REVOLUTIONISING THE PLOUGH.,

Otago Witness, Issue 1320, 17 March 1877, Page 18

REVOLUTIONISING THE PLOUGH.,

| "The last i ten years have seen several yery' important improvements in thia most-used of air agricultural implements —the plough, — and yet others will follow. The latest invention is the rotary plough, consisting of two wheels, with rims of steel, and revolving obliquely to the furrow. Of course, in certain kinds of soil the rotary plough will turn a furrow, but we doubt very much whether it can ever supersede the plough now in use, which, though] mounted on wheels or geared to . a single beam, is substantially the same. To plough well, the soil must not be shoved aside from one furrow to another — it must be turned completely over. This is necessary for two reasons. First, because the vegetable growth of the surface must be turned under to rot ; and Second, because the lower stratum must ace the light of day, and, have the lifegiving influence of sun and air to make it. productive..,- : ■ On level land the- gang-plough has come 1 to be aliridst universally U3ed, but only for the- first - ploughing of the soil. For cultivation the old single plough is, and always will be used, varied by the cultivator. The- rotary plough can only be used, if at all, in mellow land, and for stirring the ground simply, the cultivator is fully as good. It is a good idea to give all such inventions a thorough trial in the same kind of soil on which it ia proposed to be operated before investing. The improvement mo3t needed is a plough that will run deeper rather than one that, will run easier and scratoh. over more ground in a day. — San Francisco Chronicle.