Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/431

Rh throws out half the soil on one side, while the near shelve-board removes the other half to the opposite side; and thus a complete gutter is left, which extends from eight to ten inches in width, and is from six to eight inches deep.

One of the most important advantages resulting from this invention, is the saving in manual labour, which is computed at three-fourths; as 400 perches of land may thus be drained in one day, by a team of five horses, two drivers, and a holder; the expence of which, the inventor calculates at l6s.; whereas, if the same quantity of land were to be dug by hand, the cost would amount to 3l. 6s. 8d.

Mr. 's Plough may be applied to another valuable branch of agriculture; namely, the planting of . His method is as follows: First, trenches are made with the machine, at the distance of about two feet from each other; and in which the potatoes are set. Some manure is next spread on them in such trenches, and they are covered by drawing the plough through the intermediate spaces; so that each trench is filled by a ridge of soil. When the growing potatoes require an additional covering of mould, the weeds are previously cut, either by a hoe or weeding-hook; and, the two fore-coulters being taken off the plough, the implement is drawn between the ridges; it throws up an additional portion of soil upon them; and thus expeditiously effects the operation of .

Beside these, now described, several other ploughs have been contrived for particular purposes; but, having already given an account of the most valuable improvements, under the heads of, and , we shall conclude the present article with a description (extracted from M. 's "Tableau de l'Agriculture Toscane," 8vo. Geneva, 1801) of two ploughs, that are used in Tuscany, as well as in other parts of Italy; and which, from the simplicity of their construction, deserve to be more generally known in Britain.

The first is denominated the Greater Tuscan Plough: the sock is an iron plate, somewhat concave, which is from eight to nine inches, both in breadth and in length; it is sharpened on every side so as to divide the soil in an horizontal direction, and with great ease. The coulter is perpendicular upon the angle of the sock; and a moveable board (versoir) is placed flat over the chep, in such a manner as to form a continuation of the sock, and to pass under the clod which the latter has raised: but, as it describes a curve on the side opposite to that of the coulter, it deviates from the line, and is turned upside-down, together with the soil which it has received. The implement, thus constructed, meets with the smallest possible resistance in working the ground; its sock divides the earth with a facility equal to that of a common spade; and, as its motion is continued, it acquires greater power of action than the latter:—the coulter also, being vertical, passes on with less difficulty than such as are always in an inclined position. Lastly, the Italian mould-board being flat, receives the soil from the sock, which it turns over to the side, without increasing the resistance tered