5. The correct reconstruction of the 1838 plow, and, by inference, the 1837 plow, is shown in figures 8 and 10, previous reconstructions being wrong primarily in the position and attachment of the handles. 6. The Museum's John Deere plow (Cat. No. F1111), shown in figures 7 and 9, is a very early specimen, on the basis of a comparison of it with Deere moldboards of 1847 and 1855 and its conformity to Deere's description of his plows in an 1843 advertisement; and the 1838 date associated with it is plausible. FOOTNOTES: [1] John Muir (1838-1914), _The story of my boyhood and youth_, Boston, 1913, pp. 227, 228. [2] R. L. Ardrey, _American agricultural implements_, Chicago, 1894, p. 14. [3] _Ibid._, p. 16. [4] J. B. Davidson, "Tillage machinery," in L. H. Bailey's _Cyclopedia of American agriculture_, New York, 1907, vol. 1, p. 389. [5] Leo Rogin, _The introduction of farm machinery in its relation to the productivity of labor in the agriculture of the United States during the nineteenth century_, Berkeley, 1931, p. 33. [6] U. S. National Museum records under accession 148904. [7] Neil M. Clark, _John Deere_, Moline, 1937, pp. 34, 35. [8] Stewart H. Holbrook, _Machines of plenty_, New York, 1955, pp. 178, 179. To an inquiry by this author, Mr. Holbrook replied that most if not all of the material about Andrus came from the files of the J. I. Case Company. [9] Photographic copies of partnership agreements between Andrus, Deere, and others are in U. S. National Museum records under accession 148904. [10] _Ibid._ [11] _Ibid._ [12] Letter from Burton F. Peek to M. L. Putnam, December 18, 1957, in U. S. National Museum records under accession 148904. [13] Clark, _op. cit._ (footnote 7), p. 34. [14] E. H. Knight, _American mechanical dictionary_, Boston, 1884, vol. 3, p. 2033. [15] Henry Disston & Sons, _Price list_, Philadelphia, 1897, p. 28. [16] Ardrey, _op. cit._ (footnote 2), p. 166. [17] _Ibid._, p. 166. [18] James M. Swank, _History of the manufacture of iron in all ages_..., Philadelphia, 1892, pp. 390, 393. [19] _Country Gentleman_, 1857, vol. 10, p. 129. [20] Reports on spark test by E. A. Battison, U. S. National Museum, and on metallurgical investigation by A. H. Valentine, Metallographic Laboratory of the Bethlehem Steel Company's Sparrows Point Plant. [21] For this information I am indebted to Mr. E. A. Battison of the U. S. National Museum staff. [22] Abraham Rees, _The cyclopaedia; or universal dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature_, Philadelphia, 1810-1842, vol. 33, under saw. End of Project Gutenberg's John Deere's Steel Plow, by Edward C. Kendall