ws

Implements of Hufbandry.—Swing-Ploughs. 5

arid breaks up the ground, that fort of clean, tapering, fharpened form that affords the leaft refiftance in pafling through the land; and to the mould-board that kind of hollowed out and twilted form which not only tends to leffen fric- tion, but alfo to contribute greatly to the perfect turning over of the furrow- flice.‘The beam and muzzle fhould likewife be fo contrived, as that the mov- ing power or team may be attached in the moft advantageous dine of draught. This is particularly neceflary where a number of animals are employed together, in order that the draught of the whole may coincide.

Swing-Ploughs.—As this fort of plough is not incumbered with wheels, it muft be the moft free from friction, and the refiftance which neceffarily proceeds from that caufe; confequently may, in general, be faid to be the lighteft of draught.

In the conftru€tion‘of ploughs of this kind there is, however, confiderable va- riation in different diftricts; but when they are made of proper kinds of mates rials, and in the moft improved manner, they mutt be allowed to be inftru- ments of extenfive application and utility. As befides being effective in their opera- tions, they are not fo eafily put out of order as other kinds of ploughs; and, from the circumftance juft noticed, require in almoft every kind of foil, when managed by a good ploughman, much lefs{trength to draw them than thofe of a fimilar kind when conftructed with wheels; confequently give confiderably lefs fatigue to the horfes, or teams of any kind, that may be employed in draw. ing them. In the mould-boards of moft of the improved ploughs of this kind, there is that peculiar form of curvature which leflens refiftance in turning up the ground, and which contributes to render the earth of the furrow equally and well laid over to its fituation.; 3

The rotheram-plough; Smalls chain-plough, and a plough recommended by the Board of Agriculture, as well as feveral others to be met with in almoft every arable county of the kingdom, are formed in this way.

Light thin foils, with little tenacity of furface, fuch as are commonly em- ployed in the growth of turnips, may be well managed by almoft any of the ploughs that are in general ule; but as the chief excellence of a plough for this fort of foil would feem to be that of its poflefling light weight, eafy draught, and being capable of leaving the furface in any defired fhape in refpect to height of ridge, thofe of the light fwing kind ought certainly to be preferred. Ploughs of this fort have for fome time been much employed in moft of the

_ northern counties, and in the fouthern diftriéts are now much more frequently met

with. In many places they do not coft more than forty or fifty fhillings. That fort of plough which is commonly known by the name of Dutch plough, is a light fwing-

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