Objects to be Accojijplished by Plowing. 135 



CHAPTER VI. 



ON THE OBJECTS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY PLOWING. 



Before we can judge of the best form and arrangement of the 

 plow, we must lirst clearly comprehend the objects sought to be 

 accomplished by plowing land. 



In general we may say that we seek in plowing laud to cause 

 it to yield a greater amount of crops; but this general answer is 

 insufficient for our purpose. We want to know ivh^/ plowing the 

 laud makes it more fertile before we are in a position to know 

 which of the various forms of the plow is best adapted to pro- 

 mote the desired fertility. 



If we find that two or more forms of the plow are equally/ 

 adapted to improve the condition of the land, the question then 

 arises, which of them can be worked with the greatest economy? 

 This question involves several elements. We are to inquire 

 which of them can be worked with the least expenditure of 

 animal power. It has been proved by the trials instituted by our 

 own Society, by the Highland Society of Scotland, and by the 

 Koyal Agricultural Society of England, that some forms of the 

 plow can open a given sized furrow with thirty per cent less of 

 power than others, or what is nearly the same thing, two horses 

 will do as much as three. It is easy to understand that the 

 farmer using the one will find farming a remunerative occupation, 

 while the farmer that uses the other will carry on his business at 

 a loss. Another question which must be answered under this 

 head of inquiry is, which of the plows will wear the longest? It 

 is well known that there are great differences in this respect, some 

 lasting five times as long as others. The points of many plo wh 

 now in market wi)l only last for a single day. Again, some plows 

 can be advantageously worked by much less skillful workmen 

 than others, and, of course, unskilled laborers can always be 

 obtained at a lower rate of compensation than the skilled classes. 

 Finally, there are some plows which can be worked with far les;s 

 labor by the operative, which is an advantage that no good 

 farmer will overlook. The plow which combines with the lowest 

 price the greatest number of these advantages is clearly to be 

 taken as the cheapest plow. 



