December, I 9 I 8
THE LA.NDSWOMAN
rests on a rather stiff subsoil, 10-yard lands may be mfficient ;·the
however, not being exactly perpendicular, does away "ith the
necessitY. of the side-cap. The digging plough inverts the land,
same soli with a very retentive subsoil would not be safe in more
and, as It has a short, concave breast, it throws the soil loosely
than 7 -yard lands ; whilst a clay soil rest.ing on clay should not
over and pulverises it, thus effecting verr. similar work to that of
be laid up in more than 6-yard lands, and even 5-yard or 4-yard
lands are practised. The smallest lands are laid un for wheat,
the spade. The share is usually fitted withachiselpoint, though
this IS not invariably the case.
when, to avoid treading on the seed-bed, they are ploughed so as
Single or double or multi pie ploughs are used in the breaking np
to be just as wide as the corn-drill ; the horses then walk up the
of land as well as in the subsequent operations.
open furrows, so that all treading, and consequently puddling,
Under special purpose ploughs are classed the double-breasted
are avoided. Of course, these are flat, so th"t the drills run
ridging or boating r>loughs, the subsoil, potato raising, trenching,
evenly over them.
and other special ploughs, and their purpose is denoted in their
There are three forms of furrows most commonly employed.
name.
The rectangular furrow is obtained by a flat-cutting share and
A somewhat recent development is the. disc plough. 'l.'he share
an upright coulter. In the latter furrow a larger surface is exand breast of the ordinary plough is replaced by a large steel
posed to the influence of the 've: