34 
Economy in Cultivation. 
the new three-furrow plough, again without any special order to 
make haste, because, for one thing, I knew that the work would 
be too much for two horses to be hurried ; the result was that, 
notwithstanding considerable hindrance from the long dung, 
fully thirteen acres were ploughed in six days, and for my pur- 
pose done better than it would have been by the other ploughs. 
I am absolutely certain that not more than one acre per day 
would have been ploughed in the ordinary way, for I find it a 
universal article of faith that not more than one acre per day 
is to be ploughed by a single-furrow plough. This experience 
satisfied me completely so far, and my after-experience here 
fully confirmed my first impression. 
To turn to Gloucestershire. Here the ground is by no 
means friable, or free-cutting, but hangs on the mould-board 
more or less in all weathers ; moreover, the gradients are bad, 
and though there is no danger of very deep ploughing, three 
inches there are quite as bad to turn as five inches in Monmouth- 
shire, and an occasional “ rock ” is trying to the implement, 
horses, and driver. In this case I had one plough of the same 
pattern as that already alluded to. This was drawn by a 
pair of Welsh cobs and an old nag working abreast, the three 
having cost with their harness 30 1. They did a large amount 
of good work, generally ploughing about 2 Jr acres per day. The 
other plough was fitted with a seat for the driver, and at the 
suggestion of Mr. Ransome was of a rather stronger, heavier 
pattern than those before alluded to. 
I would here say that my idea from the outset was to adapt 
what is known -as the “ gang ” system to the plough already -men- 
tioned, viz., making it so that the ploughman could ride;' if so 
inclined. Having long considered this matter, I have come to 
the conclusion that ploughing, as hitherto practised, is altogether 
too slow an operation ; and my experience goes to prove that if in 
these days you want work done quickly, it must be done with 
the least possible exertion to the individual who has to do that 
work. Ploughing is always associated with the slowest speed, 
heavy horses, heavy implement, heavy, slow action in the 
ploughman. The necessity for all this I am unable to discover, 
but the result of it is utter demoralisation of men and horses. 
It may be said that allowing ploughmen to ride is more de- 
moralising still. I differ from this view. Is it demoralising 
to allow the driver of the mowing-machine, the horse-rake, the 
reaper, &c., to ride? Why. should he not ride the plough as 
well ? In winter he may be unable to do so on account of the 
cold, then let him get off and walk fast to keep himself warm ; 
but in summer, when weather is hot and dust abundant, it is 
