in bearings of large diameter. The ratchets are of stamped steel secured by strong braces and have deep square notches. Proper attention should be given to this feature; otherwise the levers will leave their places and unpleasant breakages and delays will be the result. A clevis shift, operated from the rear of the plow, must be provided to control the work and enable the operator, by shifting the hitch, to regulate the width of the front furrow without turning the team. This clevis shift is sometimes operated as a lever, and two well-known plows use the handle of that lever to serve also as the guiding handle of the plow. Without such an arrangement it is necessary to equip the plow with either a single or double guiding handle,. which is attached to the rear beam. In the past the construction of the clevis shift was both a cumbersome and complicated arrangement. The tendency in recent years has been to make it very simple and so constructed that it can be put on or off without disturbing other parts of the plow. While such an attitude is now rather the exception than the rule, there are one or two firms that consider the clevis shift an extra attachment and make an additional charge for it.

The question of moldboards for different classes of soil has not yet attracted much attention in South Africa. With very few exceptions all plows are supplied with general-purpose moldboards for both turf and stubble plowing. Attempts have been made by importers to induce farmers to buy plows with other moldboards that, in their opinion, would more satisfactorily turn the soil under certain conditions. Owing to the lack of interest shown by farmers, these attempts have been discontinued. They involved the carrying in stock of various types of plows and plow bottoms, the demand for which was both uncertain and slow. It can not be said that the South African farmer is very exacting in having the soil properly turned over and in the moldboards scouring properly or otherwise. His chief concern seems to be to see his land plowed. He also often takes off the rolling coulters, with the result that the furrow walls become badly broken up. The general construction of the plow bottom does not differ in any essential from that of the best types in use in the United States. Hardened soft-center steel moldboards, shares, and landsides are nearly always furnished. The moldboards have an extra piece of hard steel welded to the shin. giving them double strength and thickness where the greatest wear occurs. Slip heels for the rear landsides are usually provided. The frogs or plates are made of heavy forged or pressed steel. Some manufacturers fit crucible steel shares to their plows instead of soft-center steel shares. It is important that an understanding on this point be had between the manufacturer and the importer. Crucible steel shares, however, as well as heavy cast-iron shares, are largely supplied as repairs. Complaints have often been heard that American steel shares are too high in price, and this belief has frequently led farmers to buy other plows, the spare shares for which could be bought more cheaply. It would be a good point if manufacturers were to emphasize in their catalogues the advantages of the high-grade American steel shares over those made of cheaper materials.

The draft rod is connected either with the front or the center brace. The idea is to get the draft from well back and to carry it forward over the wheels, thereby reducing friction and the draft of the implement. This draft rod passes through a guide attached to the

clevis, the latter having ample vertical and lateral adjustments. The clevis must be made of strong materials and securely fitted to the plow in order to withstand the strain and the rough pulling of oxen. Since oxen are nearly always used in operating these plows, it is necessary to build the hitch with a wide range of adjustment toward the furrow side of the plow, inasmuch as oxen have a tendency to pull in that direction, whereas horses are more inclined to pull toward the land side.

Plows of this description are used for very heavy work. The most difficult soils of South Africa are plowed with them, sometimes to a depth of 12 inches, although seldom more than 10 inches and ordinarily only 8 inches deep. They are most widely used in the higher uplands of the Transvaal and in Rhodesia, where they are in evidence almost to the exclusion of all others. They are to be seen frequently, however, throughout South Africa, although plows somewhat lighter in weight, but built along identical lines, are sold in greater numbers than the heavy type just described.

This plow is supplied with 12 and 14 inch bottoms and weighs about 600 pounds. Plows with 12-inch bottoms sell for $72.50 and with 14-inch bottoms for $73.75. The third bottom attachment complete sells for $17.50 and weighs 125 pounds.

EQUIPMENT OF HEAVY GANG PLOWS.

These plows are shipped complete with shifting clevis attachment and 15-inch rolling coulters. No weed hooks, poles, or eveners are required. Rolling coulters will probably be considered as extras before long, since most farmers take them off the plows and use them only when plowing heavy new ground.

When crucible steel shares are fitted to the plows, it is customary to supply an extra set of shares of the same material. There is no precise rule as to supplying extra crucible shares or otherwise when the plows are equipped with soft-center steel shares. In the majority of cases no extra shares are supplied under such circumstances. A feature of the plow trade, to which importers attach great importance, is the interchangeability of shares. Manufacturers furnishing shares interchanging on the various gang and single-furrow plows that they ship to South Africa will find this much appreciated by the trade. South African importers have argued the advantages of this with their dealers, and in many cases it has influenced the latter in deciding what line of plows to handle. Chilled and plain cast-iron shares are sold very largely as extras. In some sections of South Africa shares with loose reversible points are very popular. Plows fitted with such shares will be largely bought solely on this account. Few American manufacturers supply these, but English manufacturers are often prepared to furnish them.

Corn-dropper attachments are sold to some extent, and manufacturers should furnish these when required. Rear wheels form part of the regular equipment in some cases, and in others they are charged for extra. The latter is more often the case.

A third beam and bottom attachment for the 12-inch two-furrow plow is sold in increasing quantities, especially in the uplands of Transvaal Province and in Rhodesia. They are chiefly required in connection with the heavy style of plow. An extension hitch should

be supplied when the two-furrow plow is so constructed that this would be necessary for it to work properly when converted into a three-furrow plow. Provision must also be made to equip this attachment with a guiding handle whenever it should be impossible to use the handle fitted to the rear beam of a two-furrow plow, when it is converted into a three-furrow plow. These plows are packed one in a box, completely knocked down. It is important that the measurement of the boxes be reduced to the utmost, since, on account of the competition, the profits in the sale of plows of this type are very small.

CANADIAN AND BRITISH COMPETITION.

Canadian. manufacturers are the most important competitors of American makers; they produce these plows along lines very similar to our own. Much credit is due them for their share in evolving this type of plow, which is the one most widely used in South Africa. They divide with American manufacturers the gratitude of South Africa's farming community for having perfected a plow that makes it possible to put under cultivation the fertile (though sun-baked) soil, with such crude auxiliaries as native oxen and rough natives. If figures were available it would probably be found that one Canadian firm alone sells nearly as many of these plows in South Africa as all American manufacturers combined. The manufacturer referred to has been interested in this trade for many years, has always worked hand in hand with his agents, and has continually shown a keen disposition to keep his line always to the front. Canadian manufacturers appear to have succeeded in a greater degree than American manufacturers in reducing the complaints made on account of parts that have proved to be of inadequate strength.

Two English manufacturers produce excellent plows of this type, but their inability to meet the American and Canadian prices, because of their smaller output and different manufacturing methods, has proved a great handicap to the development of their trade in this line. In some districts, however (especially in the higher uplands, where the most severe plowing conditions are found and the strongest plows are in demand), these English firms do a very satisfactory business.

In the past few years several American firms have made great progress in improving and perfecting these plows for South Africa. There is every indication that our trade in them at least will be maintained in the future.

MEDIUM AND LIGHT TYPES.

By a medium-weight plow is meant a plow weighing 450 pounds and by a light plow one weighing 350 pounds. These plows, especially the former, have a very large sale in South Africa-perhaps larger than that of the heavy plow described in the preceding pages. These two plows are built, broadly speaking, along the lines of the heavy type, the chief difference being in their lighter weight. They are for conditions less severe and exacting than those obtaining where heavy plows are used. They are also largely bought by farmers who either possess a limited number of oxen or soils easier

to plow or who do not care to pay the price of the heavier plow. While such is not always the case, for the sake of giving a broad idea of the demand it may be said that the heavy plow is chiefly sold in the uplands, the medium type in the midlands, and the light plow in the lower lands. Of course, a great many farmers who are not situated in the higher lands, but who believe in using good implements for their work, buy the heavier implement.

The medium type can be accepted as being the standard type for the Orange Free State Province. It is supplied with two 12-inch bottoms at $60 and with two 14-inch bottoms at $61.50. The clevis shift device and the third bottom attachment are often required for this type of plow.

The light plow is supplied with two 10-inch bottoms at $50 and with two 12-inch bottoms at $51.50. No clevis shift attachment is supplied, nor the third bottom attachment. This plow is preferred when it can be adjusted to cut either 1 inch wider or narrower than the size of the share.

SINGLE-FURROW WHEELED MOLDBOARD PLOWS.

In some parts of South Africa there are sold a few single-furrow wheeled plows constructed along the lines of the gang plows described in the preceding pages. These have no rear wheel, and the draft is direct from the point of the beam. A rear handle is supplied. These are sold in 12, 14, and 16 inches, weighing 300, 350, and 400 pounds, and selling at $40, $42.50, and $47.50, respectively. In many respects the construction of the heavy gang plow forms the basis for that of this single-furrow plow. Only a few dealers sell such a plow, and in general it is not necessary for a manufacturer to build it to provide a full line of plows for the South African market.

OTHER WALKING GANG PLOWS.

For the trade in a few isolated districts several firms stock gang plows that differ in several respects from those heretofore described. Perhaps the plow most widely sold in this connection is a very heavy two and three furrow plow especially constructed to break virgin soil. The two-furrow plow is adjustable to cut from 16 to 24 inches, and the three-furrow plow from 24 to 36 inches. These weigh 675 pounds and 850 pounds, and sell for $95 and $105, respectively. They are supplied with either 8, 9, or 10 inch shares and with a long turning breaking moldboard-different, however, from the American type, owing to the narrow cut of the share. Plows of this description are almost entirely supplied by Canadian, Australian, and English manufacturers. The trade does not seem important enough to warrant their manufacture by American makers at the present time.

DISK PLOWS.

It is widely believed that South Africa's disk-plow trade equals in volume that in moldboard gang plows. If Rhodesia is included, it is not improbable that such is the case. It is to be regretted, in view of this, that American manufacturers have, relatively, a very

small share of that business. British manufacturers for many years have enjoyed practically a monopoly in the sale of disk plows, and it is only in recent times that adequate efforts have been made by American manufacturers to sell these in greater numbers. In normal years South Africa imports from 3,000 to 5,000 disk plows. Of these one English firm is said to supply about 75 per cent. The plow in question (see fig. 1) is chiefly preferred on account of its very strong and rigid construction. Otherwise it does not seem to possess any extraordinary features of superiority over those made by American manufacturers. The frame of that plow is particularly strong, and that feature in itself is largely responsible for the excellent reputation it enjoys. In addition to the beam or frame supporting the disk standards, this plow has another heavy beam or frame running, in a parallel position, from the hitch bar to about the center of the plow, just behind the center disk in the three

furrow plow. In other words, the frame may be said to be composed of these two beams, which are strongly braced and run parallel with each other as far back as the furrow-wheel axle. A very rigid and strong frame construction is thus obtained, which is much liked by the South African farmer.

At least two American manufacturers have recently produced a plow built on lines very similar to the English plow mentioned, and their enterprise in supplying exactly the type of disk plow that has proved satisfactory is certain to be adequately rewarded.

It should not be difficult for American manufacturers to increase their sales of disk plows in South Africa. Generally speaking, the only fault found with their goods is that they are not quite as rigid, strong, and substantially constructed as the requirements of the market make necessary. In most cases an increase of from 5 to 10 per cent in the weight and strength of some of the parts is all that is necessary. The utmost care should be taken to insure that all parts are sufficiently strong and to brace the frame so that the