New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-16

The display of agricultural implements at
Paris comprises very large assortment Oh
ploughs from all parts of the earth. A CORE
sDondent of THE TRIBUNE has pointed out
the peculiarities Of these implements, in the
letter printed below, which will be found to
contain suggestions for manufacturers as well
as facts interesting TO the general public.
A QUAINT AND RICH COLLECTION
THE IMPLEMENT SHOWN IN IT'S BUDEsr AND MOST
IMPROVED FoRMs-PEcULIAR SHAPES IN DIFF
FERENr CoUNTmEs--ESGLIsH AND AMERICAN
RIVALRY IN RUSSIA.
tyRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNBl
PARIS, July 28.-It may be truly said of this Elk
bton that il contains plOughs Of all nations and all
ages. From the simple bent stick used 1000 years
ago in Egypt and still in vogue in some OF the
islands OF the Malay Archipelago, and shown IN the
exhibit of the Dutch Colonies, to the steam-pough
built by John Fowler & Co., of Leeds, England, ana
displayed in the English Agricultural Annex all
kinds are represented. There are four American
exhibitors: Deere, of Moline ILL.,; Gale, OF Albion
Mich; Speer, of Pittsburg, Penn; Farquhar' OF
York. Penn. Our exhibit is small in area ana
the implements are few IN NUMBER Du1
chew are Of good finish, quality and oOnstruc-
ton. The exhibition furnishes an excellent
opportunity to trace the progress by which man has
arrived at the present perfection in ploughs. say
perfection for there nothing left TO be desired
in this king of agricultural implements. Rnde
native ploughs were exhibited at Philadelphia from
greater number Of countries, but tho present DIS
play of primitive implements from Malasla ltalS
Spain aud China is so complete that the opportunity
of studying the unimproved tool is even better here
than il was at the Centennial. AT our exhibition
wooden ploughs were shown from Java Iunls
Japan, Siam, HindOstan. Brazil and NORWAY but IN
most cases only one Of o kind was displayed ana
the Jayanese were represented only by model
The two ful-sized ploughs Of Siam were secured by
Professor Baird for the National Museum. The
colonies Of Holland have here the finest collection of
Agricultural implements Of an unciyilsod race or
rather region which it has ever been my good for
time 20 see The Dutch seem to have managed
their colonies better than any other people under
the sum- aud Wallace declares Java to DO the best
cultivated island in the world England excepted
Rice mainly occupies the farmers care, for the
pepper vine and the sugar cane as well as some
Others Of the island products do not call for plough
and harrow rs does that plant. Its grain forms the
principal food for the people, and two OF three crops
are raised per annum Of the same ground. The
island excepting in the volcanic regions admits OF
careful cultivation the rains arc frequent and the
rivers ample both for purposes of irrigation and
transportation The implements and tools, how
ever are Of O rude description almost entirely OF
wood and the plougbs are adapted for single OK
in some eases and in other instances for two. In
the former case the OK walks IN triangular frame
of which The base forms the yoke, crotch OF wood
resting upon the animals neck, while the apex OF
the triangle Is Joined 10 the standard Of the plough
The plough for two oxen consists Of three pieces
the first Is hewed out INTO the semblGnee OF mould
board and share the second is the beam, joined to
the former and reaching forward to the yoke, while
Ia hieb Ia in
hand of the poughman. There are several Uloughs
FROM Java which vary somewhat from this descrp-
ton but they are used in the manner, the diff
ference arising probably from the desire of the
farmer to make available such blocks and bars OF
wood as may be at his disposal.
The mural paintings of Egypt, the ceramic ware
of Etruria the coins and monuments OF Greece and
Rome and many other remains of antiquity clearly
depict exactly the implements as are at this day
used In MALAYSIA and indicate also that they were
likewise OF wood, metal being then an expensive
commodity. The Malay harrow is like large rake,
of which the handle forms beam and goes to the
yoke couple Of stakes rising from the bar into
which the teeth are driven furnish handles for the
ploughman large-number Of axes, hoes. siekles
knives and hand-rakes is also shown, bgtthe plough
and harrow are the only implements OF cultivation
70 which oxen are attached. As IN ancient Egypt
horses are not used for farm labor in the Malay
islands, The natives carts and sleds made
without metal. but only use bOynes Tor Draft
With these tools immense crops OF nee are raised
and although large districts have been des0iated Dy
volcanoes yet the island sustains q population OF
-337 people to the square mile. The tools which
enable slch population to live, pay all tho eX-
pensos of administration and give a handsome
surplus for remittance co the Hague must DO very
fairly adapted to their purpose.
HOW CHINA IS REPRESENTED
just grade better than the Japanese ploughs are
errr-.- a. rriaa Of onH
in them instead Of three. The standard and handle
arc both stepped into the solepiece At the forward
end of the latter block is shaped to tnrn the soil
10 the right and this has sometimes plate OF iron
for mo9ld-bOard aud pointed one for share The
iron in the plough possibly weighs seven or oiGht
pounds The beam is framed to the standard and
handle and its forward end almost touches the
,qrouud whore the single-treo Is pinned The axle
Is a crotch Of wood, which forms collar. and thus
Is attached TO the singie-tree by rope traces.
The pougbs shown by Spain are very heavy and
large. They are crude forms of the pOughs which
may be seen along the road from Paris to Hayre,
once common in England. used also in PROVINCIAL
Amenca, and yet in use IN Lower canada. The
heavy wooden beam projects upward OF an angle oil
As degrees and rests IN crotch IN the axle OF two
wheeled carriage, to tho pole OF which TWO oxen are
bitched draft chain connects the oxen of the
truck TO the plough the standard of the latter
A score Of such from the department. OF Haute
Marine are in the Exposition, but the French
pIsuqbs have dropped the beam somewhat,
50 lha. 10 does not project so high nor at such an
angie The spanish Plonghs nave , Ren ~. plafte,
bracc-bar which also acts as coulter. share two
feet long thu and pointed rests at an inclination
upon the wooden sOlepiece into which the bent iron
beam Is framed. q strong and heavy wooden bar
forms the forward extension Of the beam, whose
weight suggests that three yokes OF oxen are proba
M, Ssed win tie implement The handle is a sim
ne bar projecting at anglo cf 45 degrees TO the
rear. aud has a hole cut through 1t like that Of
hand saw.
Haly sends a number Of ploughs which show the
adaptation OF the modern mOuld-board TO the an
cient stock. The length Of one OF them Is 10 feet
L. 1.nrl Ia inn feet ID
Another from CremOna, Of equal length. has two
handle and the forward end Of the beam rests .