Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-05-08
agricultural.
On the Selection and Management Of
PlOWS.


There is no such thing as a universal pillow
because the objects Of farmers are so various
At one time he seeks merely to bury the 500
and weeds, at another, pulverization is the
chief end. 1t is occasionally necessary
turn the burrows half over to expose the
greatest possible surface to the weather.
Now are required deep-tilling plows whicL
will follow a common plOw and raise the
dirt twice as high as usual to throw it over
upon the inverted sod. Then subsOilers are
needed to loosen the lower layer without
turning or raising it. In some cases re-
versible plows are wanted to throw burrows
all in one direction. Each of these different
ends has its appropriate pattern best
adapted to its attainment. But on small
farms where the work to be done is prime
pally of the same character, it Will be IS
profitable for the farmer not to own all
these patterns, but to study carefully the
principles of excellence which apply % alt
plows alike. and to seek to understand the
great variety of effects which may be reached
by different adjustments Of the same implc-
ment.
In choosing a plow, the principal points
are the pulverizing power, the ease TO the
team, the strength at the weakest point, the
workmanship, and lastly, the price.
First the pul7erizing power depends upon
the shape of the mould board which may be
either so gradually sloped that the earth will
slide off in an unbrOken band, or it may b
sharply curved at the upper part so as to
catch the band of earth as it passes anu
crush and crumble 1t to powder, This break
ing up makes the pillow somewhat harder to
draw.
Second, Ease to the team depends princ-
pally upon the shape of the point and
cutting edge. By careful measurments
of the forces, it Is proven that the
strength of the team IS mainly spent in cut
ting the ground, just ID using a spade the
greatest power Is used II forcing it through,
and not in lifting and turning the soil.
The point and share should therefore
be sloping and sharp
Third, The weak spot in an ordinary well
made pillow is in the beam al its junction with
the share.
Having secured good pillow, its adjust
ment is next to be considered 1t should be
IN straight line, namely. the forward end
of the trace chain, the clevis, and third, that
part Of the share which is ne center of re-
quired to draw it. To this end these three
points should be in a straight line, namely, /
the forward end of the trace chain, the /
clevis and third that part of the share which !
is the centre of resistance. The latter point
is higher when the furrow is deep and lower
when it is shallow.
We can place these points in a line IN
Two ways NuCn HOb pAOElCAiJ dIJuobSIs
either by altering the length of the trace
chains, which varies the height Of the for
ward end of the traces, or by changing the
clevis, which means raising or lowering the
point of attachment between the harness.
Whether pillow shall lay lat furows or
shall turn them only half over, depends part
Iy on the aijustment of the coulter knife
which runs IN front Of the plow. If this
knife is perpendicular, the sod is so cut that
the first furrOw holds the second and pre-
vents 1t rom turning completely over. Bul
If the coulter is so placed to under the
sod, the first will be cut so as to offer no sup
porting corner OF the second iurrO v, and the
result is fat style of blowing which com
pletely burles the sod.
Besides being easy to draw and turning the
required kind of iurrow, the plow should run
steadily, and in ground free from stones o.
roots, should scarcely require to be held.
plOw iDcIines to fall over TO either side o.
run upon its point, it is either badly shared r
badly adjusted la the discovery of defects
and IN the lice and perfect adjustment
every part there is as much nect ssity for
skill and intelligence as inventing and manu-
featuring the implement.
Flows I've much of their present exec r.
lence TO the genius Of Thomas JtffJrso1, aDu
the efforts Of Ex-Governor Holbrook, Of Yer
mont.-SOuthern Workman.