The News And Herald

Plowing.—There are minor points connected with the subject of plowing which are worthy of careful consideration. The field should be so arranged that long furrows may be plowed, instead of short ones, that is, if half an acre only is to be plowed, economy in labor and time would suggest a field of eighty rods in length and one rod in width rather than four rods in width and twenty rods long. In the first instance the plowman would have to turn his team sixteen times, providing that the furrow is twelve inches in width, while in the second case sixty-seven turnings of the team would be necessary, occupying more time than was employed in turning the sod.

Again the width of the furrow is a serious item in the cost of plowing. In the first case above mentioned, if the furrow turned should be eight inches in place of twelve, not only would twenty-four turnings of the team be required instead of sixteen, but the team would be forced to travel one-third further, while in the second case previously stated eighty-nine turnings would be necessary instead of sixty-seven. If the length of the furrow be the same in both cases, yet by taking a furrow one-third broader, three acres may be plowed in the same time occupied in plowing two acres with a narrow furrow.

There are plows in the market which will turn a twelve-inch furrow with equal ease to the horses, as other plows give in turning eight-inch furrows. Yet many farmers still continue working with an old style plow, difficult of draft, simply because they cannot afford to purchase a new and more modern implement that would more than save its extra cost in a single season.