The "Jointer" (fig. 5) consists of a large common plough with a very small plough attached to the beam, in front of the large one. The small plough pares off the surface of the grass-sod, which is thrown into the previous furrow, and the large plough, following, turns up the under soil and throws its heavy furrow-slice over on the previous small furrow-slice and buries it deeply under.
The Reversible Plough (fig. 7) is so adjusted that the share and the mould-board may be readily changed from one side to the other. This plough is especially adapted to the ploughing of the sloping sides of hills, and its use on level land will avoid the making of a dead furrow. Among other forms whose names indicate their uses are the subsoil-plough (JAI. 56, fig. 8), the trench-plough, and the ditching-plough.
The Plough and l'ulveri7er (fig. 9) combines the operations of plough ing and pulverizing. The beam carries a small forward plough or mould board, for removing a few inches of the top soil, which is pressed down or crushed by the pulverizing wheel into the bottom of the previous furrow, and a large or main plough, whose furrow-slice is not turned into the pre vious furrow, but on the interior of the pulverizing wheel of open iron framework, about 4o inches in diameter, which is close to the main plough and receives its turning soil. This soil, being carried around by the wheel, is disintegrated by its iron teeth and cross-bars and dropped out upon the turned sod in a pulverized condition. Thus at a single operation the soil is inverted, the weeds and grass arc turned under, and the furrow-slice is finely divided without being trodden, as with the harrow. Arrangements are provided for regulating both the depth and the width of the furrow and for conveying the plough from one place to another. A scat is pro vided for the driver, as in the sulky-plough. A three-horse team is required to make thorough and satisfactory work in stiff soils.
The (fig. 10, which may be easily worked by two or three horses, is supported by wheels, which bear the weight both of the plough and of the furrow-slice, thus greatly reducing the friction of the sole of the plough in the furrow.
The (fig. io) dispenses with the pole and employs a separate guiding-lever and an automatic brake, which latter acts as soon as the plough leaves the ground and prevents its running on the team. By the manner in which the plough is hung its weight and the weight of the furrow ate carried on the lubricated axles, thus preventing the great friction of the drag on the bottom of the furrow. The wheels, of which
there are three, are set at correct positions so as to bring the weight on each alike. The two furrow-wheels are casters and can be locked square in line; they are constructed with automatic trips, so that in turning they will break from the direct line and turn a perfect square corner either to the right or to the left without requiring the plough to be lifted from the ground.
The Garr; plough (fig. 12) consists of from two to five or more ploughs arranged diagonally one behind another, so that the furrows are made to overlap one another. It is supported by wheels and is gauged for any re quired depth. Gang ploughs are drawn by teams or by steam-power (fig. 13) Steam-plough.—It may be presumed that the day is not far distant when for ploughing tracts of considerable extent the use of steam will supersede that of animal power. The first plough worked successfully by steam was that patented by Mr. Heathcote, M. P., of England, in 1832. This was for breaking up and draining swampy land. The plough was drawn backward and forward by an endless chain, which received its power from a locomotive-engine placed on the headland. With sonic modifica tions this ha's been the plan adopted for ploughing by steam in England, and until recently has been considered " the only available method." In the United States, however, the engine is attached directly to the gang of ploughs, as illustrated on Plate 56 (fig. is). The entire plough-frame is a right-angled triangle having one of its sides parallel with the direction in which the engine travels, while the side to which the ploughs are attached is at such an angle that each plough is sufficiently in advance of its neighbor to allow all to turn their furrows. The ploughs are attached to the frame independently of one another in such a manner that each plough will cut a uniform depth regardless of the unevenness of the ground. In attaching the ploughs every possible condition required to draw them in the manner desired is most fully and simply met. They can be manip ulated, in point of shallow and deep ploughing, with much greater facil ity than can be done with a team; for the line of draught is parallel with the bottom of the furrow, making it unnecessary to raise the hitch on the end of the beam for deep ploughing, as is the case when horses are used.