Ploughs and Ploughing. 



are used for various purposes in different districts. The typical 

 varieties of the common form have been discussed, and the 

 principles which apply to them should act as a guide in respect 

 of all the others. These others may be classified under such 

 headings as : — - 



Subsoiling. 



Ridging. 



Paring. 



Potato Raising. 

 Draining or Gripping. 

 Multiple-furrow. 

 Steam. 



Many of our common general purpose ploughs can be con- 

 verted into the digging, subsoiling, ridging, paring, potato-raising 

 and gripping forms by simply taking off the working parts and 

 fitting on the suitable " irons " (now steel-made) for the work in 

 hand, and a convertible plough of this sort is a decidedly useful 

 implement on a farm. For subsoiling a special tine is fitted on 

 in front of the breast, which penetrates and tears through the 

 soil along the bottom of the previous furrow ; or else the "irons " 

 are taken off and a special chisel share put on, which rips up the 

 " pan " or hard bottom of the furrow behind another plough. 

 One maker in this way advertises a plough which can be con- 

 verted into 26 different implements ! 



The ridging plough — sometimes called the double mould- 

 board plough — is simply one with a right and left breast to 

 throw the mould out to both sides and thus make a balk or 

 ridge for roots or potatoes. Nowadays there is an increasing 

 tendency to fit these breasts in two or three sets on to the 

 modern cultivator frame — a vast improvement — but they can be 

 had adapted to fit on to the ordinary plough frame. 



For paring, a share with an extra wide feather, or cutting 

 edge, is put on, and the plough set to a shallow depth to suit 

 the thickness of turf wanted. 



For potato raising a ribbed frame, like the fingers of an open 

 hand, is fitted on in place of the sole-plate — the " irons " and 

 breast being removed — and the earth containing the potatoes 

 flitters through the prongs or ribs as the plough passes along 



