82 



ON PLOWS. 



these were not at the command of the committee. These 

 facts are mentioned that too much reliance may not be 

 placed on power alone ; — this being one only of the con- 

 siderations to be taken into view. 



It should also be remembered, that the plows offered 

 for examination, were entered without reference to the 

 particular kind of soil in which they were to be tried. 

 They were of different sizes and different forms — some 

 adapted to the soil, and others not; — so that a plow 

 which did not work to advantage in this soil, might under 

 other circumstances have shown a more favorable result. 



Seventeen plows were presented to the attention of 

 the Committee — seven made by Ruggles &f Co., seven 

 made by Prouty & Co., two made by Howard, and one 

 made by Winslow. The ground on which they were 

 tried was a grass sward, with a hard stony bottom, that 

 had heretofore been plowed not more than six inches 

 deep. Two pair of oxen were used, the same on al] 

 the plows, and moderately driven. The plows were 

 regulated and held principally by their owners or agents, 

 — without any special directions from the committee, 

 except as to the depth of the furrow, which was requir- 

 ed to be about seven inches. — Four furrows of twelve 

 rods in length were turned by each plow, and the aver- 

 age result noted by the Committee as appears in the 

 following tabular statement. 



