The resistance (stated in these tables) was measured and ascertained by a dynonometer, a machine, indispensable to those who would make correct observations on the relative advantages of different ploughs.
| The French Plough. | The English Plough. | ||||
| Resistance in pounds. | Resistance in pounds. | ||||
| 1st | experiment | 200 | 1st | experiment | 360 |
| 2d | do. | 240 | 2d | do. | 380 |
| 3d | do. | 200 | 3d | do. | 480 |
| 4th | do. | 220 | 4th | do. | 460 |
| 5th | do. | 220 | 5th | do. | 400 |
| 6th | do. | 400 | |||
| Divided by | 5)1080 | 7th | do. | 420 | |
| 8th | do. | 386 | |||
| Average, | 216 | 9th | do. | 440 | |
| Divided by | 9)3720 | ||||
| Average, | 413 | ||||
II. The Harrow. This is of different kinds—the triangular and the square, the single and the double. But of whatever form, its uses are the same; to smooth the field after ploughing, to break and pulverize the clods, and to cover the seed.—These uses sufficiently indicate the propriety of employing two in succession; one of heavy frame, with few and long teeth, like the Scotch brake; the other, of lighter constitution, with more and shorter teeth. Our own experience leads us to believe, that the common harrow covers the seed too much, because small seeds will not vegetate at a depth greater than three inches.
III. The Roller is a cylinder of heavy wood, turning on gudgeons, or on an axle, and placed in a frame, to which is attached a shaft; it is of different dimensions, but need not exceed that which may be drawn by one, or at most by two horses or oxen. This instrument is indispensable in good husbandry, yet is rarely used in ours. Its offices are three-fold—to render loose soils more compact; to break the clod on stiff ones, and on both, to compress the earth, (after seeding) so that it be every where brought in contact with the grain. It is also usefully employed in reinstating the roots of meadow grasses, loosened and raised by the alternate freezing and thawing of the ground, and, with similar view, may be passed over winter crops early in the spring.
Its clod-breaking and pulverizing property is much increased, by surrounding the roller with narrow bands of iron, two inches broad, three inches thick, and six inches asunder; or by studding it with iron points, resembling harrow teeth, and projecting three or four inches.
IV. The Threshing Machine is of English invention, and may be well enough adapted to the taste and circumstances of rich amateurs, but not at all to those of farmers in general. Our objections to it are three—the first cost, which is great; the quantum of moving power employed, which is equal to that of six horses, and the number of hands required to attend it, which is not less than four. We have seen, in France, a machine for the same purpose, but of much simpler structure—called the "Rouleau de depiquer" which is only a fluted cylinder; yet simple and cheap as this was, it could not maintain itself against the more ancient instruments—the flail and the horse. Still it is to be hoped, that new experiments may succeed better and abridge the manual labour usually given to this branch of husbandry, and, that the mechanical genius of our own country (which is not inferior to that of any other) may be the first to combine power and cheapness in this machine.
This hope is probably suggested, by the description of a new invented threshing machine, now before me, and which I may be permitted to transcribe from the letter of the inventor. "The machine I have built, is three feet wide. One horse will thresh with much ease, as much wheat as can be laid on it, by one man, (the straw to be taken away by another,) say, from fifty to one hundred bushels in a day, and the saving of grain will pay for the labour; for, I think, that with good attendance, not a particle of grain can escape with the straw.—The expense of the machine will be from fifty to seventy dollars, exclusive of the moving power, which is a wheel, about ten feet diameter, on an upright shaft, to which a lever is fixed to hitch the horse. Into this main wheel, a small one should be made to work, about two feet diameter, on a shaft carrying a drum, four feet wide. With this simple gearing, and drawn by a horse that walks well, the machine will give about eighteen hundred strokes in a minute, and if fully attended, will, without hard labour for the horse, thresh a bushel every three or four minutes. It stands in my barn, and may be seen and examined by any one."[8]
V. The Fanning Mill. Other things being equal, the cleanest wheat is most easily preserved, and, on manufacture, gives the best flour, and in the largest quantity. These considerations offer inducement enough for the employment of this machine, which, however, besides doing its business well, saves a great deal of time. It is too well known to require description.