OM Fi WE oaPk O UG GE. 23

The reafon is, that, by being fhorter, it moves upon a{maller bafe, and is much lighter in proportion; fo that itis much more eafily turned out of its direCtion, by any unequal exertion of the force,or extraordi- nary refiftance in the foil.

Experience will remove almoft entirely any inconveniences proceeding fram une- qual exertions of the force. But it will be extremely difficult, if not impoffible, to re- move every extraordinary interruption in the foil. Cultivation, however, tends to re- move thefe; and the more the foil is cultivated, the fewer of them will remain. What particular length of the plough is adapted to the various degrees of cultivation, it feems impoflible to give any rules how to de- cide. This muftbe!determined by experience and obfervation taken from circumftances on the f{pot, with the help of the following

- general rule,‘thatit ihould be made as

‘ fhort as poflible’.

From this view of the fubject, one might ealily deduce the hiftory of the old Scots plough, though otherwife entirely ignorant

; of