ON THE PLOUGH. 43

_ js any one inclination preferable to another.

This queftion feems eafily decided; for the moft advantageous inclination is certainly the one that is expofed to leaft refiftence; but the one expofed to the leaft re- fiftence is the greateft, becaufe it meets the refiftence at the greateft obliquity; and hence it feems evident, that ploughs with moft inclined coulters thould be moft eafily drawn.

This confequence would certainly follow,

Gf the inclination of the coulter had no

effect upon the laft mentioned circumftance, the direction of the force; or if it were in- different to the cattle, whether they pull more or lefs horizontal. But it is by no means indifferent to the cattle, in what di- rection they pull; for the moftadvantageous oneisplainly very near tohorizontal f. The

reafon

* Cattle pull with moft effect ina horizontal line pafling through their center of gravity. If they are obliged to pull from a point above or below this center, they muft bend their bodies from their natu- ral and moft eafy pofition, till they bring their center into their line of draught. The horizontal direction allows