10 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
{Ferguson’s Improved Scotch Swing Plow — Fig. 1.) 
{Hart’s Improved Berkshire One Wheel Plow — Fig. 2.) 
TRIAL OF PLOWS. 
Experiments in England and at Worcester, Mass. 
Of all the implements used in husbandry, the plow is 
confessedly the most important. With other tools, de¬ 
fective, or of an inferior quality, by adding more labor, 
or employing extra help, the difficulty may be obviated, 
or the harvest secured ; but a bad plow is such a radical 
defect that it will he felt in every stage of the farming, 
from the putting the plow to the ground to the gather¬ 
ing of the crops, and always injuriously. There are 
therefore, no questions of more interest to the farmer, 
than those relating to the proper construction of the 
plow, its lightness of execution, and the excellence of 
its work. These two points have of late attracted’much 
attention ; and though much light has been thrown up¬ 
on the subject by the various experiments instituted by 
competent and skilful men both in Europe and in this 
country, it may well be questioned whether it is yet di¬ 
vested of all its difficulties. Enough has been done to 
prove, however, that of several plows working in the 
same soil and performing equally good work, one will 
require double the power of another ; or, in other 
words, to make good work with one plow, only two hor¬ 
ses will be required, while another will require four. 
Almost wholly overlooked as this point of ease of draft 
has been by the farmer, it is not to be wondered at that 
he sometimes finds his horses much more distressed at 
the same work some years than in others, or that some¬ 
times they are required to perform work entirely be¬ 
yond their power, owing to the bad construction of the 
implement. To show the vast difference in the ease of 
draft, or the lightness of Avorking, we propose to give 
some account of experiments that have been made to 
test this point. To determine the foqce exerted by the 
horses in plowing, an instrument called a Dynamome¬ 
ter has been invented, which by the compression of 
springs in the draft, shows with great accuracy the pow¬ 
er expended in the operation. 
The most complete set of experiments yet made are 
those instituted by Mr. Pusey , President of the Royal 
A gricultural Society of Great Britain, and described by 
him in the 3d No. of the Journal of that Society. The 
points Mr. Pusey had in view in his experiments, and 
it will be seen they embrace the most important ques¬ 
tions relating to ploAving, Avere, 
1st. The comparative lightness in draft of Avheel and 
swing ploAvs. 
2d. The lightest ploAV absolutely of Avhatever kind. 
3d. The effect of different soils upon the qualities, 
and chiefly on the draft of the ploAV. 
4th. The comparative tenacity of different soils. 
5th. The poAver of two horses to ploAV the strongest 
or clay soil. 
Ten ploAvs, embracing some from the most celebrated 
makers in England, the highly famed Scotch SAving ploAV, 
and seAreral of those in common use in the different dis¬ 
tricts of the kingdom, Avere selected by Mr. Pusey for 
his experiments, and he Avas aided by the presence and 
advice of some of the most distinguished agriculturists 
in the country. The plows were Avorked by skillful 
ploAvmen ; and, as much interest was attached to the 
experiment on the Scotch ploAvs, a Clydesdale span of 
horses and aploAAonan accustomed to the plow were sent 
up by Lord Moreton to manage that part of the trial. 
The Scotch ploAV has obtained considerable celebrity 
from the strong praise bestowed upon it by Mr. Loudon, 
who declares the Improved Scotch PIoav to be superior 
to any similar implement knoAvn in England. They are 
constructed on the principles laid doAvn by Mr. Jeffer¬ 
son, in his celebrated Report on the true shape of the 
mold-board, addressed to the French Institute, Avhich he 
shoAved from mathematical data should be in the form 
of a gentle hollow curve; while the other ploAvs Avere 
more full and short, not raising the earth gradually like 
a Avave, but throAving it over at once. In condensing 
Mr. Pusey’s experiments, we shall select as sufficient 
for the present purpose, from the list given by him, 
three ploAvs—1st, the ImproA r ed Scotch plow (fig. 1,) 
made by Ferguson, and entirely of iron—2d, a one 
wheeled plow (fig. 2,) of wood, with an iron breast, by 
Mr. Hart, but commonly known as the improved Berk¬ 
shire ploAV ; and 3d, an old fashioned ploAV made of 
wood, and such as is in general use in many parts of 
England, and is called the old Berkshire plow. Some 
previous experiments had comdnced Mr. Pusey that the 
Hart plow was of easy draft, and the ones now institu¬ 
ted showed that his impressions were correct. 
First Trial.—F ield, a sandy loam, free in Avorking, 
a clean Avheat stubble ; depth of furrow 5 by 9 inches ; 
a depth and Avidth carefully adhered to ; ploAvs draAvn 
by tAvo horses. Power required, given in stones of 14 
lbs. each : 
Ferguson’s improved Scotch SAving plow,.19 stone. 
Hart’s improved Berkshire, one Avheel,.14 “ 
Old Berkshire,.23 “ 
In this experiment it appears that the Scotch plow 
Avas 34 per cent heavier for the horses than Hart’s plow. 
That a plow Avith its mold-board rusty, or coA^ered Avith 
coal tar as is the practice Avith the maker, runs 6 stone 
heavier than when clean and bright, in the same soil. 
That the easiest plows Avere wheel ploAvs and the seve¬ 
rest ones for the horses swing plows. That the old 
Berkshire Avould be Avorse by tAvo stone for 3 horses, 
than Hart’s would be for tAvo. 
Second Trial.—L and, a clean bean stubble, A\ T ith a 
dark mold on blue clay. The furroiv here Avas 6 inch¬ 
es by 9 ; and this strong clay was selected to test the 
question Avhether there Avas any ploAV, with Avhich two 
horses, Avithout too great distress, could Avork such 
lands : 
Ferguson’s,.50 stone. 
Hart’s,.43 “ 
Old Berkshire,.52 “ 
The difference between the plows was less in this tri¬ 
al than the former ; but the power required, and the ef¬ 
fect of such severe labor on the horses, were considered 
as decisive of the question that two horses are not suffi¬ 
cient to ploAV such lands in a proper manner. The av¬ 
erage of the first experiment Avas 18 stone, that of the 
second, 47, and this within the space of two miles ; a 
fact that should be remembered by farmers, as near, if 
not absolutely adjoining fields, may require a great dif¬ 
ference of poAver to plow them thoroughly. 
Third Trial. —As some of the gentlemen at the trial 
deemed the principle laid doAvn by Mr. Jefferson, and 
adopted in the Scotch ploAV, better adapted to sandy 
than adhesive soils, a field of broivn loamy sand Avas se¬ 
lected, and the plows were tested at the depth of 4, 5, 
6, and 7 inches respectively—Avidth of the furrow, 9 
inches. 
4 5 6 7 inches. 
Ferguson’s Scotch ploAV, .... 18, 19, 19, 22 stone. 
Hart’s,.11, 12, 16, 18 “ 
Old Berkshire,.22, 21, 24, 31 “ 
At the depth of 4 inches, the Scotch ploAV still appears 
at a disadvantage, but at the depth of 7 inches the plows, 
Avith the exception of the old Berkshire, approached in 
the poAver required to moA r e them much more nearly. 
It has been usually laid doAvn as a rule in Avorks on the 
plow and ploiving, that the draft increases rapidly in 
proportion to the depth ploAved, or that if the draft at 4 
inches be 18 stone, at 7 inches it Avill be as 49 to 16, or 
54 stone. In mathematical terms, the resistance is ac¬ 
cording to the square of the depth. This is a very im¬ 
portant point, and to test it fully, Mr. Pusey made an 
experiment Avith the Scotch ploAV, in a poor moory soil, 
of uniform quality to a great depth. He commenced 
Avith a furroAV 5 inches deep by 9 in Avidth : 
Depth in inches. Draft in stones. 
5, .23 
6 , . 22 
7, .25 
8, .30 
9, .31 
10,.40 
11, .50 
12, . 50 
The difficulty of keeping the plow at the proper depth 
accounts for some discrepancies in this table ; but it 
proves the law of increase laid down in the books alto¬ 
gether erroneous ; since, if that were the true rate, the 
draft at a foot would not have been 50 stone, but 132. 
At this state of the trials, it occurred to Mr. Pusey to 
ascertain the draft of each plow AAdien merely drawn on 
the surface without severing the ground at all. The re¬ 
sult of several trials was as beloAV, the weight of the 
plow being also given. 
Surface draft. 
Ferguson’s,.. 
Hart’s,. 
Old Berkshire, .... 
Whole weight. 
12 stene. 15 stone. 
3 “ . 12 “ 
8 “ 
This experiment proved that the surface draft was 
altogether in favor of the Avheel plows, Ferguson’s be¬ 
ing a swing plow, and the two others one wheel each. 
The next experiment by Mr. Pusey, was to determine 
how much of the power exerted in plowing, was actu¬ 
ally expended in moving the soil: 
Gross draft. Surface draft. Working draft. 
Ferguson’s,. 19 stone. 12 stone. 7 stone. 
Hart’s,. 17 “ .... 3. 9 “ 
Old Berkshire, .... 21 “ .... 8. 13 “ 
In this experiment, the situation of the Scotch plow 
and Hart’s is greatly changed, and the disadvantage un¬ 
der which the first has labored, seems to have disap¬ 
peared. It would seem therefore, that the great differ¬ 
ence in working between the Scotch plow and Hart’s, 
must arise from the shape of the mold-board, and the 
Avant of a wheel or both. 
Fourth Trial. —The field chosen Avas a deep strong 
loam, good for all kind of crops, resting on yelloAv clay. 
It Aims selected by Lord Moreton, to prove to the farm¬ 
ers of the county that ground usually Avorked with four 
horses might be done with two. It offered great resist¬ 
ance to the ploAV as the table will show ; furroAV 5 inch¬ 
es by 9. 
Ferguson’s,.35 stone. 
Hart’s,. 23 “ 
Old Berkshire,. 36 “ 
The superiority of Hart’s one wheel ploAV over the 
Scotch plows, was as evident here as before. The 
Clydesdale horses worked Avithout signs of distress on 
this ground. 
Fifth Trial. —Many farmers attended this trial. 
The soil Avas more a clay than a loam. Four strong 
horses were at work in line, the usual practice, on an 
old Berkshire ploAv in this soil, and eA'idently having 
enough to do. The gauge shoAved that in a furrow 5 
by 9, the force exerted Aims 32, and in one of 6 by 9, 34 
stone. On this soil the several ploAvs Avorked as beloAV : 
Ferguson’s,-24 at 5 inches,.... 26 at 6 inches, 
Hart’s,. 27 “ .... 30 “ 
Old Berkshire,. 32 “ .... 34 “ 
Here it Avill be seen Hart’s plow lost the advantage, 
for the first time. This Avas attributed to the fact, that 
OAAdng to the soft nature of the ground, the wheel “ in¬ 
stead of governing the depth of the ploAV, sunk in the 
soil, and dragged through it like a coulter.” 
The Clydesdale horses Avere much admired in their 
work ; and it was the opinion of the bystanders that 
such land usually Avorked Avith four horses in line, 
might be ploAved Avith two such horses abreast; though 
it Avas said it would cost as much to keep two horses in 
that condition, as to support the four in their usual 
Avorking state. On this ground where the horses had a 
firm footing they Avorked Avith perfect ease. 
Sixth Trial. —This last trial was made on a damp 
moory soil, selected by Mr. Pusey as a kind of ground 
in Avhich the Scotch ploAvs might excel. The ground 
Avas a grass ley, the roots much throAvn out by the Avin- 
ter, and the surface more than half bare. The folloAV- 
ing w’as the result; 6 inches deep. 
Ferguson’s SAving plow,.22 stone. 
Hart’s one wheel,. 18 “ 
Old Berkshire,...28 “ 
In this case the Scotch improved ploAV was half as 
heaAry again in its draught as one of the others, (a tAvo 
wheel ploAv) and nearly one-third heavier than Hart’s. 
In summing up the trials, Mr. Pusey remarks that the 
ploAv requiring the least draft was Hart’s, though in the 
last trial it Avas beat by Ransome’s tAvo Avheel ploAv, and 
that of all modern ploAvs the Scotch SAving plow Avas the 
heaviest, “ out of the question on a light soil, and by 
no means the best on a heavy one.” The folloAving ta¬ 
ble show^s the average draft of all the plows on the 
several soils in which the experiments Avere made : 
Trial 1. Sandy loam,. 17| stone. 
2. Clay loam,...471 “ 
3. Loamy sand,. 16-ij “ 
4. Strong loam,. 3If “ 
5. Clay loam,. 281 “ 
6. Moory soil,. 20 
