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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



plough ; but instead of the beams reaching from end 

 to end, they are in two portions, so that the two 

 sets of ploughs can be raised or lowered by rack and 

 pinion in a central standard frame, the two sets being 

 also made to balance each other by rods from each end, 

 connected with rocking bars on the top of the frame. 

 By this construction, a short and compact machine is 

 secured, namely, I25 feet, weighing about 12 cwt. There 

 are two wheels near the ends running on the unjilou'jhed 

 ground, and one central wheel running along the bottom 

 of the furrow left at the last course. The furrow wheels are 

 ribbed like the discs of a Cambridge roller, and are 

 turned in swivels so as to guide the plough : the 

 ploughman sitting on the hinder end of the frame, and 

 steering with a lever for the purpose. The work is all 

 laid one way, the furrows being each 9 inches wide and 

 any depth desired. The ploughs in this particular im- 

 plement are too close together, and the coulters gathered 

 rubbish, occasioning much clogging ; but this can be 

 easily rectified ; there will also be added adjustments for 

 taking narrower or wider furrows, and the travelling 

 wheels will be made larger. Compared with Mr. Fow- 

 ler's four-furrow implement exhibited last year, the 

 general observation made was that this is neater and 

 lighter ; and owing to the more favourable state of the 

 ground, the ploughing was certainly better done. But 

 Mr. Fowler's thrte-furrow implement is of simpler con- 

 struction than this, and, for anything we can see, quite 

 as efficient in work, while it ploughs out and sets in at 

 the ends in as ready and neat a manner as this does. 

 The mode of steerage we consider no improvement 

 upon Mr. Fowler's, and the draught of this implement 

 running empty on the top of the land is heavier rather 

 than less. The price of the plough for three furrows 

 is about 50 guineas. 



The plot was only 120 yards in length, so that less 

 ground was ploughed than if the length had been 200 or 

 300 yards, owing to the frequent turnings. The journey 

 from end to end took about 1.^ minutes 5 the turnings 

 averaged 35 seconds, or nearly twice as long as the 

 turnings of the scarifier. The quantity of land ploughed 

 in one hour was 1 rood 25 perches, or at the rate of 

 4 acres in ten hours. Had the field been larger, pro- 

 bably 5 acres in ten hours would have been the amount 

 of work done. The land (an alluvial loam, perfectly 

 free from stones) was moist, and in a very favourable 

 condition for ploughing ; and as the draught of a plough 

 in the adjoining field of clover ley was about 4 cwt., 

 the draught here was evidently somewhat less. In fact, 

 the 8-horse engine pulled the implement at the pace of 

 three miles an hour, taring over three furrows, each 9 

 inches wide by 6 deep. Tlie cost of this easy ploughing, 

 at the estimated expense, was 9s. per acre for this short 

 length of field, or 7s. 3d. an acre, if 5 acres a day had 

 been done by means of larger furrows. 



The prize of the society was awarded to Mr. Bring, 

 for his introduction into the neighbourhood of the steam 

 cultivator, and the new i)lough in addition. 



We may here add, that Messrs. Chandler and 

 Oliver's own system of hauling the implement is by 

 drums attached to the engine in a very simple manner, 



instead of having a separate windlass driven by a 

 strap. 



However advantageous the stationary engine method 

 may be in some respects, it is certain that Mr. Fowler's 

 self-shifting engine and anchorage moving along the 

 headland, with rope running simply across the field and 

 back, is the most economical, employing as it does only 

 two men and two boys, instead of five men and a boy, 

 and having so much less rope to drive and to wear. 



This is not the season in which to exemplify the merits 

 of a reaping machine, yet a great many persons in- 

 spected the new reaper, shown in work on some long 

 stubble, by Mr. Cuthbert, of Newton-le-Willows, 

 Bedale, Yorkshire. It is an improvement upon the 

 Hussey machine ; the driving-wheel is larger ; the 

 cutter-bar is hung upon a sling, giving a pendulating 

 instead of sliding vibration, which very much eases the 

 action, giving a very light draught. There is no self- 

 delivery, but the platform can be adjusted for either a 

 back or side delivery in sheaf, or removed for mowing 

 and scattering grass or clover. The price is only 20 

 guineas. We may have to take an opportunity of 

 alluding to the peculiarities of this simple machine at a 

 future time : in a district producing very heavy and 

 much-laid crops, the most difficult for a self-delivering 

 apparatus to contend with, a general admiration of it 

 was evinced ; and the price as well as workmanship is 

 well calculated to gain favour with those who hardly like 

 to adopt the manual delivery. 



Hansom's rotary potato digger, manufactured by Mr. 

 Coleman, also drew a large share of attention, from the 

 admirable manner in which it tossed out the tubers 

 without waste or injury, at a cheap and expeditious 

 rate. 



Upwards of a hundred persons dined in the Corn 

 Exchange, both members for the Southern Division of 

 the County being present. The speeches were of a 

 practical character, and the whole proceedings marked 

 by no small degree of public spirit and agricultural en- 

 thusiasm. 



DISTINGUISHED POTATOES.— In Gerard's time, 

 1507, Virjrinian potatoes, as they were tlien called, were 

 just beginning to be known, A sweet potato had been 

 previously known, which was used as a kind of confection 

 at the tables of the rich. Of these, Gerard says, "They 

 are used to be eaten rosted in the ashes ; some when they 

 be 80 rosted, infuse them, and sop them in wine ; and 

 others, to give them the greater grace in eating, do boil them 

 with primes and so eat them. And likewise others dresse 

 them (being first rosted) with oile, vinegar, and salt, every 

 mau according to his own taste and liking ; notwithstanding 

 howsoever they be dressed, they comfort, nourish, and 

 strengtlicn the bodie." These were sold by women, who 

 stood about the Exchange with baskets. The fame writer 

 Stiys of tliu common potato, which, for a considerable time 

 after its introduction was a rarity, that, " It was likewise a 

 foode, as also a mcete for pleasure, beini,' either r. .sted in 

 tho embers, or boiled and eaten with <iile, vinegar, or dressed 

 anie other way by the baud of some cunning in cookerie." 

 Tiiey were originally the size of walnuts. — Philip'd Progreia 

 of Agriculture. 



