1849. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
345 
bolts, and the use of other expedients to compensate 
the erroneous line of draft adopted by the makers. We 
feel well assured that our agricultural mechanics are 
abundantly skillful, and possess sufficient science to 
correct this inconvenience when brought to their no¬ 
tice. 
When we consider the object or intent of the plow, 
we arrive at the fact that it is to perform in the hands 
of the farmer the same operation, and to produce the 
same effects, as the spade in the hands of the gardener; 
that is, to turn over and thoroughly to break up the 
soil. Now the man and his spade acting together is a 
most complex and perfect tool; but the time is yet to 
come -when a simple machine shall be produced to ac¬ 
complish with equal excellence the same results as the 
man and spade. We may not doubt however, from the 
vast improvement of late years, that such a machine 
will in time be constructed; the talent and science of 
our agricultural mechanics fully justify such expecta¬ 
tions, and the rapidly increasing attention of farmers to 
the study of their vocation, will act as a stimulus to the 
inventor and a check upon visionary attempts. 
With these prefatory remarks, we now present a 
report of facts connected with the trial of plows, facts 
which offer to every man of thought and observation 
much matter for reflection. 
On the morning of Thursday, the 30th August, 1849, 
we reached the grounds selected for the trial of plows. 
The field presented a generally uniform appearance, 
gently sloping from the east to west; the soil was a 
elay loam, rather tenacious, as is most of the wheat 
land of the fertile county of Seneca; the sod was of 
timothy with a mixture of clover, and had not been 
plowed for several years. It should here be mentioned 
and remembered that since the month of May last, but 
little rain had fallen in this section of country, which 
was made manifest by reference to a meteorological ta¬ 
ble, as well as by the condition of the soil. Neverthe¬ 
less, as the soil was uniform in its nature, so the resis¬ 
tance offered was relatively the same to each plow, and 
the trial was alike to all, and under like circumstances. 
A stationary power had been well placed, midway 
between the eastern and western extremes of a plat of 
ground 150 feet long; a traveller or guide was prepar¬ 
ed to bear and direct the rope, in order that each plow 
might be directed with precision. 
Furrows had been previously opened six inches in 
depth. The plows were entered on the secretary’s 
books in numerical order, and called to the trial in the 
same order. A substantial dynamometer was placed 
in our hands with a certificate from the proper officer 
that the same had been tested and proved by the State 
standard, and was correct, indicating power as high as 
one thousand pounds. 
An extent of ground was carefully surveyed, and 
marked into spaces of 30 by 300 feet, for the purpose 
of exhibiting the manner in which each plow could per¬ 
form the work required. 
With these and other arrangements, our duties were 
comparatively easy, and as no haste or hurry was per¬ 
mitted, we continued our labor through two successive 
days, strengthened by the hope and belief that we were 
entering upon a system which, if continued from year 
to year, w T ould in due time work a large and positive 
benefit. 
The following table gives a full and particular state¬ 
ment of the trials, classifying the implements in order, 
from the lesser to the greater power required to over¬ 
come the resistance offered. 
By Stationary Power, 
Depth of forrow, 6 inches—Width of furrow , 12 inches. 
Pounds. 
1. Burrall’s wheel Plow, No. 2,. 290 
2, Burrall’s Wheel Plow, No. 3,. 295 
Pounds 
3. Lamport Iron Beam Plow from Ovid,. 340 
4. Burrall’s Wheel Plow, No. 4,.... 345 
5. Penn Yan Plow,.. 355 
6. Burrall’s Wheel Plow, No. 5,.... 356 
7. Buckeye Iron Beam,. 372 
8. Crane Plow, with cutter,... 415 
9. Burrall’s Landside Plow,.. 427 
10. Dundee Plow,... 441 
11. Burrall’s Landside, No. 5,. 485 
12. Crane Plow, with coulter,. 493 
By Horse Power. 
Depth of furrow, 7 inches—Width of furrow 13 inches. 
Pounds. 
1. Burrall’s Wheel Plow, No. 3,. 489 
2. Penn Yan Plow,... 493 
3. Burrall’s Wheel Plow, No. 5,. 511 
4. Burrall’s Wheel Plow, No. 4,.. .. 519 
5. Lamport Iron Beam,. 520 
6. Dundee Plow,.. 5201 
7. Burrall’s Landside, No. 2,. 524 
8. Crane Plow,... 533 
9. Burrall’s Landside, No. 5,. 673 
The trial by horses having been made on the second 
day, several owners of Plows entered, did not appear in 
time. 
The plowing performed by the several implements 
was good and uniform, evidencing much skill on the 
part of the plowmen. Understanding that the chief 
object of the trial was to ascertain the true and relia¬ 
ble estimate of the power necessary for good work, we 
do not deem it nececsary to particularise the work of 
any one plow; all was good, and the facts set forth in 
the above table will enable every man to draw right 
conclusions and safe estimates. 
Among the facts presented to our notice, were two 
frames of the wheel plow, which had been used for 
several years, they were worn through the mould 
board, and the wheel had yielded on its margin, being 
the substitute for a landside; on examination, the jour¬ 
nals or points of the axle of the wheels, were sound and 
perfect. 
Having witnessed the excitement among men of sci¬ 
ence, as well as among the large assemblage of practi¬ 
cal farmers convened on this occasion, we respectfully 
urge upon the farmers of this State, and upon agricul¬ 
tural mechanics, frequent meetings and interviews upon 
the plan of, and with similar objects to this meeting in 
Seneca county; the true interests of both will be sub¬ 
stantially promoted, and science will be more kindly 
courted to deepen our furrows, to pulverise our soils, and 
thus add to our general prosperity, 
Saturday, September 1, 1849. 
B. B. Kirtland, Rensselaer Co., 
Elias Cost, Oaks Corners, Ontario Co. 
John Mallory, Penn Yan, Yates Co. 
Judges of the trial of Plows. 
To John Delafield, Esq., President 
of the Seneca County Agricultural Society. 
Litigation,, 
In the last paragraph of my article on Litigation, 
I am made to say “ In this respect we are not far 
behind the Danish colonies in the south.” I intend¬ 
ed to say that we are far behind them. A gentleman 
who spent some months in the island of St. Croix, and 
who paid particular attention to this subject, in¬ 
formed me that nine suits out of ten are settled be¬ 
fore u The Reconciling Commission.” 
The same gentleman has placed in my hands, a 
copy of the “ Ordinance respecting the Re¬ 
conciling Institution,” issued by the King of 
Denmark at Copenhagen, 17th December, 1798, 
