The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-24
bic Of being modified to suit these condi-

the point of attachment of the harness
tug and the hame to the ground, and
another line from the same point to the
centre of work in the mouldboard Of the
Plow, and horizontal line connecting
the centre of work with the pcrpendicu-
lar line, then the bypothenusc Of the
triangle thus formed represents the total
tractive effort, the horizontal line, or
base Of the triangle, represents the use
ful tractiye effect, and the pcnpendcu-
lar line represents the part Of the trac-
ton which is expended in pulling the
horse down upon the grown. In some
cases onc-tbird Of the tractiye effort of
the horse is expended in increasing the
pressure of the horses feet upon the
ground instead Of in advancing the
plow.
In IL I4-inch plow the earth is Gle
vatcd. say ID inches, carried sideways
ID inches and deposited, inverted, in the
preceding furrow. 1t, is easy to sec
that ench inch of unnecessary elevation
p
ry labor during the lifetime of plow,
and that the carrying Of all the surface
soil sideways to the preceding furrow
represents great aggregate travel Of
soil--that is, effort in ploughing large
fields.
The share Of the plow, like the tlukc
Of ships anchor. is shaped SO as to
draw down into the soil. The line Of
traction, from the center Of the mould
board to the center Of the horse collar,
tends to draw the plow out Of the
ground. The plow advances horizon
tally as sort of compromise between
these divergent lines, and there clearly
results Il loss Of power occasioncd by
the line draft being in one plane while
the line Of traction is in another plane.
When the total weight Of all the sur
face soil which is elevated, and also car
ricd sideways, in ploughing all the cult
waited area Of this country is calculated,
it is clearly seen that the agriculturists
of the country waste, each year, in Incl |
dental, but not in useful work in cxccs-
sivc sliding friction in indirect lines of
traction; III unnecessary rcsistances
caused by imperfect forms, and by mad
justibility Of form Of the plow, a greater |
amount of labor than was wasted by the |
builder of the great Pyramid in Egypt,
or in the building Of the Chinese Wall |
If all the soil thus removed were trans
por,cd TO the aggregate distance which |
it is transported and elevated TO the ag- !
one heap, no one would dare attempt
the removal of the heap with no better
implement than the plow.
Although 1922 patents have been
granted on the plow in this country
alone, it still offers Il promising field for
future inventors. The killing strain on
the muscles Of horses in starting street
cars was not fully considered until tie
electric motor took the place of horses
in street car work then it was found |
that it required three times as powerful
was started. The loss of power in vch-
clcs, by sliding friction was not under
stood until the bicycle, propelled by hu-
man muscle, showed the utility Of con-
verting sliding into rolling friction by
ball bearings, and the labor wasted in
dragging the plow will never, perhaps,
be rightly considered unless inventors
themselves drag the plow, and inquire
into the reasons and causes of the cXces.
sivc effort required by this ancient and
indispensable implement upon which all
civilization depends. The horse and
mule cannot complain, and so the plow
remains the plow, improved in material
and in workmanship, but retaining
many of the faults Of the plow of our re.
mote ancestors.
1t would seem that agriculturists have
to observe the working of the impl,;-
mcnts they use, to notice errors Of con
struction, to study the conditions, and
should have ability to suggest means Of
Improvement. Singularly, very few
cases arc known where agricultursts
have invented or improved their mplc-
mcnts. More singularly, very few radi-
cal inventions or new departures have
been made by men in their own lines Of
work. The machinist instinctivcly