THE SOUTHDOWN SHEPHERD. 229 



work almost independently, not unlike a field gun 

 limbered up. 



The pillars of the framework have numerous holes, 

 so that the plough can be raised or lowered, that the 

 share may dig deep or shallow. Then there is the 

 ''cock-pin," the "road-bat" (a crooked piece of wood), 

 the "sherve-wright" (so pronounced) — shelvewright (?) 

 — the '^ rist," and spindle, besides, of course, the 

 usual coulter and share. When the oxen arrive at 

 the top of the field, and the first furrow is completed, 

 they stop, well knowing their duty, while the plough- 

 man moves the iron rist, and the spindle which keeps 

 it in position, to the other side, and moves the road-bat 

 so as to push the coulter aside. These operations are 

 done in a minute, and correspond in some degree to 

 turning the rudder of a ship. The object is that the 

 plough which has been turning the earth one way, 

 shall now (as it is reversed to go downhill) continue 

 to turn it that way. If the change were not effected 

 when the plough was swung round, the furrow would 

 be made opposite. Next he leans heavily on the 

 handles, still standing on the same spot; this lifts 

 the plough, so that it turns easily as if on a pivot. 



Then the oxen "jack round" — that is, walk round 

 — so as to face downhill, the framework in front 

 turning like the fore-wheels of a carriage. So soon 

 as they face downhill and the plough is turned, they 

 commence work and make the second furrow side by 

 side with the first. The same operation is repeated 

 at the bottom, and thus the plough travels straight up 

 and down, always turning the furrow the same way, 

 instead of, as in the valleys, making a short circuit at 



