220 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



and Scufflers, or even the spade, were still to figure 

 as the rude terms of the Indenture, as out of keep- 

 ing with its genius and aptitude, as they were non- 

 essential to tillage itself analytically regarded, apart 

 from its conventional modes necessitated by horse or 

 hand-power.' 



Such will be the kind of after-reflection thrown 

 back upon his forefathers of this generation by our 

 future agricultural historian. * It is true,' he will be 

 obliged to add, * there were not wanting heaps of 

 patents and pretensions crowding in confused suc- 

 cession on the public notice, during this period of 

 inventive decrepitude. Wherever there is a lack of 

 grain, there are plenty of weeds to fill the gaping 

 space. There were plough-dragging engines, sta- 

 tionary and locomotive there were "ploughshares 

 on circular frames," " revolving spades," and all the 

 train of piebald monstrosities and biform incongrui- 

 ties that mark those periods of false gestation and 

 miscarriage in the annals of invention, when would- 

 be discoverers, dashing blindfold at unconsidered 

 combinations, are each profoundly busy putting 

 " new wine into old bottles ; " never devoting one 

 serious hour of study to the simple elements of the 

 problem they undertake, the mechanical act to 



