The hillside plow is the traditional horse- or mule-drawn agricultural implement for plowing on steep ground (Figure 1). Hillside plows are also called turning plows. A latch allows the moldboard and shoe to rotate from right to left (Figure 2). Rotating the cutting part of the plow allows the operator to turn a hill of dirt to the downhill side of the trail bed, regardless of the plow’s direction of travel.

Most designs have provisions for a draft adjustment range of several inches both vertically (Figure 3), and laterally (Figure 4). The better designs allow hillside (lateral) draft adjustment from the handles. The size of a plow refers to the width of the furrow it is capable of plowing. Plow sizes range from 5 in (130 mm) to 14 in (360 mm). Figure 5 shows the Chattanooga plow.

There are four basic styles of hillside plows. They differ in their availability and in their design. Effective hillside plows are designed with adjustments for vertical (down) draft and horizontal (hillside) draft. Plow handles should have adjustments to accommodate operators, whether they are short or tall. Plow handles should be made of wood rather than metal for comfort and safety. Wood absorbs vibrations and can flex.

A plow is only as good as its bottom. In hillside plows, the bottom includes the share and shoe, which is mounted on the body of the plow. The share and shoe provide bottom suction and hillside suction. This suction is created by the concavities of the plow’s bottom. The easiest running plows are those with a fairly pronounced concavity. Bottom suction and hillside suction concavities are illustrated in Figures 6 to 13.

Figure 1-Line drawings of a plow and parts.

top

Figure 2-The latch on a hillside plow. top

Figure 3-Vertical draft adjustment.

Figure 4-Lateral draft adjustment. top

Figure 5-International Harvester's Chattanooga hillside plow.

Figure 6-Vulcan plow showing about 1/2 inch of hillside suction. top

Figure 7—Vulcan plow showing about 1/4 inch of bottom suction.

Figure 8—Chattanooga plow showing nearly 1 inch of hillside suction. top

Figure 9—Chattanooga plow showing about 7/8 inch of bottom suction.

Figure 10—Oliver plow showing about 1/2 inch of hillside suction. top

Figure 11—Oliver plow showing about 3/4 inch of bottom suction.

Figure 12—Syracuse plow showing about 7/8 inch of hillside suction. top

Figure 13—Syracuse plow showing about 1/2 inch of bottom suction.