198 Report on Trials of Plows. 



trace-chains of the nigh-side hind horse are hooked to the whiffle 

 trees at h h, and those of the off-side horse at i i; the leaders 

 being at h h and I I respectively. In this arrangement the balance 

 of the forces is perfectly preserved; for the hind horses and the 

 leaders, as they pull at opposing ends of the chain passing round 

 a pulley, which must inevitably be always in equilibrium, each 

 j)air of horses has an equal share of the draught; and, from the 

 principles of the evener and whiffle trees, through wdiich each 

 pair acts, the individual horses must have an equally perfect 

 division of the labor, unless this equilibrium has been removed 

 for the purpose of easing a weaker horse. In order to prevent 

 either the hind horses or the leaders from slipping too much 

 ahead, it is common to apply a light check-chain, o, of about 

 fifteen inches long, connecting the two parts of the main chains, 

 so as to allow only a short oscillation round the pulley, which is 

 limited by the check chain. When this is adopted, care shonld 

 be taken never to allow the check-chain to remain upon the 

 stretch; for if it does so, the advantage of equalization is los!, 

 and it becomes no better than a simple soam-chain. In all cases 

 of using a chain, that part of it which passes forward between 

 the hind horses must be borne up by means of a neck-yoke or 

 other attachments to their back-bands or collars. 



ADJUSTMENTS FOR PLOWING UNDER WEEDS AND STUBBLE. 



Those who have plowed land infested with long weeds, bushes 

 and tall corn stubble, well know how difficult it is to make good 

 work and bring the surfjice growth beneath the plowed ground. 

 Fig. 106 shows a ready and eifective means of accomplishing this 

 object. This plan consists of a log-chain, or large tarred rope, 

 having one end attached to the outer end of the whiffle tree of 

 the off-side horse, and the other end hitched round the beam of 

 the plow, near the standard, as represented by the Fig. 106. The 

 chain should always be only long enough to draw the tops of 

 whatever is being plowed in along in the furrow, just in time to 

 allow the furrow slice, when turning, to fall on it. If the chain 

 is a few inches too long, the furrow slice will fall upon it, and l)o 

 broken and displaced as the chain draws out. Take a "rolling 

 hitch" around the beam of the plow, and then adjust the length 

 of the chain until the bi":ht of it will remain on the turnino; 

 furrow slice, only two or three inches forward of the point where 

 it comes to rest. This will draw the tops of weeds, grass, Canada 



