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share. The plow has in all ages held a high place in ag- 

 ricultural machinery, hence the prayer of the prophet — - 

 " that spears might be beaten into plow-shares." Im- 

 provements have been made from time to time, and science 

 has lent her assistance, so that we now have about one 

 hundred different varieties and styles. The wood has 

 been exchanged for iron, and iron for polished steel, until 

 plows are so perfect in their construction, and so com- 

 pletely adapted for every variety of soil, that the farmer 

 has only to know the nature of his soil and the pulver- 

 izing necessary for the crop he wishes to raise, and the 

 machine to do it with is at once at his command. . 



What is true in the history of the plow, is also true in 

 reference to every other kind of agricultural machinery. 

 Harrows, closely allied to the plow, were first made en- 

 tirely of wood, without teeth. But in David's time, iron 

 teeth had been added, and oftentimes they were em- 

 ployed in warfare as instruments of destruction. Scien- 

 tific mechanism has lent her assistance in the hands of in- 

 ventors, to the farmer in every branch of his employment; 

 not only in breaking up the soil and pulverizing it, but 

 in casting in the seed and gathering the mature crop. 

 The sickle claims great antiquity, but the modern im<- 

 provements of McCormick, Kirby, Manney, Ivetchum, 

 and many others, show how inadequate the simple sickle 

 would be to meet the great demand of the present day. 

 The present high standing of agriculture is greatly in- 

 debted to the skill and genius of mechanical inventors. 



The question arises, Are the mechanical wants of the 

 farmer fully supplied ? Is the plow, harrow, hoe, cultir 

 vator, reaping, mowing, and threshing machines every 

 way perfect ? has improvement attained its highest stand- 

 point ? "What farmer is there that cannot even now point 

 out some defects in his agricultural machinery ? who has 

 used a mowing machine, but has often wished that it 

 was more simple in its construction, and one-third easier 

 of draft ? Who would not like a threshing machine so 

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