Page images
PDF
EPUB

(1175.) The plough under consideration is furnished with two wheels, see again fig. 205. The land-side wheel is 12 inches diameter, with a rim not exceeding 1 inch in breadth. The only purpose to which this wheel is applied is to regulate the depth of the furrow, for which purpose it runs upon the solid land. The furrow-wheel is 18 inches in diameter, with a breadth of rim equal to the former; its object is twofold, serving in some measure to regulate the depth, by running on the bottom of the previously formed furrow, but its chief duty is, by bearing against the edge of the furrow-slice that is about to be raised, to regulate the breadth of the slice, at the desired height, by means of pinching

screws.

(1176.) It is evident that both wheels perform a duty that either of them alone could do with perhaps equal effect, namely, the regulation of the depth; but the furrow-wheel performs a second office, regulating the breadth, which it can also do without interfering with its other duty. It would appear, therefore, that the land-side wheel may be set aside without impairing the efficiency of the plough; and we find, accordingly, that these ploughs are frequently used with only one wheel, which in itself performs both duties.

(1177.) The consideration of these wheels, and their effects on the plough, suggests a further objection to their utility in respect of the increased resistance they produce to the draught. If these wheels are to produce any effect at all, the plough irons and yoke must be set so as to give the plough a bias both to earth and land. If the plough has not this, then whether it swim evenly, or have a bias, from both earth and land, in either case the wheels are ineffective, as they will neither bear upon the sole nor the edge of the furrow, but let the plough have the bias as proposed to both earth and land, the wheels will then both bear, and exert their efforts by reaction to counteract the tendency of the plough; on the one hand to sink deeper in the furrow, and on the other to cut a broader slice; and since "action and reaction are alike and in opposite directions," these antagonist forces will be in constant operation to a greater or less amount. Such effects will thereby increase the friction and consequent resistance in proportion to the amount of bias which has been given to the plough; and hence the conclusion is strengthened, that in all cases wheels are an incumbrance and a source of increased resistance to the plough.

(1178.) Amongst the numerous makers of ploughs in England whose works have come under our observation, besides those of Messrs Ransome, I cannot omit to notice the names of Hart, of King, of Parker, and of Crosskill, all of whom take a high standing as plough-makers after the English fashions, and many of their productions are mounted with wheels. It is unnecessary to repeat any of the observations on that head, but should the preceding remarks come under the observation of any of the makers referred to, or of any other person who may take an interest in the subject, it will be gratifying to find that they endeavour to shew how wheel-ploughs can be rendered more advantageous than swingploughs, and in doing so, either practically or demonstratively, in a satisfactory manner, I shall be open to conviction, and ready to yield up that system which appears to me at present as the only tenable one; but it would, of course, be still more satisfactory to learn that these very humble efforts shall be of any use in satisfying those who take the trouble to inquire, that an extended application of the swing-plough practice might either be of individual or general importance.

(1179.) Amongst the other numerous varieties, I cannot pass over the twofurrow plough, which, though seldom, if ever, seen in the hands of a Scotch farmer, is now rather extensively employed in some of the eastern counties of England, but more especially in Lincolnshire. These ploughs are constructed of a very effective and convenient form by Ransome and others, and are held to be very economical in point of draught, a pair of good horses being capable of working a two-furrow plough, or in cases of heavier soil three horses; the saving of labour in the one case being one-half, in the other one-fourth. They are also mounted with wheels, and in the districts where they are employed, and the ploughman accustomed to the implement, they make very fair work, the two furrows being in general laid very nearly alike. It must be conceded, however, that in the districts where these ploughs are used the work is done with a very shallow furrow, seldom exceeding 3 or 4 inches, which may allow of 2 horses taking the draught. Where the deep-ploughing system is followed, a two-furrow-plough could not be drawn by fewer than 4 horses, which, as it would afford no saving, but rather the contrary, can never be expedient, or in any way advantageous; for though it may be urged, that when a light furrow only was required the two-furrow plough might offer some advantage, yet if it could not be applicable in every case, the inference is, that two sets of ploughs, double and single furrow, must be retained-a practice which cannot, under any circumstances, be recommended. The conclusion to be drawn from these remarks is, that though expedients, such as the two-furrow plough, may be very advantageously employed under a particular climate and soil, the practice cannot be held up as one of general application, or that could be rendered economical and advantageous under all circumstances.-J. S.]

(1180.) This seems to me a befitting place to say a few words on ploughing matches. I believe it admits of no doubt that, since the institution of ploughing matches throughout the country, the character of our farm-servants as ploughmen has risen to considerable celebrity, not but that individual ploughmen could have been found before the practise of matches existed as dexterous as any of the present day, but the general diffusion of good ploughing must be obvious to every one who has been in the habit of observing the ploughed surface of the country. This improvement is not to be ascribed to the institution of ploughing matches alone, because superior construction of implements, better kept, better matched, and superior race of horses; and superior judgment and taste in field labour in the farmer himself are too important elements in influencing the conduct of ploughmen, to be overlooked in a consideration of this question.

(1181.) But be the primary motive for improvement in the most important branch of field labour as it may, there cannot be a doubt that a properly regulated emulation amongst workmen of any class, proves a strong incentive to the production of superior workmanship, and the more generally the inducement is extended, the improvement arising from it may be expected to be the more generally diffused; and on this account the plough medals of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland being open for competition to all parts of Scotland every year, have perhaps excited a spirit of emulation among ploughmen, by rewarding those who excel, beyond any thing to be seen in any other country. Wherever 15 ploughs can be gathered together for competition at any time and place, there the ploughman who obtains the first premium offered by those interested in the exhibition, is entitled to receive, over and above, the Society's plough medal of silver, bearing a suitable inscription, with the gainer's name.

About 40 applications are made for the medals every year, so that at least 600 ploughmen annually compete for them; but the actual number far exceeds that number; as, in many instances, matches comprehend from 40 to 70 ploughs, instead of the minimum number of 15. The matches are usually occasioned by the welcome which his neighbours are desirous of giving an incoming tenant to his farm, and its heartiness is shewn in the extent of the assistance which they give him in ploughing a field or fields at a time when he has not yet collected a working stock sufficient for the purpose.

(1182.) Ploughing matches are generally very fairly conducted in Scotland. They usually take place on lea ground, the ploughing of which is considered the best test of a ploughman's skill, though I hold that drilling is much more difficult to execute correctly. The best part of the field is usually selected for the purpose, if there be such, and the same extent of ground, usually from 2 to 4 ridges, according to the length, is allotted to each portion of ground to be ploughed. A pin, bearing a number, is pushed into the ground at the end of each lot, of which there are as many marked off as there are ploughs entered in competition. Numbers corresponding to those on the pins are drawn by the competing ploughmen, who take possession of the lots as they are drawn. Ample time is allowed to finish the lot, and in this part of the arrangements, I am of opinion that too much time is usually allowed, to the annoyance of the spectators. Although shortness of time in executing the same extent of work is not to be compared to excellency of execution, yet it should enter as an important element into the decision of the question of excellence. Every competitor is obliged to feer his own lot, guide his own horses, and do every other thing connected with the work, such as assorting his horses, and trimming his plough-irons, without the least assistance.

(1183.) The judges, who have been brought from a distance, and have no personal interest in the exhibition, are requested to inspect the ground after all the ploughs have been removed, having been kept away from the scene during the time the ploughs were engaged. Now, this appears to me a very objectionable part of the arrangements, and it is made on the plea, that were the judges to see the ploughs at work, some particular ones might be recognised by them as belonging to friends, and their minds might thereby be biased by the circumstance. Such a plea pays but a poor compliment to the integrity of the judge; and any farmer who accepts of the responsible and honoured office of judge, who would allow himself to be influenced by so pitiful a consideration, would deserve not only not to be employed in a similar arbitration again, but to be scouted out of society. One consequence of the exaction of this rule is, that the spectators evince impatience the spectators, not the ploughmen who have been competitors, for they are busily and happily occupied at the time in replenishing the inner man with rations of cheese and bread and ale provided to them by the possessor of the field who is to enjoy the profits of their labour while the judges are taking no more than the proper time for deciding the ploughing of, it may be, a large extent of ground. The judges ought, therefore, to be present during the whole time devoted to the competition, when they could calmly and certainly ascertain the nature and depth of the furrow-slices, and have leisure to mature their thoughts on points which may turn the scale against first impressions. That the bare inspection of the finished surface cannot inform them, in a satisfactory manner, whether the land has been correctly ploughed or not, which can only be done by comparison of the soles of the furrows

while the land is ploughing, I shall endeavour to make clear to you by figures in a supposed case.

(1184.) You have seen the action of different ploughs, which may be all employed in the same match; and you have seen that the East Lothian form of plough lays over a slice of one form, as in fig. 108, and that the Lanarkshire plough lays over a slice of another form, as in fig. 109, and paragraph (765.) acquaints you, that the latter form of slice, namely, that with the high crest and serrated furrow sole, contains less earth than the other. Now, were the surface work only to be judged of, which must be the case when judges are prohibited seeing the work done in the course of execution, the serrated extent of the furrow-sole cannot be ascertained by removing portions of the ploughed ground here and there, so well as by constant inspection. As equal ploughing consists in turning over equal portions of soil in the same extent of ground, other things being equal, a comparison of the quantity of earth turned over by these two ploughs may be made in this way. Suppose a space of 1 square yard, turned over by each of the two kinds of ploughs specified, taking a furrowslice in both cases of 10 inches in breadth and 7 inches in depth, and taking the specific gravity of soil at 2.7, the weight of earth turned over by the East Lothian plough would be 63 stones, while the Lanarkshire plough would only turn over 54 stones, making a difference of 9 stones of 14 lb. in the small area of one square yard. In these circumstances, is it fair to say, that the horses yoked to the East Lothian plough have done no more work than those yoked to the Lanarkshire, or that the crop for which the land has been ploughed will receive the same quantity of loosened mould to grow in in both these cases? The prohibitory rule against the judges making their inspection during the ploughing has been relaxed in several instances; but I fear more from the circumstance of the spectators losing their patience, while waiting for the decision after the excitement of the competition is over, than from regard to the justness of the principle. Thus far is the obvious view of the question regarding the mode in which ploughing-matches is usually conducted; but in what follows will be found a more important view as affecting the integrity of good ploughing.

(1185.) [The primary objects of the institution of ploughing matches must have been to produce the best examples of ploughmanship and by the best, must be understood that kind of ploughing which shall not only appear to be well done, but must be thoroughly and essentially well done. In other words, the award should be given to the plough that produces not only work of a proper surface finish, but which will exhibit, along with the first, the property of having turned up the greatest quantity of soil and in the best manner. That this combination of qualities has ceased to be the object of reward, is now sufficiently apparent to any one that will examine for himself the productions and rewards of recent ploughing matches, and the causes of such dereliction is this:(1186.) The introduction by Wilkie of the Lanarkshire plough, gave rise, as is supposed, to the high-crested furrow-slice. It cannot be denied that the ploughs made on that principle produce work on lea land that is highly satisfactory to the eye of a ploughman, or to any person, indeed, whose eye can appreciate regularity of form; and, as there are many minds who can dwell with pleasure on the beauty of form, but who do not combine with that idea its adaptation to usefulness, it is no wonder that ploughs which could thus affect the mind through the sense of sight, should become favourites. While the crested

system of ploughing kept within bounds, it was all very good, but in course of time, the taste for this practice became excessive; and losing sight of the useful, a depraved taste, of its kind, sacrificed utility to the beautiful, in so far as ploughing can be said to produce that impression. This taste came gradually to spread itself over certain districts, and plough-makers came to vie with each other in producing machines that should excel in that particular point of cresting. A keen spirit of emulation amongst ploughmen kept up the taste amongst their own class, and very frequently the sons of farmers became successful competitors in the matches, which circumstance gave the taste a higher step in the social scale. Thus, by degrees, the taste for this mode of ploughing spread wider and wider, until, in certain districts, it came to pervade all classes of agriculturists. At ploughing matches in those districts, the criterion of good ploughing became generally to be taken entirely from the appearance of the surface; furrow-slices, possessing the highest degree of parallelism, exposing faces of equal breadth, and, above all, a high crest, carried off the palm of victory. I have seen a quorum of plough judges" plodding their weary way" for two hours together over a field, measuring the breadth of faces, and scanning the parallelism of slices, but who never seemed to consider the underground work of any importance, in enabling them to come to a decision. Under such a system, it is not surprising that ploughmen devote their energies to produce work that might satisfy this depraved taste, and that plough-makers find it their interest to minister to those desires, by going more and more into that construction of parts of the plough that would yield the so much desired results. Thus have those valuable institutions of ploughing-matches, in the districts alluded to, been unwittingly brought to engender a practice which, though beautiful as an object of sight, and when within due bounds, also of utility, has induced a deterioration in the really useful effects of the plough. (1187.) But it is not yet too late to retrieve what has been lost. Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, and all local agricultural associations, take up the subject, and institute a code of rules by which the judges of ploughing matches shall be guided in delivering their awards. Let these rules direct attention to what is truly beneficial to the land, as well as what may be satisfactory to sight in ploughing. When such rules shall have been promulgated from competent authority, we may hope to see ploughing-matches restored to their pristine integrity-doing good to all who are concerned in them, and resting that confidence in their usefulness which is at present on the wane, but distrust in which has only arisen from an accidental misdirection of their main objects.

Let the

(1188.) In connection with that part of the subject which has given rise to the foregoing remarks on ploughing matches, it is not a little curious to find, that instead of the high-crested furrow being a modern innovation, it is as old as the days of Blith in 1652; and he, like the moderns, had entertained the same false notions of its advantages. In his curious work under the section, "How to plough as it may yeeld most mould," he, in his quaint style says"As for your ordinary seasons of ploughing, your land being in good tillage, any well ordered and truly compassed plough will do, you may help yourself sufficiently in the making of your irons, if you would have the edge of your lying furrow lye up higher, which will yeeld most mould, then set your sharephin the shallower, and set your plough the broader, and hold it the more ashore, the plough-man going upon the land, and it will lay it with a sharp

« PreviousContinue »