154 Report on Trials of Plows. 



on the draught of plows. 



In our inquiries respecting jjlows, their draught, or the power, 

 which must be applied in order to enable them to perform the 

 work required of them, is an element of the greatest interest, and 

 our inquiries naturally resolve themselves into the following 

 questions: 



First — What power is required to plow a furrow of a given 

 size with the same plow in soils differing in their cohesive proper- 

 ties? 



Second — What is the power required to draw different plows 

 through the same soil with furrows of equal size? 



Third — What proportion of the power required by a plow is 

 used by the sole? What by the land side? What by the share? 

 What by the coulter? What by the mould-board? 



Fourth — Does the wheel add to or diminish the draught of the 

 plow? 



Fifth — Does increased speed produce an increase of traction, 

 and if so, in what proportion? 



It was our intention to have ansAvered all these questions by 

 varied and frequently repeated experiments, but when we Avere 

 read}' to enter upon this branch of the investigation, we found 

 that the Express company, in consequence of a misunderstanding 

 of their instructions, had shipped the dynamometer, and we were 

 therefore unable to carry out our intentions. A few experiments 

 were, however, made which we shall report in this connection. 

 We would, however, in view of the great importance of the sul)- 

 ject, strongly recommend to the Executive Committee of the 

 Society to carry out these experiments next spring in the most 

 thorough and satisftictory manner. 



Such trials as have been made by various experimenters at 

 different times and in various places which have come to our 

 knowledge we have brought together here for the information of 

 '.hose who are interested in such subjects. 



The most instructive series of experiments on these poinis 

 which have been made hitherto are those of Mr. Pusey, Avhich 

 are detailed in the first volume of the Journal of the Eo}'al 

 Agricultural Society. The following experiments give some 

 approximations to an answer to the first question, viz: "What 

 power is required to plow a furrow of a given size, with the same 

 plow, in soils differing in their cohesive properties?" Fergusson's 

 swing plow, (liking a furrow five inches deep and nine inches 



