AGRICULTURE ON THE RHINE. 



et 



of clumsy form. The plough in use in the countries of 

 Cleves and Jiilich most resembles the Kentish turn- 

 wrest plough, but is heavier in construction. The mould 

 board is fastened at the back by a chain which hangs on 

 at either side, and in front it hooks on to a piece of 

 iron that connects the share with the beam. A wooden 

 support joining the sole to the beam, adds to the clumsi- 

 ness of this plough, near which, however, we have seen 

 a somewhat improved plough in use, to which a paring- 

 share is occasionally affixed. 



A more singularly formed plough is still in use in the 

 neighbourhood of Bonn. This plough is called in Ger- 

 many " Hundspflug," or " dogs'-plough," for what reason 

 we could not learn, although some are desirous of con- 

 necting it with the invasion of Attila's Huns. It is 

 indeed an antiquarian curiosity. This instrument is 

 much lighter than the others ; its long curved beam 

 rests on an elevated cross-bar over the wheels. Its 

 sole is not above a foot in length by one inch in breadth, 

 and runs out from the lower end of the beam. The 

 share is long and light, running from a higher point 

 in the beam to the point of the sole, beyond which it 

 projects sometimes in a straight line, and occasionally 

 of serpentine shape. The mould-board is moveable, and 

 hangs into a socket on each side of the beam and sole. 

 For surface ploughing and drilling, we have heard the 

 working of this plough praised, but it was acknowledged 

 not to be serviceable in deep ploughing or in breaking 

 up clover leys. 



That the use of these heavy or inefficient instruments 

 in a moderately light soil, such as is found in Jiilich and 

 Cleves, is not confined to the peasants who constantly 



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