, 1891-04-18
THE PLOUGH.

THE PLOUGH.
TIE plough is the earliest known implement
Of Agriculture. In its earliest form it was
made Of a crooked piece of wood, of a suitable
shape, the one end pointed in the ground, the
other end serving as the handle and being fast
ened to a long pole, to which the draft animal
was hitched, and by frequent operations length
WAYS and cross ways, the soil was brought into
the desired condition to receive the seed.
Illustrations of such a plough may often be
seen in descriptions from distant countries,
not vet Influenced by modern civilization.
The writer has, some twenty years ago, seen
such primitive ploughs at work among the
natives of Porto Rico.
improvements were first made by adding on
a mould DO ard, next this and the points were
sharpened with iron, and, as the advantage Of
using iron became fully understood, this metal
was more and more made to replace wood, for
those parts especially which were most expos
ed to wear and tear in the soil.
The plough could thereafter, without being
made larger, better perform it's desired object
to cut up the soil in slices or burrows and to the
desired depth,
1t had at one period, to be supported in
front, by a kind of Wagon on two wheels.
Many of us present here can perhaps vet
remember having seeu such a plough at work,
in the old country.
Since then improvements and skilful inven-
lions have been steadily continued.
BY giving the plough a better shape, form
ing the mould-board cylindrical and so forth,
the heavy Wagon could be dispensed with,
and at last, we see the plough before us, in its
present attractive form, such as, for instance,
the American swing plough.
Minor Horton
No. % banking plough
" 19'h moulding do.
" sub soil do.
Before, however, entering into the merits of
these we'll known constl ~uctions, it will be in
t~eresting first to understand, what is required
from a plough in Santa Cruz.
First, it must be able to fallow-plough, that
is, to cut up the soil in slices, leaving burrows,
and lay the slices close and evenly over the
field; general width of furrow, from 9 to II
inches; depth from Z to 9 inches, and to per-
form this work without having to resist more
force than what a team of6 oxen can exert in
one operation quantity of work, half an acre
in a day of 9 hours.
Second, we expect the plough to score out
and raise our cane-banks of from 4 to 5 feet
wide and to a depth sufficient to give the bank
a substantial form.
Third, to subsoil, that is to break or loosen
the subsoil to an additional depth of from 4 to
6 inches.
Fourth, to break the cane banks and mould
the canes, as lightly as good work will allow,
and without injuring the roots of the plants.
How far the above mentioned constructions
have been able to give satisfaction, in perform
ing these different tasks, has chiefly depended
upon the pains taken and care bestowed on
their adjustment and keeping in repair, and
on the condition of the soil in the different
fields under operation; this latter, the condition
of the soil, deserves, particularly to be taken
into consideration when choosing a plough.
Naming myself with the Oldest members of
this present Agricultural body, we can say,
that for these many years, we have scarcely
seen any other constructions than the above
mentioned, they have become familiar to every
p~loughman, overseer or manager in the Island,
a liberal stock Of reserve pieces has always
been on hand, and if even the merchants stores
failed to supply them, a visit to our next door
neighbor was sure to turn out satisfactory.
Spread over all the estates in the island
these ploughs can be found, either in whole
or in parts, no wonder therefore that they
have become popular among us, and hard to
give VI.
Being however wide awake to the progress
made in improving Agricultural implements
everywhere, we must also acknowledge that the
implements which answered for the purpose