 

 fender or shoe, the concave groove in the land side for the handle 

 to fit it; the structure of the fore part of the mould-board, for 

 the cast share, and self sharpening and advancing point, the brace 

 bar for the bar to rest on, and the method of fastening the bar or 

 point, and its position upon an inclined plane, and the shape of 

 the share. 



Fourth — Putting the beam on the outside of the handle, the 

 manner in which they are fitted together, and fastening them with 



