Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-05-31
PLows AND FLOWING.

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PLOWS AND FLOWING.
what n Farmer Can Accomplish with q
Good Implement.
The mold-board Of the pillow Is an
inclined plane Hence the resistance
offered TO plows by the earth is in the
ratios OF the quotients obtained by di-
viding the right Of the mold-board by
its length. The shorter the mold
board and the more abrupt its curve
the greater the draft When the plow
has long, slender point the work
for the team is easier than when the
point is worn of till It Is short and
thick; so a piow with long line
drawn diagonally from the point, low
at tho rear and gently curved. makes
easier work for the team. Our object
should be to get plow having these
points in as marked degree as will adj
NIT of the plow doing good work. For
II the mold-board has not enough
curve. it will not turn the ground
well.
Some want for plowing sod a curve
so abrupt and high that the furrow
will be turned, or rather thrown, with
sufficient force to break the sod into
pieces. Some pieces are thrown cross
ways of the burrows aud others are
turned with the turf up. Now this is
just what some want, because then the
harrow will tear the sod into bits.
Both blowing and narrowing are very
hard on the team. and this, think.
should be a sufficient objection to this
kind of plowing Another objection
is that many bits Of the sod are left
with the turf up, ready to grow. For
plowing sod l prefer a low, gently
curved mold-board; this will turn the
sod upside down, but no more, and
will not break IL into pieces, When
the field is plowed the surface Is
smooth and no sod Is visible, and the
work for the team has beon the mini
mum. Then with the harrow | can
cut and pulverize the ground without
bringing turf to the surface.
For other ground. however, / prefer
higher, more sharply curved mold
board; one thatNyill turn the furrow
with sufficient force to break IL into
bits. However, the plow should not
throw the furrow with such force as to
bring part Of the ground that was on
the surface before to the surface again.
this puts a worse than needless increase
on the work of the team. for It is bet
ter to have the surface, exposed to the
sun and atmosphere through the year
buried, and fresh earth brought on
top. Not few plows have mold.
boards to high and sharply-curved for
any use. The curve of the mold. board
should be carefully considered in Sc
lecting the plow.
Much depends upon the way in
which the team is hitched. A straight
line drawn from the point where the
tugs are attached to the hames to the
center of resistance should have the
point of the beam in the same plane,
otherwise the horses must use some
power simply to lift or pull down the
point Of the plow. The result is in.
creased draft, greater wear on the
plow, harder work for the plowman
and poorer plowing. 1t is difficult for
us to locate the center Of resistance
scientifically, but we can determine
whether or not the team Is hitched
properly in this way: Select a spot Of
level ground. In this draw furrow
as deep rs you desire TO plow. Level
and smooth the bottom OF the
furrow. Place your plow in the fur
row and start the team along It. II
the point is raised from the furrow or
pulled into it, the team is not properly
hitched.
Another fault is having the plow
take too little or too much land. This
is easily remedied with aproper clevis.
The part fastened to the beam should
have row Of holes, to regulate the
depth Of the furrow. The horizontal
clevis working in this should have II
similar row Of holes, by which TO regu-
late the width of the furrow. Three
holes bored through the end Of the
beam, TO receive n guide pin, do not
admit Of a sufficiently accurate regu-
latiOn.
A majority Of the Liacksmiths are In
competent or careless. Unless you
watch them, they will spoil the plow
in sharpening it. A plow properly
made will, when set on a level floor,
touch the floor at all points Of edge of
the share; that Is. every point Of the
cutting edge and Of the lower edge Of
the land side is in the same plane.
Also the side ofthe land side is straight.
A careless or incompetent blacksmith
will get the point out OF place. lt
will curve up or down. or outward or
inward. or both. Then the plow must
dip push or wabble. The draft is in
creased and so is the wear. The best
plowing is impossible, and the plow-
man has a hard time Of It. A good
plow, properly attached, will run In
light soil and smooth ground without
a hand being put TO it. On Illinois
prairie land l have gone for eighty rods
through mellow stubble ground with
out touching the Plow.-SohH NJ
Stdhi, IN PhiiadeiDhid Press
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