Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-11-26
HOW TO PLOw WE'LL.

my difectIohs LOT IioWlnS, WHICH are as
nearly perfec. as language without il.
lustration can give:
| There are three principal things re-
cessary to good plowing, first, the abil.
ity to properly guide team; second,
knowledge and tact to arrange the plow
to the work in hand; and third, an in
telligence in gauging the furrow. These
being learned, the rest is easy.
The greatest difficulty with plowmen
is in LAYING out and finishing the lands.
This being properly understood. the act
of plowing becomes simple enough
Let Us give one easy, efficient and orJi-
nary plan
SIT lire of light stakes across the
field; gauge the reins SO that, when
placed on the beam handle of the plow.
Mt the point where it is grasyed by the
hand, the team being il motion, they
will just bear kindly or the bits of the
horses. Place the team SO that tLe lire
of vision will be over the mold-board Of
the plow and between the hosses t. the
stakes. Set the rlow SO that it will
turn furrow from onc-half to three
quarters the depth the land is to he
plowed; grasp the lines with two fin
gers of the left hand, at the near or left
side of the handle, SO that when the
rein is pulled straight back there will
be leverage enough against the handle
with the Of rein to draw both alike
Thus, pulling slightly 10 the left will
swe-ve the team to the right, and cas-
ing on the rein will bring them to the
LETT. A steady rein will keep them
straight; and, however fresh the team
may be, if steady, no trouble will te ex-
perisnccd in keeping them in n direct
line to 20 good work. There is To 9th
er plan that we have ever tried by which
team is under SO good control Some
practice is req lired by the plowman to
do good work, but less than any other
plan, not even excepting the Irish way
Of grasping a rein liz each Lund while
holding the plow.
keeping tee eye directly alorg the
stakes, seek to plow them down that
they shall fall sideways. Upon reach
ing stake, do not stop, but continue to
the end of the furrow. Bringing the
team directly about, gauge the rlow. t.
GU. the full depth you wish to work
Turn the next slice and the previous
one into the furrow already orened.
stopping at each stake to place them
for the rcxt lard. and thus proceed un
til you have reached the starting point
Then GO once more about, drawing two
more burrows. An ordinary plowman
may then be trusted to finish two-thirGs
or threc-quartsrs OF The land.
In blowing the lands after they are
laid cut, the lines, without any detri-
ment to the work, ma" becar-icd around
the hips of tie r,owman; but if .leteam
he fairly trained, they Lay lie lightly
held with thetwo finyc-s OF the LEFT hand,
or even lc allowed to rest upon the han
dlc, which leaves the body entirely free.
and it is the motion Of TIE body asmuch
rs anything else that assists in doing
perfect work.
Each bolt about the plow should fill
the holes. and every nut should he
drawn tight. The beam should le in
direct li,.e Of draugLt, so that. when
the team * going forward, the plow will
cut its ordinary furrow with the guide
pin in the cc.ter hole OF the beam. AMI
when the side Of the plow is running
level. the furrow slice shall be turned
naturally, and perfectly in the rrrccG-
ing furrow If this be carefully attcn-
dcd to, any intelligent man can lc
taught in hAlf day on clear land, to
do fair work in blowing, By instructinc
him in holding the pow. ga"eing and
turning the furrow, and in bringing the
team and plow abou; at the ends.
1t is even more difficult to finish
land neatly and well than to lay II out.
In LAYING out the principal thing is to
see that the team draws even and walks
directly forward. Not only must this
he observed, bat. having q strip equal
to two furrow slices, tie plow should be
gauCei to take = furrow only :wo-;Eir3s
the usual depth. Having turned one
Of the burrows thus. realjust the rlow
to the ordinary gauge, and turn the
last furrow. making no ialks. Ii it be
necessary 10 clean the fu-row for drain
ace the p!ow may lie passed again, back
and forth, lcayIlc the cCLt:e full ct mel
low earth, through which the water vii
perco!lte readily.
Excellence in rlowiag consists II l&y-
ing out the lands, and thercaFtc-> locp-
lug the burrows perfectly st-aiEht; III
having thcm of uniform thick esS.
and in LAYING them III such Ran
ncr that they may best continue PER
n,eal!e to the air; II perfectly covering
weeds ard trash. So that they NAY not
inter with the subsequent working
If the crors; in So VARYING the imrl"-
merts that they nav DO as perfect woT K
as possible. whether in mellow soil. in
stiff Claws, among rubbish or weeds. in
stiff sod or ordinary sward. All these
must be reached by study-Eot only of
the proper share OF the Ilow used, but
also Of the nature OF the soil 20 be work
ed
All this the farmer should understand.
To the mere plowmau il Is rot essential
1t Is. however. essential that he lie all.
to take n team along, stake and strike
out the lands adjust and r,adjust the
the plow, TO suit the various contingen.
cies that NAV arise, and 10 perform his
work in d uniform and workmanGks
manner. This constitutes good p!owing
and the performer Is good rlowman
The perfect plowuan Is lie who can, TO:
Only do al this, but knows Why ii should
lie done. Ills constitutes IAtel,igcn;
lator. Wa: portion Of cur rloxnss