The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-08

To understand its form and origin, il is necessary
to bear in mind that the plough was undoubtedly a
more expeditiously, a larger scale, by means Of
animal draught that which would, in the first in
stance, be the work of simple tool used by the
hand. In this country we should AT once pronounce
that tool TO be the spade but, If GO further off
than the shore of Spain and Portugal, we shall be
induced to pause before we award the palm o an
tiquty to that implement The city Of Cadz was
colonzed, at very remote period, from the eastern
shore of the Mediterranean, by the Phpnicians. No
district of Western Europe claims SO high pedi-
gree in regard to the useful arts the of the
Peninsula, reaching from Vigo to the Straits of
Gibraltar; and there we find that the implement of
single handed cultivation is not the spade but what
we should describe sort of hoe, with avery long
blade. With this the workmen clcave the ground,
using il as we do the pickaxe, dragging towards
him the broken soil; as he stands on which, the
treadng OF his foot helps in dry climate, to break
the clods as they arc turned away from the Gland
side" as the farmer would call it. II Is obvious
that this mode OF cultivation would not suit moist
climate like own, the trcadng would injure
instead of assisting the work of communion. The
Portuguese who got il through the Phenicians from
the East have in turn carried ii to their colo
MES where it may be seen in Madeira, the Brazils,
the West Indies and even ut the settlement OF Ma
Gao in China, the common instrument OF tillage,
iust as the spade is with have often been
priscd when watching its use both in Portugal and
Madeira at the efficiency with which IT performs
its task, tearing up the soil to the depth OF two, and
blade, but bent to a more acute angle with the
blades Of the pickaxe, and sometimes connected
with il by crossbar of wood iron, reminding
of the capital letter with leg shorter than
the other; comparison worth bearing in mind, for
reasons that will presently appear.
In the Egyptian paintings and heroglyphics in
the museum the object consistently occurs both by
itself and in the hand of the workman Now let va
imagine him, tired Of the slow progress of tearing
up the soil by hand with this implement to con-
ceive the idea Of yoking pair Of oxen (for horses
were never used in ancient agricuture) 10 the end
of the handle, and making them drag it along the
hiu.sef following, and holding il at the point
where the blade and the handle Join. The oxen
would in this case, only be doing more quickly
and ON a larger scale what the workmcn had been
doing slowly, though with more care and finish.
The Instrument would tear up the soil as II went,
and throw IL In irregular Jumps ON both sides; the
vorkmer however would desire that it should
throw the soil on one side only, in order 70 leave
clear trench to receive the next furrow- slice in
coming back; ne would soon find IL convenient,
however 10 give twist 10 the blade OF the instru-
nent, to make IL cast out the furrow slice on
or side. Now picture the yoke Of oxen pulling at
the end Of tho long handle, the man holding the in
srurfsent by the apex, extended ont little to give
him more leverage and command OF steadying it,
sbe blade twisted obIiquely, 40 ms 10 cut brward
and press on the soil sideways, and the little
bar sharpepAd as to cut the soil in advance in
stead Of being an impeachment; and we have at
once the rude elementary form Of the Egyptian
plough-tie same INSTRUMENT used by the Lycian
neasant 10 this very time, and containing the skee-
ION OF the machine, from the first that ever in
vented. down TO the latest new and improved
Scotch or English plough Of the present day.