_The making of the_ DRILL, _and the_ HOE-PLOUGH, _&c._
To a Workman, who would make these Instruments, I would add the
following Directions.
The First thing to be done for making the Drill, is to place half a
Sheet of Paper to the Back of Plate 2. by pasting it on to its Margin;
and likewise another half Sheet to Plate 3. in the same manner.
Then with a Needle prick through all the Out-lines of A, B, C, and
D, in _Fig._ 2. which will mark out both Sides, and both Ends of the
Mortise of the Turnep Drill-box. Also prick through the Out-lines
of the great Hole in the middle of A, and of the elliptical Hole
in B. Also prick the little Hole at E, in A; and at F, in B. Prick
through the prick’d Line _p q_, in B; which is the Line to which the
Setting-screw _Fig._ 6. or _Fig._ 12. that is to pass through the Hole
in C, must be parallel.
When the Paper is taken off, cut out of it the said A, B, C, and D, by
the Pricks made by the Needle.
Then cut the same in Pastboard, by laying these Pieces of Paper thereon
(because Pastboard, being stiffer than Paper, will be more fit for the
Use). Draw a Line with Ink on the pricked Line, _p q_.
[Illustration: _Plate. VI._
_Page.408_
_B. Cole. Delin. et Sculp._]
The Hole in C must be something larger than in the Cut, because the
Setting-screw must be so, being best to be of Brass, which is less apt
to rust than Iron, of which Metal it was formerly made; but Brass,
being weaker, requires the more of it to equal the Strength of Iron.
The Wreath, _Fig._ 14. is not necessary, because the Slider, _Fig._ 15.
is sufficient without it; but then care must be taken, that the Edges
of its Claws A B, which rub against the Cylinder of E, in _Fig._ 9. be
taken off, to prevent their cutting it. This Slider is sometimes made
of Brass, and sometimes of Iron.
Thus the Workman will have the Sides and Ends of the Turnep-mortise,
which make the Whole of it, whereby he may make it exactly in soft Wood.
_Fig._ 7. called the inner Cylinder, being put into the Cylinder A,
of the Steel Tongue, _Fig._ 4. whereby the Holes for the Axis of the
Tongue, being the lower from the Top of the Mortise, do not only secure
the Edges of the Mortise from breaking out, but also give room for the
Flanches B, C, in _Fig._ 9. to be made to reach as far forwards as the
Axis of the Tongue, and farther: Hereby the Hole, in the Bottom of the
Hopper, may be as wide at the fore End, as at the pricked Line at the
Letter B.
The Notches in the Spindle, _Fig._ 5. seem to appear deeper than is
usual for Turnep-seed; but I remember I have drilled Furze-seed with a
Turnep-drill without altering the Notches. As for the Shape of these
Notches, they are so fully described in _Fig._ 6. and _Fig._ 8. of
_Plate_ 3. that I can add nothing to that Description; only that those
being for the Wheat-drill, the Size of Notches for the Turnep-drill
must be lesser in some proportion to the lesser Size of the Seed.
For making the Wheat-drill do the same as for the Turnep-drill. The
_Fig._ 3. in _Plate_ 2. is one Side of the Mortise, by which must
be made Two in Pastboard. _Fig._ 10. in _Plate_ 2. and _Fig._ 9. in
_Plate_ 3. are the Two Ends of it.
The Cover that prevents the Wheat from falling down on the hinder Side
of the Spindle, is one intire Piece of Brass, which is marked B in
_Fig._ 3. of _Plate_ 3. but the Shape of it, with its Hole whereby it
is held in by a Screw, is only seen in the Side, _Fig._ 3. of _Plate_
2. and there described by pricked Lines; and by pricking through them,
the Shape of the End of the Cover may be taken, which Cover is of the
same Shape from End to End.
The Joyner who cannot by these Additions, and the Explanations of the
_Plates_, make these Drills in Wood, doth not deserve the Name of a
Workman.
When he has once made them whole, he can easily make them in Halves
like _Fig._ 8. in _Plate_ 2.
By these Halves the Founder will make his Moulds proper for casting
them in the best Brass. But in these Halves for Casting, there must be
no other Holes, but the great Holes, and the Hole for the Setting-screw.
The great Hole in the Mould must be largest at E, in _Fig._ 9. _Plate_
2. and lesser in the Inside in _Fig._ 8. for as it must be of a conical
Shape for making the Core, if it should be cast bigger within, when
the Whitesmith bores it (as he must) to an exact Cylinder, the End E
would be in Danger of bursting by the Force of the Boring, as it is
much thinner than in the Mortise. And besides this, if there should be
any little Flaw in the Edges of the Hole within the Mortise (which the
Founder must avoid as much as possible), it may perhaps be bored out by
means of the Hole’s being less there. The Hole must be something less
in the Mould than its proper Size, even where it is largest; else it
may happen, that in boring it to a true Cylinder it may become too big.
And I believe, in the Cooling of the Brass, the Hole grows bigger as
the Spindle grows less.
For the Hole of the Setting-screw, lay on upon the dark Part of _Fig._
8. one of the Pastboard-sides; and from the black Line _p q_, draw a
Line coincident to it as on the Brass, for making the half Hole A by;
and the other Half of it on the opposite Half-side.
These Pastboards will be very useful to the Whitesmith, for directing
him to find the Places where the Holes for the Axis of the Tongue, and
those for screwing the Two Halves of the Mortise together, are to be
made. I advise against boring the great Hole with a Tool (a Bit) with
more than Four Edges; for it would be apt to tear the Brass.
The great Hole of the Turnep-drill is bored with Tools like those
wherewith a Gun is bored. But the Wheat-drill is bored with a
Screw-stock, whose Edges are made sharp for that Purpose, and may be
set wider or narrower at Pleasure: It is put into the Hole along with
an half-round Piece of Wood, the lower End of the Stock being set fast
in a Vice: The whole Seed-box (for it must always be screwed together
before it is bored), being put on the End of the Stock (made taper a
little way for entering), is turned round it by a long wooden Spanner,
which hath a Notch in the middle of it, to receive the whole Seed-box,
in order to bore it by turning it round upon the Stock.
The Brass ought to be of the best Sort, which will be easy to file, and
yet not mix with baser Metal.
The Seed-boxes may be cast whole by these Moulds; but I prefer those
that are screwed together, for several Reasons, which I have not time
now to write.
There is a Turnep Seed-box come to my Hands that was made by
Pretenders; I wish it is the only one made in the same manner; for
it is useless; the Notches in the Spindle are much shorter than the
Breadth of the Mortise; at each End of the Notches is a deep Chanel (as
deep as the Bottom of the Notches) quite round the Spindle, instead
of a Mark, which should be but just visible for cutting the Notches;
and instead of a tender Steel Spring, there is a strong Piece of Iron
without Elasticity. By means of this Iron, the Machine grinds the Seed,
instead of drilling it.
What I shall here add concerning the Wheat-drill, is some Alterations
in _Fig._ 21. of _Plate_ 4. _viz._ The fore Share and Sheat must be
left out for drilling Wheat, up more middle Rows being used. And the
Two Beams B B in the Plough, _Fig._ 1. must be set to make Chanels Ten
Inches asunder. And the double Hopper, _Fig._ 15. must be set nearer
together, so as the Seed may fall into the middle of the Funnels of the
Beams.
Tho’ there is no Necessity of Marking-wheels for guiding the
Drill-horse upon Ridges; yet they are very useful for holding the Drill
steady, and to prevent its tottering, which without the Marking-wheels,
and the fore Hopper, it is apt to do, when the Shares stand so near
together as Ten Inches; and on a narrow Ridge one of the hinder Wheels
might run off to the Furrow, and draw the Shares after it, if the Drill
were not kept steady by the Marking-wheels, and by their Hopper, which
takes hold of the single Standard by _Fig._ 22. as is seen in _Fig._
21. in _Plate_ 4. But there should not be so much room in it on each
Side of the Standard, left the Plough by that means should have too
much room to totter, now the Shares are so near together.
The Marking-wheels must be set at the Distance of the Breadth of Two
Ridges, which, as we now make them, is about Nine Feet and an half from
Wheel to Wheel.
The Brass Box may be taken out of the fore Hopper: And tho’ that
Hopper be of no Use to the double Row, except as is abovesaid; yet if
there should be Occasion to press the Marking-wheels deeper into the
Ground for keeping the Plough the more steady in its Course, it may
be usefully filled with Earth, or other Matter, sufficient for that
Purpose. And besides, it may serve to plant Three Rows of St. Foin,
when the fore Share and Sheat are put in, and the Beams and hinder
Hopper set a Foot or Eighteen Inches wider, and the Marking-wheels at
their due Distance, as is directed in the Essay. Thus the same Drill
may plant Wheat and St. Foin.
A Drill for the double Rows might be made with a single hinder Hopper,
instead of the double one. And there is a Contrivance to supply the Use
of the fore Hopper for keeping the Plough steady, and more easy to make
than that Hopper; but this cannot be described by Words without Cuts.
The Lime wherewith the brined Wheat is dried, receiving some of the
Salts from the Brine, will stick in the Notches of the Spindle; yet
never makes any Stoppage to their Delivery of the Seed; but every Year
we clean the Notches from the Lime with a Chissel, and, if it were done
oftener, it would not be amiss.
There is an Accident that may possibly happen, but never to a careful
Driller; _viz._ a large Clod may some way be thrown into a Funnel
of the Beam of the Plough, either by a Wheel, or by the Paddle that
cleanses the Sheats from the Dirt that sticks to them when the Earth is
wet. This may stop the Wheat from falling out of the Funnel into the
Trunk; and then, so far as the Plough, goes thus stopped, the Chanel
will have no Seed in it; but the Driller that follows may take it out
immediately, which if he should neglect to do for never so little a
Distance, he ought to stop the Plough whilst he supplies the Chanel
with Seed from his Hand as far as it is empty. When there is any Danger
of this, as in very rough cloddy Ground, it is best to take off the
Drill-harrow, to the end that the Chanel may lie open for receiving
the Seed from the Hand. But if the Ends of the Hopper reach below the
Funnels, and they are otherwise defended, as they may be, this Accident
can never happen.
When the Drill-harrow is taken off, the best way for taking up the
Plough to turn it, is to bore a Hole of about half an Inch Diameter in
the End of each Beam behind the Funnels, and fasten a Withe into these
Holes; by which Withe the Driller very conveniently takes hold with
one Hand, and lifts up the Plough, laying his other Hand on the Hopper
to keep it steady. This Method of taking up the Plough hath been often
used for the Wheat-drill, and for the Turnep-drill; and in the latter
the Hole in the one Beam holds the Withe as well as do the Two Holes in
the former.
There are new Editions of some of these Engines, which cannot be fully
described without more _Plates_; but since those already described
are found by Experience to be sufficient for the Purposes they were
designed for, new Editions of them are not necessary, tho’ convenient
in many respects.
Reason will easily make Additions to the Instruments when they are
necessary; as when more than one Brass Spindle is to be turned by one
or each Wheel for planting Clover amongst Barley after it is come up.
’Tis done by a very light Plough, drawn by a Man: It plants Four Rows
at once Eight Inches asunder: The Shares are very short and narrow, and
so are the Sheats and Trunks. ’Tis not difficult to put on a Crank at
the other End of the Brass Spindle, in the same manner that the Handle
that winds up a Jack is put on, and to fasten it at the Hole at I in
_Fig._ 5. of _Plate_ 2. This Crank must, at its first turning, before
it turns up towards the Letter H, of the same _Fig._ be long enough to
reach to within an Inch of the Fork of the Second Spindle. Thus each
Wheel may turn several Spindles, and then this Drill may plant many
Rows of Seeds at once.
When you plant Rows nearer together than Eight Inches, it is best that
the Plough have Two Ranks of Shares and Hoppers, else the Earth may be
driven before the Shares; but with Two Racks of them, they will not be
more apt to drive the Earth before them in making Rows at Four Inches
asunder, than at Eight, when there is only a single Rank of Shares.
But I think this near Distance of Four Inches cannot be proper for any
Sort of Seeds, except Flax-seed; and even for that Seed not necessary.
If the Land be made fine, a single Rank of Shares will go very well to
plant Rows at Seven Inches asunder.
I had formerly a Drill-Plough for drilling across very high round
Ridges for Hand-hoeing, where Horse-hoeing is impracticable: It had
no Limbers; but it had little Ground-wrists to make open Chanels, and
had Handles behind it, whereby the Driller raised up the Tail of the
Plough, when it was passing the Summit of the Ridge. There were neither
Funnels nor Trunks; for these would hinder the Seed from falling into
the Chanels, both by the Plough’s going up and down the Ridge. The
Hopper was drawn by the Plough in such a manner, that in passing all
Parts of the Ridge the Wheels were not raised from the Ground: The
Chanels were equally supplied with Seed throughout: It planted Four
Rows at once, at a Foot asunder. I used this Drill-Plough 30 Years ago
in _Oxfordshire_: I have no such Ridges here, nor consequently any
Occasion of such an Instrument; and did not make Cuts of it, because it
is not useful for Horse-hoeing. I only mention it here for the Benefit
of those who have a mind to plant such Ridges regularly with an Engine:
I hope their own Reason will enable them to contrive such a Plough,
especially now they have the manner of making the Drill, Hopper, _&c._
shewn to them.
I have made a very material Addition to the Hoe-Plough, of _Plate_ 6.
_viz._ At the fore End of the Beam _Fig._ 2. is the Hole I, by which
alone let the Plough be drawn, leaving out the Hole H; instead of the
Hole G make a Mortise, Three or Four Inches long, and as broad as the
Thickness of the Iron Pin, the End and Nut of which are seen at C,
in _Fig._ 1. This Pin should be more than half an Inch Diameter, and
square at that End that goes into the Mortise; let the hinder End of
the Mortise just appear behind the Plank, when the Beam is at right
Angles with it.
By means of this Mortise there may be many more Holes through the Plank
without Danger of splitting into one another the Holes in the Beam,
which must answer those in the Plank.
Draw many Lines from the Middle of the foremost Hole of the Plank to
the hinder Edge of it, at (suppose) a quarter of an Inch from one
another there; and then bore a Hole in that Part of each Line that is
least apt to break into the next Hole to it.
Every System of Holes in the Plank will have like Benefit of being
increased in their Number by the Convenience of this Mortise; without
which it is impossible to have so great Variety of turning the Point of
the Share to make the Share go parallel to the Horse-path.
The Board described in _p._ 403. we now use very seldom in Hoeing of
Wheat.
_Explanation of Plate_ VII.
_Fig._ 1. shews the Plank and the Harrow of the latest and best
Drill-plough, most simple, and accommodated to the present Practice of
planting double Rows.
A is the Plank, with all its Mortises and Holes; _b_ is the Mortise
into which the Tenon of the fore Sheat of the Drill-plough, for
planting treble Rows, was fastened; _d_ is the square Hole for
receiving the Seed from a Hole of the same Shape and Size in the Bottom
of the Funnel.
When the Sheat is taken out of the Mortise _b_, and another Sheat is
made exactly the same with that, place them in the Mortises _a a_, and
make the Two square Holes _c c_ behind them, for their Funnels to
stand on. Make the Mortise _e_, which is to hold the single Standard
that is to hold up the fore Hopper in the treble Drill, and in this to
guide the Wheels also, instead of Wreaths, that in the treble Drill are
put on the Spindle bearing against the Insides of the double Standards;
for in this the Shares being but Ten Inches asunder, and at such a
Distance from each of the Wheels, that neither of them doth by rising
lift up a Share perceptibly; but if the Shares were wide asunder, or
there were more of them reaching nearer to the Ends of the Plank, a
Wheel might rise up, and lift a Share out of the Ground, if guided by
the single Standard and Hopper, as in this. The single Standard is
shewn in _Plate_ 4. _Fig._ 10. but this has no Fork at its Bottom,
as that has. This has only a single Tenon, and is shouldered before,
behind, and on each Side, to hold it the more firm and steady, when
tightly pinned down by Two Pins underneath the Plank. The Dimensions of
this Standard are the same with those of the other; but the Shoulders
must not increase the Thickness of the Standard any higher than the
Tops of the Funnels.
The Four other square Holes, _viz._ _f_ with another behind it, and _g_
with one before it, are for the double Standards, which are to be well
shouldered, or braced on the Side of each that is next to the End of
the Plank, and on the Outside. There is no need of Shoulder or Brace
on the Sides where the Spindle is placed, or on the Side next to the
Middle of the Plank.
The Four round Holes _h i k l_ are those thro’ which the Four Pins pass
that hold on the Limbers, and the Piece A, in _Fig._ 2. and the other
of the same Sort in _Fig._ 4.
_Fig._ 2. and 4. shew how the Harrow’s Leg B is held to the Piece A, by
the Pin C. The Letters _a b_ shew the Holes through which the Pins do
pass to screw the Piece A up to the Plank, and the Limbers for guiding
the Harrow. This Piece A is somewhat longer than the Breadth of the
Plank; it is about Two Inches thick, and Two and an half in Depth. The
Pin _Fig._ 3. goes through this Piece near the Bottom of its fore End,
whereby the Harrow tines have the more room to rise up, without being
held down by the Legs pressing against the Plank.
_Fig._ 3. is the Pin C, of _Fig._ 2. _a_ is its Head, _b_ its round
Part, whereon the Harrow moves; _c_ is its square Part, that prevents
its turning, which by the Motion of the Harrow would unscrew the Nut
_d_, and cause it to come off of the Screw _e_, and be lost.
The Harrow is also shewn in _Fig._ 1. as it is guided by the Pieces
before described: B is its Head, that holds the Tines D D, drawn by
the Legs C C. Tho’ these Legs _in Plano_ seem in their Middle to
crook sideways, yet when out of Perspective, their Middles crook only
downwards; which is to give the greater Length to the Tines, and the
more room for them to move up.
_Fig._ 5. is the Spindle in Three Parts. A is the middle Part, wherein
are the Notches _b b_. This is best to be of Oak, or some other hard
Wood, in which the Edges of the Notches are less apt to wear than in
softer Wood; but I have had a Set that have lasted the Drilling of
120 Acres, when made of Ash. B and C are the Two other Parts: D and
E are their Ends, whereon the Wheels are put. The Holes _h h_ _h h_,
and the same in the other End under the Letter E, are for setting
the Wheels at different Distances, in order for making new Notches,
or for different-sized Ridges: The Wheels are held in their Places
by long Nails put through some of these Holes, and clenched upon the
Iron Stock-bonds to prevent their falling out. These Ends B and C need
not be cut to a Square; except just enough to prevent the Wheels from
turning on the Spindle.
These Three Parts are grafted together by Help of the hollow Cylinder
_Fig._ 6. which, being put on upon the Joint _f_, of the Spindle _Fig._
5. holds the Parts A and B together by the Two Pins _a a_, passing
through the Cylinder near its Ends, and through the Holes _k_ and _g_.
This Joint may be in another manner; _viz._ One Part of the Spindle may
enter into the other by cutting it to a square Peg of an Inch long, and
³⁄₄ths Diameter, entering an Hole that fits it, at the End of the other
Part.
These Pins will be best to have Screws at their Ends with Nuts to
them; and then they need not be so tight in the Holes, and may be the
more easily taken out, when the Part B is to be taken off for avoiding
Obstructions in drilling an outside Ridge.
The Cylinder is a Foot long, and about half an Inch thick, bound with
an Iron Ferrel at each End; and if there were another in the Middle, it
might be the stronger.
Place the Cylinder on the Outside of the Spindle, the Joint _f_ being
exactly against the Middle of the Cylinder; and mark at each End of it,
in order to see when it is in its right Place; and after it is put on
and pinned, mark likewise on the Spindle the exact Places of the Holes,
for the more easy finding them every Time the Cylinder is put on.
Another Cylinder must be on the Joint _c_, held together by Pins
passing thro’ the Holes _i_ and _d_, in the same manner, and for the
same Purpose, as the other Joint already described.
The Spindle ought to be of equal Diameter with the Bore of the
Seed-boxes, thro’ which it is to pass; but this I find, needs not be
quite an Inch and ³⁄₄ths; it may want an 8th of it, even in this long
Spindle.
_Fig._ 7. is one of the Pins which hold the Cylinder in its Place, as
has been said; _a_ is its Head; _b_ the Stalk, which would be better
to be a Screw at its lower End, whereon to screw a Nut; but then the
Stalk must be square at the Head.
_Fig._ 8. is a Sheat with its Trunk and Share of the Drill-plough,
which has been described in _Plates_ 4. and 5. but the Shape of the
Share, as it rises at the Socket, is more plainly seen in this Figure.
_Fig._ 9. is the whole Wheat-drill, which at present I use for planting
the double Row. A is the Hopper, rising and sinking on the single
Standard B, which holds it up. C is the thing like the Carrier of a
Latch, described by _Fig._ 22. in _Plate_ 4. I need say no more for
describing this Drill, than to shew how it differs from that described
in _Plate_ 4. _viz._ This Hopper has Two of these Carriers, the one
near its Top, like the other; and another near its Bottom, which keeps
the Plough from rising at either End, without the rising of either End
of the Hopper, which is no Inconvenience here; because the Two Shares,
being but Ten Inches asunder, are almost the same as one; so that at
the Distance the Wheels stand from each other, the rising of one Wheel
doth not lift up the Share that is next to it perceptibly; as it would
do if the Shares were farther asunder, or the Wheels nearer together.
This Hopper holds twice as much Seed as the single fore Hopper did,
_viz._ half a Bushel; and is divided into Two equal Parts by the
Partition _e_, whereby the Driller sees whether the Seed is discharged
equally; and if he perceives that one Part of the Hopper runs out
faster than the other, he must adjust them by the Setting-screws.
The Funnels _a a_, which receive the Seed from the Hopper, and convey
it down into the Trunks _c c_, appear under the Hopper, as doth also
Part of the Hole _d_, whereon the Funnel stood when the fore Hopper
was single. D shews the Cylinder upon the grafted Spindle at one End,
as F shews where the other End with its Cylinder and Wheel is taken
off. The Ends of the Piece A, which guide the Harrow, appear behind
the Plank at _f f_. At _g_ in the Harrow-head is a Hole exactly in
the Middle between the Tines, for tying on a Stone when the Harrow is
too light for the Soil. _Note_, This Hole must follow exactly after
the Middle of the Plank, _i. e._ between the Two Shares at an equal
Distance from each.
Observe, that the Legs of this Harrow go thro’ the Head on the Outsides
of the Tines, as in the treble Drill they go thro’ on the Inside of the
Tines. Instead of the wooden Tines, may be put in common Iron Tines of
a proper Length.
The Two Hooks whereby the Plough is drawn are at _h h_. ’Tis best
for the Ends of the Hooks to turn upwards, so that the Links of the
Chain-traces, that are to be put on them, may not be apt to drop off.
Take care that these Traces be of an equal Length, which may be easily
made even by the Links that are put on these Hooks.
_Note_, The Links of the Piece of Chain, whereby the Plough is made
to go deeper or shallower, may be very small, and by no means in the
Proportion they bear to the Limbers in the Cut. There need not be above
Four or Five Links. If there be occasion to raise or sink the Limbers
more than that Number will reach, the Cord may be tied longer or
shorter on the other Limber. And when there is not the Convenience of
Chain-traces, they may be supplied by a few Iron Links at the Ends of
Hempen Traces.
_Fig._ 10. is the Shape of a wooden Wreath, which (when the Shares
stand wider asunder, or when there are more than Two of them, so that
they come nearer to the Ends of the Plank, this Wreath) is necessary to
be put on the Spindle, the End _a_ bearing against the Inside of the
double Standards, and the End _b_ being towards the Hopper. ’Tis fixt
to the Spindle by the Screw _c_, which should not enter the Spindle
above half an Inch deep. There may be another like Screw to enter in
the same manner on the opposite Side of this Wreath. There must be in
this case another Wreath the same of this to bear against the other
double Standards. And when these Wreaths are used, the Hopper must have
only the upper Carrier C; the lower one must be taken off. But in this
our Drill for planting Wheat, no Wreaths must be on the Spindle, except
those at _b b_, which are to hold the Hopper from moving endways. And
these may be of the Sort above described, the End _a_ bearing against
the Hopper.
_Fig._ 11. is the Beam of the Hoe-plough described in _Plate_ VI.
_Fig._ 2. with no other Alteration than leaving out the Hole H, and the
pricked Line between it and the Hole I; and changing the Hole G into
a Mortise. The pricked Line _a b_ represents the hinder Edge of the
Plank, behind which appears a very small Part of a Mortise. See _p._
415, 416.
_Fig._ 12. is the Plank, which is _Fig._ 3. in _Plate_ VI. The
Improvement of it in this Figure is described in _p._ 415, 416.
_An_ Appendix _to Chap._ IX. _of_ Wheat, _p._ 138. _containing_
Memoranda _for the Practisers of this_ Husbandry.
At the Second Hoeing the Plough goes in the Furrow of the First,
making it deeper, and nearer to the Wheat. The Third Hoeing fills up
this Furrow; and then, at the Fourth Hoeing, the Plough goes in the
same Place as the Second, turning the Mould into the Interval. ’Tis
remarkable that though the Furrows of the Second and Fourth Hoeings
be deep, and near to the Rows, seeming to deprive the Wheat of the
Mould which should nourish it, whereby one would imagine, that these
Furrows lying long open should weaken or starve it; yet it is just the
contrary; for it grows the more vigorous: And it is the Observation
of my Ploughmen, that they cannot at these Hoeings go too near to the
Rows, unless the Plough should tear out the Plants.
[Illustration: _Plate 7._
_P. 422_
_Invented & Designed by & Printed for JETHRO TULL ESQ Oct: the 25^{th}
1738]
If I may presume to assign the Cause of this surprising Effect, it is,
in my Opinion, the following; _viz._ This open Furrow has a double
Surface of Earth, which by the _Nitre_ of the contiguous _Atmosphere_,
is pulverized to a great Degree of Minuteness near the Row. The Roots
that the Plough cuts off on the perpendicular Side of the Furrow, send
out new Fibres to receive the _Pabulum_ from this new-made Pasture;
and also Part of this superfine Powder is continually falling down
into the Bottom of the Furrow, and there gives a very quick Growth to
those Roots that are next it, and a quick Passage through it into the
Earth of the Interval, where they take likewise the Benefit of the
other Side of this pulverized Furrow. When it is said, that Air kills
Roots, it must not be understood, that it kills a Plant, unless all, or
almost all, its Root is exposed to it, as it is not in this Case. Some
think there are Roots that run horizontally below the Plough into the
Interval; but of this I am not convinced.
’Tis not often that we hoe above Four times; and then the Furrow is
turned towards the Row at the Third time only.
There being no Danger from these Furrows lying long open, we are not
confined to any precise Distance between the times of Hoeing, for which
we need only regard the Weather, the Weeds, and our own Convenience of
Opportunity and Leisure.
’Tis an Advantage when these Furrows lie open on each Side of the
double Row till Harvest; for then there need only Two Furrows to be
plowed on a Ridge to throw down the Partition in order for planting the
next Crop; but if at the last Hoeing the Furrows are turned towards
the Row, they must be plowed back again after Harvest before the
Partition can be plowed: This requires double the time of the other;
and the sooner the Partitions are plowed, the more time they will have
to be pulverized before they are replanted. Indeed this Advantage is
only when the Rows are to be planted where they were the Year before;
for this is rather a Disadvantage when they are to be planted in the
Intervals. Whether these Furrows lying long open next the Rows in very
hot dry Climates may be prejudicial, cannot be known, but by Trials.
As from the external Superficies of an Acre of Pasture on a rich
Soil, Animals take more _Pabulum_ than of an Acre on a poor Soil; so
Vegetables take more _Pabulum_ from the internal Superficies of a rich
Acre than of a poor one; the Pulveration, or Superficies of Parts,
being equal. _See_ p. 44, 45. From whence there is no Encouragement for
making Trials on very poor Land.
’Tis no great Matter whether the Rows are drilled on the Partitions,
or the Intervals; for the Crops of a Field, Four Years successively
drilled on the Partitions, were very good. After the Partitions had
been plowed, and lain open till the Weather made them pulverizable by
the Harrows, and then turned together by Furrows larger than those
which opened them, much Earth of the Intervals was mixed with them.
This is the strongest and lowest Ground I have; and if there should be
much wet Weather after Harvest, it is so long in drying, that we take
the first Opportunity the Weather allows for planting the Wheat, which
is generally done in the above manner, because it is the shortest; but,
without some such Reason to the contrary, I prefer planting the Rows on
the precedent Intervals.
My Field, whereon is now the Thirteenth Crop of Wheat, has shewn that
the Rows may successfully stand upon any Part of the Ground. The Ridges
of this Field were for the Twelfth Crop, changed from Six Feet to Four
Feet Six Inches: In order for this Alteration, the Ridges were plowed
down, and the whole Field was plowed cross-ways of the Ridges for
making them level; and then the next Ridges were laid out the same way
as the former, but One Foot Four Inches narrower; and the double Rows
drilled on their Tops, whereby of consequence there must be some Rows
standing on every Part of the Ground, both on the former Partitions,
and on every Part of the Intervals: Notwithstanding this, there was no
manner of Difference in the Goodness of the Rows, and the whole Field
was in every Part of it equal, and the best, I believe, that ever grew
on it. It has now the Thirteenth Crop, likely to be very good, tho’ the
Land was not plowed cross-ways.
The proper Times for Plowings and Hoeings depending upon the Weather,
and other Circumstances, cannot be directed but by the Reason and
Experience of the Practiser, as has been said.
The Number of Ridges being increased, as their Breadth is now
diminished, occasions somewhat the more Plough-work, we likewise use
more Handwork than formerly; but the Profit of this increased Labour is
more than double to the Expence of it.
The Decline of the Woolen Manufacture furnishes us at this time with
Plenty of Hand-hoers and Weeders; because they can earn much more by
working in the Field than by Spinning at home.
’Tis better to make Fifteen Ridges on an Acre, than to leave any Earth
unmoved by the Hoe-plough in the Middle of the Intervals; but when
Ploughmen, by Practice, understand well to use the Hoe-plough, they
will plow the Intervals clean, tho’ the Ridges are only Fourteen on an
Acre.
Bearded Wheat is in this Country called _Cone_, and that which has no
Beard _Lammas_. I observed formerly the Bread of _White-cone_ had a
little yellowish Cast, which I now suspect was from the Mill-stones;
for I have seen it be very white these many Years, since the Millers
know better how to grind this Wheat. Cone wheat Westwards yields
Six-pence a Bushel more than _Lammas_; but towards _London_ the
contrary.
The Reasons why a whole Field of Wheat doth not produce a Crop equal in
proportion to a Yard or Perch cut, rubbed out, and weighed immediately
upon the Spot, may be, because the Grain of the Field lying to sweat
in the Mow, loses considerably of its Weight and Measure. There is
also some lost in the Field by Reapers, and by Leasers; and some is by
Threshers thrown out of the Barn; and some of them are found to have
Contrivances to carry home with them at Night, Part of the Wheat they
thresh in the Day. I say nothing of those Thieves, who in Harvest rob
the Field in the Dark; tho’ they are not very uncommon.
I missed of making my proposed Experiment of the single Row, after I
had prepared for it by plowing out one of the double in several Places
for that Purpose; but, in the Hurry of Harvest, they were cut together
with the rest, without making any Trial; as should have been made, if
my Illness had not prevented my Attendance in the Field at the time of
Reaping.
The Practice and Instruments that are left off for better in their
room, as the Quadruple and Treble Rows, _&c._ are still useful to be
shewn, in order to deter others from going into an inferior Method that
is now exploded; for some might think it an Improvement of the double
Rows, _&c._ by their own Invention, if they should not know it had been
already tried.
[Illustration]