11

Implements of Hujlandry. — Skim-Coulter-Ploughs.

rows required to be laid flat, was, it is faid, lefs than could have been fuppofed ;probably in both furrows not more than from twelve to fix pounds*.

It is remarked by the fame author, in another work, that in order to qualifyploughs of this kind for broad work of every defcription, breaking up of leysnot excepted, thefe plates are abfolutely requifite ; and that in fingle ploughs theyare almofl equally fo. The principle of this moveable plate, fays he, though itmay not at firlt catch the attention of every one, has found flout advocates inploughmen, as it faves their right arm much trouble in w r edging and hammer-ing mould-plates, and their right leg much exertion in attempting to tread flat thefurrow which the plough had left on an edgef.

But, notwithftanding thefe ingenious and interefling obfervations, from the na-ture and conftru&ion of fuch ploughs, they mull obvioufly be much more limitedin their application than fuch as are fingle ; and under fome circumftances, as wherethe land is full of itones and uneven, perhaps wholly inapplicable.

Where, however, the circumftances of the land are fuch that they can be intro-duced with any probability of advantage, they ought not to be overlooked, as be-ing conducive, by their great difpatch of work, to economy in farming labour, whichis certainly an obje£t of much importance.

Skim-Coulter- Ploughs are a fort of ploughs that may often be employed withadvantage on extenfive farms, where there are fuch kinds of lands as require them.Of thefe ploughs there are many different ones adapted to particular ufes and fixa-tions ■; fuch as the Trench-Plough, which is fo contrived as to turn up the groundto a great depth, in foils of different kinds, where there is fufficient ftaple. Itis an exceedingly ufeful implement in various cafes, as, by means of it, landmay be opened to any depth in feparate horizontal flices, the weeds being thus cutoff in the firlt operation, while the next raifes a flice or portion of frefli mouldfrom below the foil which afforded the former crop, and depofits it upon therubbifh before turned down, by which means more abundant nourifhment isprepared for the crop that is to follow. For thefe purpofes, however, in allfoils, a ftrong team muft be had; but only one fuch tillage is required for moftcrops. From the flices of earth raifed by this plough, being placed one overanother, the ground generally harrows well, and the growth of weeds is in agreat meafure prevented. It is confequently evident, that, confidering the num-ber of ploughings generally given in the ordinary way of preparing lands for

* Communications to the Board of Agriculture, vol. ii.+ Somerville’s Syftem of the Board of Agriculture.