. The book of the farm : detailing the labors of the farmer, steward, plowman, hedger, cattle-man, shepherd, field-worker, and dairymaid. Agriculture. DRAINING. 381 of the mole plow. In all those subsoils where bowlders occur, whether large or small, the mole plow is so inapplicable, its usefulness is limited to such subsoils as consist of pure alluvial clays. In England, and where extensive flat districts of country occur, there the alluvium may be found which are the proper sphere of action for the mole-plow. (860.) This plow is of extremely simple construction, as will appear from fig. 195,
. The book of the farm : detailing the labors of the farmer, steward, plowman, hedger, cattle-man, shepherd, field-worker, and dairymaid. Agriculture. DRAINING. 381 of the mole plow. In all those subsoils where bowlders occur, whether large or small, the mole plow is so inapplicable, its usefulness is limited to such subsoils as consist of pure alluvial clays. In England, and where extensive flat districts of country occur, there the alluvium may be found which are the proper sphere of action for the mole-plow. (860.) This plow is of extremely simple construction, as will appear from fig. 195, which is a view of it in perspective. It consists of a beam of oak or ash wood 6^ feet in length, and meas- Fig. THE MOLE-PLOW^. nring 6 by 5 inches from the butt-end forward to 4 inches sriuare at the bridle b. As the beam when in operation lies close upoa the ground, and is indeed the only means of regulating the depth at which the conduit is to be formed, the lower side is sheathed all over with a plate of iron about \ inch thick. This plate at the proper place (4 feet 4 inches, or thereby, from the point of the beam) is perforated for the coulter-box ; its fore-end is worked into an eye, which serves as a bridle, and is altogether strongly bolted to the beam. At the distance of a foot behind the coulter- box, a strong stub of wood is mortised into the beam at r, .standing at the rake and spread which is to be given to the handles. Another plate of iron, of about 3 feet in length and \ inch thick, is applied on the upper side of the beam ; the coulter-box is also formed through this plate, and the hind part is kneed at c, to fit upon and support the stub, to which, as well as to the beam, the plate is firmly bolted. The two stilts or handles cfare simply bolted to the stub, which last is of such breadth is to admit of several boll-holes, by which the hight of the handles can be adjusted. That which may be termed the head of the plow is a malleable iron plate of about
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectagriculture, bookyear
