256 



The BacJcheath SifhsoU-Plough. 



not be fastened to the cliains of the horse next the plono^li ; but 

 the chams of that second horse shoukl be made long enough to 

 be hooked about 2 feet behind the back-band of the chains of the 

 horse next the plough, so that the second horse will draw at an 

 angle of about 33 degrees ; otherwise^ were the chains of the se- 

 cond horse hooked in front of the back chain, he would pull the 

 whole weight of his draught, together with that of the horses pre- 

 ceding him, on the back of the horse next the plough ; and the 

 strenoth of that horse would be lost in the draught, as his whole 

 powers ^vould be exerted in his endeavours to prevent being 

 brought down upon his knees. By so arranging the chains, the 

 power of 3 horses would be equal to that of 4. 



Now, being on the subject of the subsoil-plough, I may as well 

 tell you I have contrived another plough, from the use of which 

 the greatest benefit has been derived by my park land. I call 

 this my sub-turf plough." It is used to loosen the turf about 

 10 J inches deep below the surface, without turning over the 

 flag ; loosening the soil underneath — consequently, admitting the 

 air and the rain —and permitting the roots of the herbage to 

 spread in search of food. There are no marks left by which it can 

 be known that the land has been so ploughed, except from the 

 straight lines of the coulter, the lines at the distance of about 14 

 inches one from another. In about 3 months from the time of 

 ploughing, these lines are totally obliterated, and the quantity of 

 aftermarth, and the thickness of the bottom, have been the sub- 

 ject of admiration of all my neighbours. Another advantage from 

 this sub-turf ploughing is, that before that took place water was 

 lying stagnant in many parts (after heavy rains), especially in the 

 lower grounds, to a great depth : now, no water is to be seen lying 

 on any part, the whole being absorbed by the earth. 



In consequence of the great expence of digging up potatoes 

 (viz., about SO^*. an acre), I have made another plough, to turn 

 them out of the ground, which I call the pigs -head plough ; the 

 head of that animal suo-ocestino: the idea to me on observing how 

 easily he turned the potatoes out of the ground. It has answered 

 most satisfactorily. The plough works about 10 inches deep, 

 and more if required, throwing up the potatoes on each side, 

 partly covered with loose mould ; to remove which, I have iron 

 hands, made like the human hand, for the women to remove the 

 mould with one hand, and with the other to collect the potatoes. 

 A woman is placed on each side of the furrow, with a basket in 

 the middle. A plough will employ 4 pair of women, placed at 



* In an experiment I have made with the Rackheath-plongh, the abso- 

 lute necessity of previously under-draining the land wherever the subsoil 

 is retentive of moisture is clearly shown. — W. L. Uham. See page 259. 



