The Hillsborough recorder., 1878-09-11
HISTORY OF TIE PLOUGH.

The history of the plough isremarkahle;
the most ancient aud suuple of machines.
yet il has been nlnoSi the last 10 undergo
improvements The FIRST plough Is suppus
ed 10 have been the rude brancn Of a tree.
cut - as 10 have cleft snd. the point ot
which. dragged along the surface Of The
gronnd, scraped liurrow into which seed
were thrown. IL saon occurred ~ The hus
handman tl.aslhc might relieve his own h
Dor by yeking an animsl 10 the long arm u
this primitive ihsirument; then arose the
necessity Tor u handle, affixed 10 the back.
30 that the plpugh might te guided. The
strength Of the animal soon we're AWAY or
broke the cleft Of the Lrahch. and lhas ne
cessity gave rise 10 tie invention cf mrans
fer attaching lnovuble shares. int ei i.wuod.
and next Of stone. copper, or iron. wnrked
to shape adapted 10 lhe cutting of iurroms,
50 ss 10 avoid the excessive labsr arising
from the ploughman's having 70 le,n upon
the plough With ali his weight To press it
inta the earth. Just such lmplen,ell,s IS
these. conjectnres lniicaie was BY the SAX
oss. Sumo of the facts connect with the
history ofihe plough are almost Incredible.
In Irrland there once prsvsilsda ,uslOm
II !. p.oagahg BY horses tail. - fhe
drsught>pole was lasl,ei TO the tail Of the
horse. and. - no harness was emphyed.
two men were necessary, one to guide aud
press upon the plaugh the other TO direct
the horse. which he dId BY walkIas bacA.
wards befsre the miserable aii,Inal. aud
beating il on the head on either side. ae-
cording TO the direction repaired. hls
custom prevailed for considerable time. III
spite Of law which was passed ~ the early
part Of fbe serenternih ceutury imposIns
severe penalties upUn l'efsons found guilty
Of ploughing By he horses tai: A pa
per iE the Transactions Of the Society Of
Antiqusnes Of Scotland speaks uf the
awkward custom " Joking Lurses By The
tail. and the driver of hsiross wafkng
backward with his facs directly turned Il
the horse which lie led The Rev. o. Ot.
way says: !. In ancient times, al through
The west of ireland it was the practice fe
work both the plough and the aoGrus with
horses drawing from their taik | am as
sured that il IS sill llsi0) part Of tic
Erris husbsndry.' In 1854, during ths
reign Of Charles I; the liish Parliament
passed the following Act against Plough.
lug By the Tsyle. aud Pulling the wOol VI
living Sheep No opersOu or persons Hhat.
saever sbsll. after one year hext ensuing
the end Of the present Parliament. plough,
harrow. draw. or work with sny nurse
gelding. mare. garreh, Ur coli, bY the tail,
az shall cause. procure. or suffer any car,
Tisges with bis horses. mares. gadiuss.
ga,rsns. Or cots, o. any II them By th'
tail; and that no per.lu ~ persons what
soeser sball. sitter Tic end % fLis pfcscn
psrlisnsrf. pull ihe WOOL of any lIsinl
sheep. o. cause o. procure 20 Le pulled 80
stead of she.ring " chipping of them; NJ,
ifaBy shall DO conirarie 70 this hct aud tb,
inteation thereof. that ID. justices of s-siz
st the general Hssizp. TO i,e holden brf"r
them. and the jsHiee of rcsee st ihei
quarter sessions shall hare power By tb:
act 10 enquire Of. besre aud determine a
and every offence aud oifsDeeS dune cpa
trary 70 the present act. aud ts punish th
offenders which shsIl d. contrary 10 H.
ssse By 6Be and imprisonment. a. they 4
their discretion shall think 6t /,