METHODS OF PLOWING 129 



increased, wherever the fields are large and fairly 

 level. The larger team could get through three 

 acres while the smaller is getting through two; 

 thus, by adding one-half more to the daily cost of 

 the team, without any increased expense for plow- 

 man, half as many acres again will be turned, and 

 much better." 



Horses that walk fast are better than a slow 

 team, not only because they cover more ground, 

 but also because they do better work; the faster the 

 plow moves, provided there are no obstructions, 

 the better is the soil pulverised. Large level fields 

 are plowed better and quicker with a two or a three 

 shore gang plow and four to six horses than if the 

 power is divided into three teams pulling three single 

 plows; and the saving of plowmen is worth con- 

 sidering in these times when farm help is scarce. 

 A still greater concentration of power is commonly 

 practised in the West, where it is not uncommon 

 to see fifteen or twenty horses pulling a single gang 

 plow. When two or more teams are used on one 

 plow the doubletrees of the forward teams are 

 chained to the ring of the neck-yoke of the beam 

 team. 



The Power for Plowing. Next to the style of 

 plow, the kind and quality of the motive power is 

 the chief factor that controls the depth and thor- 

 oughness of plowing. In America the ox, horse 

 and mule are used almost exclusively, being the 

 cheapest. Traction engines are quite frequently 

 used in the West, especially in the arid and semi- 

 arid regions. In many cases steam power has not 

 been as satisfactory as horse power, because it 

 costs more horse flesh is cheap in this country. 

 In Europe, where horses are dearer and machinery 

 cheaper, steam power is often more practicable. 



