"In the framing of this plough, I have proportioned one part to another, so that all parts of it may wear alike : the iron-work is fixed on the plough simply, and at the same time perfectly secure. I have likewise made a spring-steelyard, somewhat after the form of Regnier's, to determine the difference of draught between Small's plough and the one which I have constructed. A trial was made on the 18th of May last, on a piece of exceed ing stiff spratty lee, with two ploughs of Small's con struction, and one of mine, from which it appeared that the weight of the draught of one of these ploughs was 36 stones English weight, and of the other 52, and that of mine was 28. To account for the difference of draught of these two ploughs of Small's construction, I can only say, that the one must either have been longer used than the other, or that they have been made by different work men."* As many of our readers may be unacquainted with the old Scots plough, the following description of that ancient and unwieldy implement may not be unaccepta ble. Its several parts consisted of a head, a beam, a sheath, a wrest, a mould-board, two handles or stilts, which were connected by two sticks or pieces of wood, called rungs ; all these were of wood, but the sock and coulter, with two shoes on the sole and side of the wrest, were of iron. The purposes of these different parts were as follows. The head and sock opened the land below, the coulter cut the surface, the wrest and mould board raised the earth, and turned it over, the beam fix ed the draught, and kept the several parts together, and by the handles the plough was managed and directed. The sock, or share, was of a spiked form, and acted as a miner, not cutting the furrows square in the bottom, as must be the case with the ploughs now in use, when pro perly constructed.
From this description, the defects of the old Scots plough may easily be ascertained. Owing to the way in which the sock or share operated, a great deal of the was left to be turned over by the wrest; and this part acted as a forcer, without having influence to accomplish the operation unless when impelled by con siderable strength. The necessity of having a strong impelling power to execute the work sufficiently, in fluenced the ploughman, in most cases, to keep the wrest upwards, by which means lie lessened the quanti ty of power that was required to carry forward the draught, though by in ting in this wa , he render«I the work executed proportionably defective ; as in such in stances it was baulked below, and iniperb ctly shoulder ed upon the surface. These defects were ascertained, when attempts were made to lessen the of the old Scots plough, and to work the implenn•nt with two horses instead of three or foci r, the number usually employed in former times. L.? en the improved Rotherham plough was in some respect. similarly defi cient, till the mould-board received a greater cure, and was placed lower down, and inure upon a level with the heel, than was usually the case at its first introduction. Bad and lazy ploughmen at all times arc disposed to keep the furrow side up, thereby baulking the ground leas or more, merely that the draught may sit easier upon the horses, without reflecting upon the serious injury occa sioned to the soil, and consequently to the crops.
The old Scots plough was, however, favourable for working strong land, and for all lands recently brought under cultivation. At the time it was used, therefore, no other could be worked perhaps with equal advantage. From this consideration, it may be retained with pro priety in certain parts of the country, where improve ments are only in their infancy ; though in every other, where any thing like perfect cultivation has been intro duced, the improved Rotherham plough may he used with infinitely greater advantage. It will be attended with a saving to the Farmer, and to the country, of no small importance. Two horses in the latter will nearly plough as much ground as four in the former, and in our opinion to much better purpose when the implement is properly constructed. Now, the expense of keeping two horses is not less than sixty pounds per annum, besides the wages and board of a driver, which at least will amount to twenty pounds more. It is more owing to causes of this nature, than to any increase in the price of produce, that the rent of land has increased so pro digiously. The plough and thrashing machine are the two capital implements of husbandry ; and to the im provement upon the one, and the introduction of the other, the proprietors of land are in a great measure in debted for the increased value of their property. How much is it to be lamented, that the merits of the two men who Unproved and introduced these implements have not been duly considered and rewarded ! Itad this been dune, a debt, not recoverable in a law court, would have been discharged, and encouragement held out to other ingenious mechanics or artisans to exert their endeavours in making improvements upon every implement already in use, and in devising new ones of greater powers and capacities for executing the differ ent branches of rural labour.
Wheel ploughs are much in vogue in several English counties, though not used in Scotland, except in sonic parts of Kincardine and Aberdeen shires, where they were introduced by the late Mr Barclay of Urie. That ploughs of this description may do very well upon flat sandy soils, we entertain no doubt ; nay, that they may be guided by ploughmen less skilful than those intrust ed with the management of swing or sledge ploughs, we mean not to question. Still it has always appeared to ns, that so much additional resistance must be created by the action of the wheels, especially when the surface is soft, as is sufficient to counteract, and even to exceed any benefit gained horn the steadiness of draught, or the equality of breadth and depth of the Furrow taken. With respect to wheel ploughs, our opinion is not very different from the one given by lord Karnes. That respectable agriculturist viewed them as trifles, de scribing- the pivots of the wheels as constantly going wrong, and, on account of their being frequently choked st ith earth, as increasing the friction instead of diminish ing it.