THE TRIPLE PLOUGH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3901, 9 May 1877, Page 2

THE TRIPLE PLOUGH.

AA 7 e learn from a contemporary that in the old countiy, to economise labor, a neAV triple plough draAvn by horses is exciting attention. This simple and effective implement ploughs up three furrows at once, and is likely to prove a _ry valuable, not only in England Avhere labor is dear, but in other countries, where with variable climate, large tracts of land have to be ploughed up quickly by horses or oxen. The double plough, which cuts two furroAvs at once, is not, however, as many suppose, a modern implement, it having been in use so long ago as the middle of last century. It is only during the last feAv years that the double plough lias been used to any great extent in England, while in many other countries, Avhere immense tracts of virgin soil are brought under cultivation every year, it is comparatively an unknown implement, llus is the more surprising AA'hen it is considered that one man Avith three horses can Avith a double plough do as much Avork as two men using _avo single ploughs with four horses, thus ensuring a direct saving of at least one-third during each Avorknig day, so that double ploughs, as many farmers hi the mother countiy have practically demonstrated, soon pay for themselves by the economy they effect in labor and horses. In England the various agricultural societies are fully alive to the importance of this matter, ancl thus Aye see that at their annual ploughing matches several of the most important prizes are allotted to classes in which double ploughs only are alloAved to compete. By the mail Aye have received a report of the last of these competitions for 1876, which took place in December, at Cottenham, near Cambridge. It is said to have been not only the last, but the largest match in the kingdom. No fewer than 23 teams entered the field, and everyone of them was under the management of local ploughmen only. The test was therefore looked upon as fair and genuine, professional ploughmen, that is, ploughmakers' men Avith trained horses and racing ploughs being excluded. The ploughs aa .re by Hornsby, Howard, and Ransome, and the match excited widespread interest. After the public dinner, • at Avhich there aams a large gathering, it ( Avas announced that all the first and second i prizes were Avon Avith the HoAvard plough. Next year we may have to report that the i neAV triple plough has so far advanced in the old country that as the double is superseding the single, so the triple Avill supplant the double.