What is said to be the largest plow in the world was made
some years ago at Bakersfield, Cal. This plow was the result
of the ingenuity of a ranch superintendent, who had authority
to make improvements, but not to introduce steam-plows. The
superintendent had grown very tired of preparing three thousand
acres of land for wheat with ordinary nine- or twelve-inch plows
drawn by two horses.
He argued that if two horses could pull a twelve-inch plow,
six horses could pull a plow thirty-six inches wide, and that
eight horses could pull a plow forty-eight inches wide. He made
the calculations carefully, and, being clever with his pencil,
made drawings also, and sent for blacksmiths and machinists to
construct a plow on his principle.
Some simple folk told him that his great plow would not work,
but they contented themselves with saying this dogmatically,
without giving any mathematical reason therefore. So the
superintendent went on with his plans.
The blacksmiths and machinists finished the plow in due time.
The share was made to cut a fifty-inch furrow; the top of it
reached five feet above the ground, to give room to throw the
earth. The beam was more than a foot thick; but the machine was
constructed to run between two great wheels, so that it could be
turned around easily; and on the axle between these wheels was
the seat for the man who was to drive the ten horses which were
hitched to it.
The plow was brought to the great field, the ten horses were
attached to it, the handles were raised, the driver mounted his
seat, and the team was started. But as soon as the share struck
well into the ground the horses stopt short. They were stuck
fast. And yet the plow had not gone too deeply into the earth.
But it was evident that they could not pull the plow. More
horses were brought out, but not until fifty were attached did
the plow move along.
Even then it required four men to hold the handles, in order to
keep the plow in the furrow. It was an economic failure.
Then the superintendent, through the intervention of some one
who was a better mathematician than he, learned that he should
have cubed the capacity of his twelve-inch plow every time he
doubled the width of it.--_Harper’s Weekly._
(2035)