192 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
PLOWS. 
Messrs. Editors— I observed in your last number, a 
notice and plate of “ The Boston Centre Draught Plow,” 
Prouly & Mear's self-sharpening patent, with new gear¬ 
ing. The advantages said to be secured by this new 
gearing, seem important. Where very deep plowing is 
required, the fastening extending down from the back of 
the standard, may interfere with the operation of the 
plow. This may be obviated, however, by adding to the 
height of both the plow and beam. The attaching of the 
wheel to the side of the beam, though doubtless an ad¬ 
vantage when turning the last or dead furrow of a land , 
is counterbalanced by the fact, that this new mode of se¬ 
curing it, will not give it so much permanency and 
strength as the other, which admits of fastening on both 
sides of the beam; and hence, will be more liable to get 
out ot order. These conclusions are not the result of any 
experience with the plow, but are formed simply by see¬ 
ing the excellent plate referred to in the number. 
There are many good plows in this country, and this 
instrument has been the subject of great improvement du¬ 
ring the present century. But it is somewhat a matter of 
astonishment to observe how sectional a thing a plow is, 
and what a pertinacity of opinion is exhibited in refer¬ 
ence to its qualities, so many claimed to be the best kinds. 
Perhaps it would be no difficult matter to find a score of 
patents in the hands of as many different farmers, all be¬ 
lieved to be the best existing. And indeed there is some 
ground for this partiality and difference of opinion. Dif¬ 
ferent soils require differently constructed plows. Of this, 
I have seen abundant proof, but I by no means lean to 
the opinion that all the variety of existing patents are 
equally good, and each best adapted to some peculiar lo¬ 
cation. I rejoice to see improvements in implements of 
husbandry, and trust that all useful ones will prove as 
profitable to the inventors, as they are beneficial to the 
community of agriculturists. 
Proutv & Meal’s plow is a self-sharpener, and judging 
from the plate, the point and share are two separate "pie¬ 
ces of cast iron, which may be reversed. On the farm 
to which I am attached, Cornelius Bergen's patent plow 
No. 10, constructed on this principle, has been used for 
perhaps twenty years. I believe Mr. Bergen is entitled 
to all the credit of this improvement, as well as having 
on account of the peculiar form of the mold-board, pro¬ 
duced the lightest draught plow ever tested by an instru¬ 
ment. I think the records of the American Institute will 
bear me out in this remark. This reversal of the share 
and turning of the point when worn on the lower side 
causes the set to be downwards again, and may be repeat¬ 
ed until the point is worn to a short stump, and has the 
same effect as a new share, on plows where the point and 
share are cast in the same piece of iron. Hence it is a 
matter of considerable economy, for it must be evident to 
every plowman that the share is usually cast aside be¬ 
cause the point is worn up from below, and not because 
it has become dull. If it could be turned, it would an- 
tfwer for much additional wear. 
Mr. Bergen’s plow is the best for green sward plow¬ 
ing I have ever seen in use, especially if the sod is old 
and tough. The form of its mold-board, and general 
shape, is such as to meet with comparatively little resis¬ 
tance in its passage through the ground, while at the 
same time it admits of taking a broad furrow or slice, and 
turns it over to the best advantage. Thus much for its 
general adaptedness. But I have said that the same plow 
is not the best for every kind of soil. Land in which the 
mold-board will readily scour or brighten, will admit of 
the very acute angular plow; while soil that contains lit¬ 
tle or no grit, and where the ground constantly adheres 
to the board, requires a greater angle for the mold-board 
so as to increase the friction. I am aware that there are 
soils which will constantly adhere to the plow, no mat¬ 
ter how well scoured and brightened before put in use. 
There must be a limit to this increase of angle, beyond 
which it cannot be safe to go. Every farmer should ob¬ 
tain a plow that will clear itself in its performance, when 
the nature of the soil will admit of it, for a clodded mold- 
ooard neither performs well or draws easily. 
A plow tliat performs best in sod, will not always be 
found the best for mellow ground. Plows therefore of 
different construction are frequently very desirable on the 
same farm, though there may be a uniformity of soil— 
one (the acute angle like Bergen's,) to secure lightness 
of draught, where in a heavy sod, lightness is required 
for the benefit of the team—the other for loose ground 
where a plow similarly constructed, sometimes fails to 
force over the furrow to a sufficient distance. Now it 
follows, if these remarks in reference to the soil and 
state of the ground be correct, as connected with plowing, 
and they are the result of some experience, then no one 
patent should bear the palm over all others, and for all 
purposes. 
I will add, Messrs. Editors, that I have no interest 
either directly or indirectly in the sale of plows of any 
patents, but would recommend for ordinary soils, Mr. 
Bergen’s patent. Its advantages are lightness of draft, 
strength, economy in the cost of sharpening, and the ca¬ 
pacity of performing the best work in green sward. I 
might add durability, for the friction being easy, the 
mold-board will wear well, while all the advantages of 
the improvements of the wheel and the new gearing at¬ 
tached to the centre draught plow, is alike applicable to 
this, as well as other patents. Many of the peculiarities 
of Mr. Bergen’s genius as exhibited in his plow, have 
been incorporated in other patents; some have adopted 
the form of his mold-board, others the length of the iron 
which travels through the ground, and gives steadiness 
to the operations of the plow, while another has added 
the self-sharpening principle, though the ideas may be 
original to the inventors of the different patents. 
Brooklyn , N. Y., May 10, 1844. J. G. B. 
SHEEP INJURED BY CLOVER. 
Messrs. Editors— In reading the “ Prize Essay on 
the preparation and use of manures,” published in the 
last September number of your valuable paper, I noticed 
under the head of green crops, it is recommended as a 
means of enriching the land, “ to let the clover grow un¬ 
til nearly or quite in blossom and then turn sheep upon 
it.” 
This method would no doubt answer very well for the 
land, but I think would not be as beneficial to the sheep; 
the reasons for which opinion, may be found in the fol¬ 
lowing statement of facts. 
On the 9th day of June, 1836, immediately after wash¬ 
ing, I turned a flock of about one hundred ewes with 
their lambs, into a field of about twelve acres of clover, 
(common red,) as the season was favorable, the clover 
was very fine, and was in the state recommended in the 
Essay, just coming fully into blossom; the sheep re¬ 
mained in the field until the 20th, when 19 of them died, 
as I believe from the effects of clover pasture. The first 
symptom of disease shown by them was reeling and stag¬ 
gering backwards for a little while, after which they 
lay insensible until they died, which happened with the 
greater number in an hour or two. There were twenty- 
five taken with the disease, of which number six recov¬ 
ered. 
I of course removed the sheep from the field, and saw 
no more of the disorder. I then made strict search 
throughout the field to discover anything poisonous, but 
could find nothing except two very small stools of el¬ 
der that should not be there. I found, however, that the 
grass on the strips of old sward along the fences, and al¬ 
so on a small corner of the field that had not been dis¬ 
turbed by the plow, was gnawed down to the ground. 
The sheep also showed their dislike to the clover, by 
twice breaking out of the field over a good ordinary 
fence, which was a very unusual thing for them to do. 
These sheep were of a mixed breed of Saxon and Me¬ 
rino, in fine thrift, being the choice of my breeding 
ewes. I made a post mortem examination of two of the 
carcases, and found no unusual appearance, except that 
the paunch seemed very red and inflamed. There was 
no distention as in bloat. 
Gypsum—Inquiry.— Will you, or some of your nu¬ 
merous correspondents who are competent, inform the 
readers of your paper, of the comparative merits of the 
different kinds of gypsum as manure. I know some fa® 
