24 
PLOWS. 
Plates XVI and XVII. 
The draft being but the means by which the desired end is to be accomplished, it must b 
subservient to that end ; therefore, as the beam, if placed as described, would obstruct th 
successful operation of the plow, an indirect application becomes necessary, and is obtained 
by the rigid and strong connection of the present beam with the body of the plow itself, 
and thus produce what is termed a bent lever, by which the desired end is accomplished, as 
will appear from the annexed diagram in fig. 1. 
F, represents the surface of the ground ; 
H the bottom of the furrow ; B the sup- 
posed center of the resistance of the 
furrow slice upon the mould- board ; E 
the point of draft, as the hames of horses 
or yoke of oxen. The line of drafi, in 
this case, extends from B to E, and the 
attachment to the plow must be at' the 
point D, and if the end of the beam it- 
self does not intersect this point, an ad- 
justable clevis, which is firmly fixed on 
the beam with a draft ring at point D, 
will answer the purpose and insure the 
proper depth and steady motion of the 
plow. The same is true as to the width 
of the furrow slice to be cut, the end of the beam or clevis on it must intersect this line also 
to insure the proper action of the plow. 
§ 139. Perhaps as many inventions for the application of the draft for plows have been 
made, as for all other things about them. The most simple are those which are of iron and 
fitted with a socket on the end of the beam with a disc, having a series of teeth 
or notches across which an iron plate or guide bar is bolted, as shown in the 
annexed figures 2 to 5. Fig. 3 shows the socket of the disc to fit the end of 
the beam ; fig. 4 the face for disc with its teeth ; fig. 5 the guide bar ; A the 
front side with the bolt-head C, which confines it to the disc ; B the back 
side of it with its splines, which fit into the teeth of the disc. Fig. 2 shows 
edge view of the guide bar and its confining bolt ; also a section of the draft 
rod and hook, which passes through the eye in one end of the guide bar. 
This draft rod passes along under the beam to any point desirable or con- 
venient, as shown in fig 1 ; it is connected to the beam near the coulter bolt 
at K. 
§ 140. It will appear, from this explanation, that just so often as these circumstances are 
changed, this line of draft is disturbed. A wider or narrower, a deeper or more shallow fur- 
row, as well as the differences in the nature and tenacity of the soil, and the length of traces 
or chains of the horses or oxen, or their height, are all contingent circumstances attending 
the use of any plow ; and to enable it to work equally well under them all, not only the 
plowmaker should construct them properly, he must put with them all the requisite facilities 
of adjustment, and the plowman should know how to apply them. 
The Dial Gauge Clevis, as described, is considered as simple, cheap and efficient as any 
invention for the purpose, and when applied to a well-constructed plow, the manufacturer 
has done his whole duty. The clevis and draft rod complete is worth one dollar and 
fifty cents when sold separate from the plow, and when fitted to almost any badly con- 
structed plow it will generally remedy the difficulty of bad stocking. For subsoil plows, as 
well as for plowing bog lands, this dial gauge clevis is always used to obtain a greater vari- 
ation of the application of the draft ; and where it is desirable for the team to walk all the 
time on the unplowed land, instead of one of the animals traveling in the bottom of the 
previous furrow. 
GffiJEEIN]" SWARD PLOW. 
Plate XVI. 
§ 141. This first plow on the plate, of which there are several sizes and series, is rigged 
with the cutter with strap fastenings, which firmly secures the cutter to operate at any depth, 
point and angle to the side of the beam, and avoids weakening it by not cutting a mortice 
through it for the cutter, as is ordinarily done by other makers. 
§ 142. This plow has also a gauge wheel under the beam. This is adjusted to run at any 
elevation above the point of the plow, and governs the depth of its working. In rolling and 
hilly land, it is almost indispensable ; on level land it should be used, but is not as import- 
ant, as the line of draft is less disturbed, and the ordinary clevis arrangement will secure 
nearly perfection in its working ; while in plowing undulating land the line of draft is con- 
tinually changing, and producing a tendency to plow deep and shallow by turns, as well as 
wide and narrow furrows, causing much unnecessary and hard labor to both man and beast, 
which a gauge wheel will entirely obviate. No breaking plow is complete without the cutter 
and clasp fastenings, and gauge wheels. 
