200 Report on Trials of Plows. 



thistles, and corn-stalks, completely beneath the falling earth; 

 whereas, without such a contrivance, the tops would extend above 

 ground, and if not already matured, would continue to grow, 

 sometimes quite as well as if they had not been plowed in. Some- 

 times weeds and corn-stalks are lirst mowed close to the ground, 

 and hauled into the furroAvs, as the plowing is in progress. But, 

 in this practice, the green material is not distributed as evenly as 

 it is when plowed in without being mowed. A piece of half- 

 inch round iron, bent in the form of a letter U is used instead of 

 a chain for drawing under red clover or other crops. But, as a 

 chain is more flexible than an iron bow, it has been found more 

 convenient. When the plow is drawn by oxen, the chain is 

 attached to a stick about twenty inches long, bolted to the upper 

 side of the beam, as shown by the preceding engraving. If 

 hitched to the forward end of the plow beam, the chain will not 

 always run far enough to the right side of the furrow to draw in 

 the tops of all the stalks. However, if the chain is adjusted 

 correctly as to length, the work can be performed quite satisfac- 

 torily. 



Plowmen experience some difficulty in keeping the bight of 

 the chain back in its proper place on the turning furrow slice. 

 For this reason they are not able to draw everything under the 

 slices, as is desirable. To obviate this difficulty, J. & A. Kilmer 

 have invented the arrangement shown in Fio-. 107. The attach- 

 ment in question is merely a chain. A, connected to the plow 

 beam and the double whiffle tree, and provided with a rod, B, 

 which is called a "regulator" by the inventor. This regulator 

 makes a bight or loop in the chain, so that the matter desired to 

 plow under is caught by it and diverted toward the furrow, into 

 which it is thrown and covered. ^ 



DEVICES FOR CLEARING THE COULTER. 



In using the ordinary plow, especially on stubble fields, or in 

 Iieavy grass land, the angle between the coulter and beam fre- 

 (|uently becomes choked to such an extent as to raise the share 

 from its proper depth, and necessitate stopping the team and 

 removing the obstacle by hand. In the accompanying engraving 

 there is represented a very simple contrivance designed to remedy 

 this difficulty. (See Fig. 108.) 



In the guide wheel is placed a stud or pin which forms a crank, 

 and to this pin is pivoted the end of a rod of iron, wiiich is carried 



