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Design was discussed in chapter 5 without regard to use of tillage tools. Disregarding application was convenient because it simplified the study of design. Application cannot always be ignored, because the ultimate purpose of design is not to build tools but to change undesired soil conditions into new soil conditions that will better serve some specific intended use for the soil. Performance is defined by Webster as the act of performing. To perform is to accomplish, or to carry on to the finish. Performing implies action; and performance can have almost as many specific meanings as there are specific actions. In tillage, the obvious action is the manipulation of the soil into a different condition. Performance of a tillage tool thus may be defined as the production of a change in soil conditions by manipulation of the soil. Performance includes two distinct and separate factors of interest: the amount of soil manipulation, and the magnitude of forces required to cause the manipulation. These factors must be quantitatively assessed in order to measure tillage tool performance.