HARROWING. 



41 



subsoil plow, which follows in the furrow after the ordinary plow, 

 loosening and stirring the cubsoil to a depth of ten or twelve inches. 

 In heavy subsoils two horses are necessary. 



Q. When in Scotland some years ago I saw that steam plowing 

 was quite common. Do you know what has been the experience with it 

 in this country ? 



A. At first sight, it seems that in this country of machinery and 

 steam engines, steam plowing would be found of the widest use, if not a 

 necessity; but the fact that to-day, I believe, not one ste-am plow is 

 working in this country, shows there must be some obstacles which 

 cannot be got over. Several have been used in different localities 

 in Pennsylvania, Louisiana, California, Dakota and Minnesota but 

 all seem to have failed of success. I think there are several reasons 

 for these failures: their cost is considerably greater here than it is 



CHAIN HA11ROW. 



abroad; engineers' wages are higher; coal is dearer; but worst of 

 all for the steam plow, is the fact that we plow only for two or 

 three months in a year, and then the costly machine rusts in idle- 

 ness or must be well cared for at great expense ; so that, in fact, the first 

 cost operates to restrict their purchase, and the great cost of operating 

 prevents them from being worked economically by those who have 

 tried them. 



Q. After plowing comes the harrowing. Please describe your 

 method. 



A. In my* experience with help, I have found ten men competent 

 to plow where I have been able to get one competent to harrow; not 

 that there is any more skill required in harrowing than in plowing, 

 but from the fact that it is not so easy for the eye of the master to 



