shoulder than upon the other; and as this produces an unnecessary fatigue to the animal, it should be avoided. Such irregularity cannot occur with the simple mode of giving each horse his own swing-tree. There are still other modifications in the yoking of three horses, but these may suffice for every practical purpose. oscillation round the pulley, which is limited by the check-chain. When this is adopted, care should be taken never to allow the check-chain to remain upon the stretch; for if it do so, the advantage of equalisation in the yoke is lost, and it becomes no better than the simple soam. In all cases of using a chain, that part of it which passes forward between the hind horses must be borne up by means of attachment to their back bands, or suspended from their collars. 673. In the yoking of 4 horses, various modes are also adopted. The old and simple method is for the plough horses to draw by a set of common swing-trees, fig. 6; and to the centre of the main swing- 674. The late Mr Stirling of Glenbervie, tree at e a soam-chain is hooked by means Stirlingshire, recommended a method of of a shackle or otherwise. The leading yoking four horses in pairs, the arrangehorses are thus yoked by a second set of ments of which are represented in fig. 10; common swing-trees to the end of the a is part of a main swing-tree of the comsoam. This is now seldom employed; but mon length, b, a small swing-tree, a little an improved method of applying the soam longer than the usual length, but both has been adopted in its place, which is mounted in the usual form, except that, at represented by fig. 9, where a is the bridle each end of the small swing-trees, castof the plough, with its swivel hook. A iron pulleys, c c, and set in an iron frame, pully of cast-iron mounted in an iron are hooked on to the eyes of the swingframe, of which an edge-view is given at m, tree. The common trace-chains are rove is attached to the hook of the bridle. A through the frames of these pulleys, as in link chain c is rove through the frame of the figure, the ends, d d, of the chains are the pulley and to one end of it, the short prolonged forward to the collar of the nighend, is hooked the main swing-tree d of a set hind horse, and the ends, ee, are extended to of common trees. The other end of the chain that of the nigh leader. At the opposite end passes forward to a sufficient distance to of the main swing-tree, which in this figure allow the leading horses room to work; and is cut off, the same arrangement is repeated to it is hooked the second set of common for the off-side horses. The principle of swing-trees at e for the leaders. In the action in this yoke is simple and effective, figure, a part of the chain, from f to g, is though different in effect from the former. broken off; but the full length is about There the two hind horses are equalised 11 feet. In this yoke, the trace-chains of through the medium of their set of common the nigh-side hind horse are hooked to the swing-trees. The leading horses are alike swing-trees at hh, and those of the off- equalised by their set, and thus the two side horse at i i, the leaders being yoked pairs balance each other through the at k k and ll respectively. In this arrange- medium of the soam. Here, on the other ment, the balance of forces is perfectly hand, the two nigh-side horses have their preserved; for the hind horses and the forces equalised through the trace-chains leaders, as they pull at opposing ends of which are common to both by passing over the chain passing round a pulley, which the pulleys, cc, and the same holds in must inevitably be always in equilibrium, respect to the two off-sides. The couple each pair of horses has an equal share of of nigh-side and of off-side horses, again, the draught; and from the principles of are equalised through the medium of the the common swing-trees through which one set of swing-trees. In both, thereeach pair acts, the individual horses must fore, the principle of equalisation is comhave an equally perfect division of the plete, but there is a trifling difference in labour. In order to prevent either the their economy. In the yoke, fig. 9, the hind horses or the leaders from slipping soam-chain and pulley are the only articles too much ahead, it is common to apply a required in addition to the every-day gear. light check-chain o, of about 15 inches In that of fig. 10, there is, first, the set of long, connecting the two parts of the swing-trees, which, as they have to resist main-chain, so as to allow only a short the force of 4 horses, must in all their not necessarily stronger than those for common use, is required about three times longer than single horse-chains, that is to say, 4 horses will require the chains of 6; but, on the other hand, the chains of the leaders are more conveniently supported when they pass along the sides of the hind horses, and it is free of the annoyance of the swing-trees which dangle behind the leaders, of the method fig. 9. 675. In cases where 6, 8, and even 12 horses are required, such as for trenching, subsoil-ploughing, and especially draining with the plough, the yoking is accomplished by modifications and extension of the forms here laid down. For example, a team of 6 can be very conveniently applied with equalised effect by employing the compensation levers of fig. 8, along with 3 single swing-trees with pulleys at each end, and running trace-chains, as in fig. 10; but in all cases where more than 4 horses are yoked together, their strength can seldom be managed to have it simultaneously applied. It is therefore much better to work 2 sets of 4 horses than 1 set of 8. 676. Plough harness.-Besides swingtrees, horses require harness to enable them to apply their strength to the plough. The Fig. 11. harness, as used in Scotland, is exceedingly simple, and perfectly efficient. It consists of a collar, fig. 11, which surrounds the neck of the horse, and serves as a padding to protect the skin of the neck, and the points of the shoulder, while the horse exerts his strength in the draught. This form of collar is used in the Lothians, and its covering consists of one piece of leather stiffened in its upper part with stripes of whalebone to form the cape. The body of the collar is stuffed with wheat-straw, or what is better, ryestraw, and covered with stout woollen THE LOTHIAN DRAUGHT-HORSE COLLAR AND HAIMS. cloth. It will be observed that the under part of the collar is broader than the upper, because the under part of the neck of a horse is thicker than the upper or mane, upon which the collar rests; but as the crown of the head of the horse weight of the cape, THE FORFARSHIRE DRAUGHT-HORSE COLLAR. round the edge, or with large tassels from the corner and middle, and even with bells. 679. The haims are placed immediately behind the outer rim of the collar at a, fig. 11. They consist of two pieces fixed below the throat of the horse with hooks and a link, and at the upper part at a with a leather strap. The pieces are formed entirely of iron, or of wood covered with thin sheet-iron, as in the Lothians, or of wood alone, as in the greater part of Scotland. On each piece above the point of the shoulder of the horse is attached a staple with hook h, to which is fastened the trace-chains of the plough, or the draught-chains of the other implements, such as the cart. The haims are never removed from the collar. 680. Another part of the harness is the bridle, which serves to guide the horse's head. It is commonly of as simple a form as possible, consisting of a head-stall, noseband, blinders, bit, throat-lash, and bearing-reins. In some parts of the country, the blinders or blinkers are omitted. The from its much inclined position, is apt to plea for the use of the blinders is, that they cause the sewing to become loose. 678. Fig. 13 is a form of cape common in England, which answers no purpose of Fig. 13. 8 THE ENGLISH DRAUGHT-HORSE COLLAR. protection from rain, but rather to catch the wind, and thereby obstruct the progress of the horse. Such a cape is frequently ornamented with flaring redworsted fringes prevent the horse looking around and being frightened by distant objects he cannot distinctly see, and they keep his attention steady to his work. Horses accustomed to blinders are easily scared when they are taken off. I knew a horse that became so timid when his bridle was taken off, while in the yoke, that he always attempted to run away from the draught, and to avoid such an accident, the bit was removed from his mouth by means of a buckle and strap, when a feed of corn was given him in the nose-bag while in the yoke; but horses broke in without the bridle, are less likely to be scared by any occurrence in the road, than those accustomed to it, as they see every object near them distinctly; and the want of it keeps the head cooler in summer, and saves the eyes from injury by its pressure. 681. The bearing reins are now generally dispensed with in all carriages moved at a fast speed; and the change is a great relief to the horses, for truly it was a painful sight to witness the excessive tightness in which the horses' heads were kept by them. They were used with the view of making the horses look smart, and of preventing their stumbling on the road; but the notion was a mistaken one, for a horse never looks better than with the head in its natural position, and as to his being prevented stumbling by any form of rein, when he makes the slightest trip he cannot recover himself with his head bound up, and his fall becomes the more inevitable and severe. But in the case of the draughthorse the bearing reins cannot be dispensed with, as they are the only means of keeping his head steady in the draught, while they are never at all tight braced up, the horse having full liberty to use his head in any direction, though not to the most unlimited extent of turning it round altogether. The complete bridle may be seen in use in fig. 14 in the plough, and still better in the cart in Plate III. 682. Another piece of harness required for the plough-gear is the back-band, which consists of a broad piece of leather passing over the horse's back, having a small pad where it rests on the top of the back, and both ends are fastened to the trace-chains of the plough by means of small iron hooks, its office being to support them just below the exact line of their draught; if above that line, the force of the draught would be thrown as a strain upon the groins of the horse, by means of the back-band. 683. A necessary portion of the equipment of a draught-horse in harness is the plough-reins, which are made of cord, on purpose light and strong, being fabricated of the best hemp. In some parts of the country, as the midland and northern districts, one rein attached to the nigh-horse only is used in driving a pair of horses in the plough, and the consequence is that most of their motions are performed by the command of the voice of the ploughmanthe only use of the rein, in such a case, being to pull the horses to the nigh-side. To give the ploughman a perfect command of his horses, double reins should be usedone passing from the left-hand stilt of the plough by the nigh-side of the nigh-horse, through one ring on the nigh-side of the back-band, then through another ring on the nigh-side of the haims, to the ring of the bridle-bit, to which it is fastened: the other rein goes from the right hand stilt of the plough by the off-side of the off-horse, through rings in the back-band and haims to the bridle-bit on the off-side of the offhorse. The ends of the reins are looped upon the handles of the stilts of the plough. 684. With regard to ornamenting farm harness, it never appears, in my estimation, to greater advantage than when quite plain, and of the best materials and workmanship. Brass or plated buckles and brow-bands, worsted rosettes, and broad bands of leather tattooed with filigree sewing, serve only to load and cover the horses when at work, to create trouble, collect dirt, and at best display a wasteful and vulgar taste in the owner. Whatever temptation there may be in towns to show off the grandeur of the teams of rival establishments, such displays of vanity are incompatible with the country. When compared with the weight of English harness, these constitute little more than feather-weight. 686. The English farmer is not unfrequently recommended by writers on agriculture to adopt the two-horse plan of working the plough; but the recommendation is never accompanied with such a description of the plough as any farmer may understand, who had never seen a plough with two horses at work; and it is not enough to tell people to adopt any new plan, without putting it in their power to understand what is recommended. enable the English farmer, who may never have chanced to see a two-horse plough at work, and to facilitate the understanding of its arrangements by those who may have seen, but not have paid sufficient attention to it, fig 14 is here given, of a Scotch plough with swing-trees, horses and Το harness complete, and of a ploughman holding it. The extreme simplicity of the whole arrangement of the horses, harness, plough, and man, cannot fail to impress a conviction that no part of it can go wrong. On examining the particulars, the Fig. 14. A SCOTCH PLOUGH AT WORK. collar will be found round the horses' necks, serving as a padding to preserve the shoulders from injury while pressing forward in the draught. Embracing a groove in the anterior part of the collar, are the haims. The horses are yoked to the swingtrees by light trace-chains, linked on one end to the hooks of the haims, and hooked at the other into the eyes of the swingtrees. Back-bands of leather across the back, near the groins of the horses, support the trace-chains by means of simple hooks. The bridles have blinders, and the bearingreins are supported on the top of the haims. The swing-trees are hooked to the draught-swivel of the bridle of the plough, enabling both horses to exercise their united strength on that single point; and being yoked abreast, they are enabled to exert their united strength much more effectually than if yoked a-trip-that is, one before the other. The two horses are kept together either by a leather-strap, buckled at each end to the bridle-ring, or by short rein-ropes or tugs, passed from the bridle-ring to the shoulder of each horse, where they are fastened to the trace-chains by a knot. The strap only prevents the horses separating beyond its length, and allows their heads to move about loosely; but the short reins not only prevent them separating, but keep their heads steady; and on this latter account, horses fastened with them can be turned round more quickly and simultaneously than with the strap. The reins proceed from the ploughman's hands to the horses' heads. The off-side horse-that is, the one nearest to the spectator of the above figure-is seen to walk in the last made open furrow-the nigh-horse walking on the firm land. The plough is in the act of turning over a slice of land, and the ploughman is walking in the new-made open furrow. 687. Language to horses.-Besides the use of the reins, it is always customary to desire the horses to go through their accustomed motions when yoked to the draught, with the voice. It would be quite possible to cause the horses to perform all their motions by means of the double reins alone, but the voice enlivens the monotony of a day's work both to the men and the horses. It is not practicable to make horses at the plough go through the proper motions with a single rein, unassisted by the voice; nor is the single rein at all commendable, inasmuch as ploughmen accustomed to it, fall into the practice of incessantly bawling to their horses, which at length become regardless of the noise, and make the turns at their own leisure. 688. The language addressed to horses varies as much as do the dialects in different parts of the country. One word, Wo, to stop, seems, however, to be in general use. The motions required to be performed by the horse at work, are, to go forward, to go backward, to go from you, to come towards you, and to turn round, and the cessation from all these, namely, to stop or stand still. 689. To lessen or cease motion.-The word Wo is the common one for a cessation of motion; and it is also used to the making any sort of motion slower; and it also means to be careful, or cautious, or not be afraid, when pronounced with a protracted tone, such as Wo-0-0. In some parts, as in Forfarshire, Stand has a similar signification; but there, when it is |