INTRODUCTION. 129 
confidence of the increase of root crops ; since, with the exception of the potato, 
all culture of that kind is still in its infancy. It is much to be regretted that 
provision has not hitherto been made for obtaining statistics concerning the 
quantity of land under cultivation, and the number of acres devoted to particular 
crops and their extent; since the information which might have been thus derived 
would have been not merely useful in ascertaining the present condition of agri- 
culture, but eminently conducive to its future improvement. 
The chief step in the improvement of the plough, was the invention by Jethro 
Wood, which consisted in substituting in the construction of that instrument, 
cast iron for wood and wrought iron. The new plough thus produced, was 
more manageable, and more easily drawn; and the apprehensions that its strength 
would not be found sufficient to resist the power applied to draw it, were ulti- 
mately found to be groundless. The utmost skill of mechanism has also been 
applied in ascertaining the form best adapted to equalize the friction and resist- 
ance with the work to be performed. Land is now more perfectly and quickly 
tilled with the labor of two horses, than with double that power applied to the 
implement before in use. Moore’s plough, for use upon an inclined surface, 
performs its work with as much ease and completeness as similar labor is per- 
formed upon a plain. The threshing machine, a modern invention, has already 
become indispensable to the farmer. With the horse hay-rake in the meadow, 
labor is performed equal to that of six men; while as a gleaner of the harvest 
field, its use annually more than repays its cost. The cultivator has greatly 
reduced the expense of producing indian corn. Modern improvements of the 
harrow have diminished the weight of that instrument, and given it greater effi- 
ciency in pulverizing the soil. The heavy wrought hoe, and the clumsy three- 
pronged iron fork, have given place to the steel plate polished hoe, and to the 
steel fork with four or six tines. We have machines which, with the application 
of horse power, clear in a perfect manner ten or fifteen acres of grain per day ; 
Inrr. 17 
