ON PLOWS. 



31 



by the skill of the plowman. A dynamometer, graduat- 

 ed from 1 to 9, was used to indicate the power applied 

 in the work. This was placed between the end of the 

 beam and the chain, and the index was watched by two 

 of the committee, in all its movements. At the end of 

 each furrow they compared their observations, and took 

 the average result of each plow. Two others of the 

 Committee observed the width and depth of the fur- 

 rows, and took the average result in the same manner. 

 During the experiments, each of the committee held the 

 plows, more or less, and examined with care the man- 

 ner in which the work was done. Attention was given 

 to the plows, as to the ease or difficulty of guiding; as 

 to their running true, or wavering to or from the land; 

 as to the manner in which the furrow slice was laid, 

 whether flat or lapping, smooth or broken; and gener- 

 ally as to all those incidents which are considered con- 

 stituents of good plowing. All these plows were de- 

 signed to lay the furrows flat; and when drawn by the 

 same team, but little difference was observed in their 

 work, in this particular. 



The work thus stated was done with oxen. The 

 numbers in the column of power applied, indicate 



