190 



Report on Trials of Plows. 



furrow slice. Again, the side a b being nine inches, and the side 

 c (Z a fraction longer; the side h d six inches, and the side a c four 

 and a half inches, it is evident that less loose earth is provided 

 for the seed-bed by a trapezoidal slice than a rectangular one by 

 the triangle, d e c, which varies from one-seventh to one-tenth of 

 the entire section, according to the elevation of the rear angle of 

 the feather. 



a. *i 



The practical rule proposed by Mr. Stephens for the formation 

 of the sole of the plow, with reference to the formation of rec- 

 tangular furrow slices, is that the height of the shield — the 

 surface of the share — on the land side, opposite to the rear angle 

 of the feather, be two and a half inches above the line of the sole 

 shoe; that the share be one-half an inch below the line of the 

 sole shoe, and not exceeding one-half an inch to landward of the 

 land side plane; and that no part of the edge of the feather 

 should be more than three-eighths of an inch above the plane of 

 the sole shoe, that plane being always understood to be at right 

 angles to the land side plane. 



Another style of plowing, known as sod and subsoil plowing, 

 which was introduced into this country about the year 1850, has 

 worked its way very largely into public fovor, and is probably 

 destined to receive a still greater popularity as time continues to 

 reveal its merits. 



Fig. 99 shows the manner in which the work is performed. A 

 skim plow is attached to the fore part of the beam, by clamps, 

 which turns over from two to three inches, «, of the sod, depositing 

 it, with the grass downward, on the sole of the preceding furrow, 

 c. A larger plow, attached to the rear of the beam, follows and 

 turns over the rest of the furrow, 6, depositing it, in a finely pul- 

 verized condition, on the top of the first or sod furrow. In this 

 way the grass and weeds on the surface arc effectually buried. 



