METHODS OF PLOWING 133 



be a line of it left between the furrows. It skims a 

 shallow furrow and deposits the herbage in the 

 bottom of the furrow where it is covered by the 

 furrow-slice of the mouldboard. It also pulverises 

 the soil, if set deep enough to keep the furrow-slice 

 from turning too flat. Both coulter and jointer 

 increase the draft and should be kept sharp. 



The Beam Wheel, or truck, whicn is attached to 

 the end of the beam, is useful simply for steadying 

 the plow. It should not be used to regulate the 

 deptn of the furrow, for if it is set low in order to 

 make the plow turn a shallow furrow, it acts as a 

 brake. If it is used merely to make the plow run 

 more steady by reducing the effect of the motion of 

 the horses, whiffletrees and eveners, it reduces the 

 draft to a considerable extent. 



The Share, or plow-point, cuts the bottom of the 

 furrow-slice from the land. It should be kept 

 sharp, especially if grass or other roots are to be 

 cut. The draft of a plow with a dull share is about 

 7 per cent, greater than the draft of a plow with a 

 sharp share. Shares may be renewed or sharpened. 



The Clevis, or bridle, is the metal attachment at 

 the end of the beam used to regulate the depth and 

 width of the furrows. The hitch on the clevis is 

 raised to increase and lowered to decrease the 

 depth; the clevis is swung to the right to increase 

 width and swung to the left to reduce it. The 

 clevis on swivel plows is changed by a lever from 

 the handle. With some plows the change is ef- 

 fected by moving the beam at the handles. Some 

 plows have only notches in the clevis for holding 

 the draft ring. There is a double clevis in use. 



In brief, the characteristics of a good plow are 

 these : It should be as light as is consistent with de- 

 sired strength. It should run steadily and have 



