38« 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



rest of the field, which was more level, ha J been already 

 ploughed to the depth of from six to eight inches, and 

 exhibited a very clean and regular furrow slice. A small 

 portion of it had been subsoiled, with Cotgreave's 

 plough, to the depth of twelve inches ; but the steward, 

 Mr. Bremner, did not consider it desirable to bring so 

 much of the cold subsoil to the surface so late in the 

 spring, the land being intended for mangel wurzel or 

 swedes — we could not learn which. There were three 

 ploughs attached to the machine, and Mr. Greig, the 

 superintendent in the absence of Mr. Fowler, estimated 

 the quantity of land turned over by them per day of ten 

 hours, at eight acres, which, on such a soil, may be con- 

 sidered equal to the work of ten pairs of horses and the 

 common ploughs. The cost is 8s. per acre. 



The grubber was at work at the same time, and per- 

 formed its part exceedingly well. It had five tines, and 

 went to the depth of twelve inches, bringing to the 

 surface the couch grass and other weeds. This operation, 

 we think, ought to have been performed long enough 

 (instead of immediately) before the ploughing, to allow 

 of these being collected and burned, instead of being 

 turned in again by the plough. A part of the field was 

 left unfinished, we presume to be so cleaned before 

 being finally ploughed. 



We went over two other fields that had recently been 

 ploughed by the same machine, each of which exhibited 

 a clean and regular furrow slice ; nor did we perceive 

 in them any breaks, or unturned portions of the land. 

 The whole ploughing is necessarily " on the flat," 

 without any intervening furrows ; and whether it can be 

 considered that these ventilators of the corn field are 

 compensated for by the land saved, remains to be seen. 



The recent alterations made by the patentee in the 

 apparatus have greatly facilitated the working. The 

 direct application of the power to the ploughs, by which 



the length of the working rope, and consequently the 

 danger of breakage, are so much reduced, is a manifest 

 improvement upon the original plan, in which the rope 

 embraced the whole area of the field, or that portion of 

 it taken at one working. 



With regard to the economic part of the question of 

 steam-ploughing as at present practised, we consider 

 the direct saving of expense, as between it and the com- 

 mon plough, unimportant ; and were there no other 

 source of profit, we should say that it would not be suffi- 

 ciently great to render it desirable to substitute it for 

 horse-power, or to disturb for it the present arrange- 

 ments of the farm. The great advantage is to be found 

 in the economy of time, and the rapidity with which 

 the work can be performed ; and still more in the in- 

 creased production consequent on deep culture and 

 timely sowing, both of which may be secured by it. The 

 system, however, is yet in its infancy, and does but 

 just demonstrate the practicability of applying the 

 power of steam to the cultivation of the soil. We look 

 for a much greater development of it, thus applied, ap- 

 proaching nearer to that it has attained in other great 

 departments of industry ; and its economic properties 

 must be more fully worked out before the general body 

 of agriculturists will be induced to adopt so important 

 a change in their mode of conducting their business. 

 Steam must reign alone, it' at all, and cannot, with ad- 

 vantage, be associated with animal or manual power, 

 except as subordinate agents, of which, when it has 

 attained its maturity of growth, it will require only ho- 

 moeopathic doses. Our machinists will do well to con- 

 sider this, and to direct their attention to an extended 

 application of steam-power to all the operations of hus- 

 bandry, which alone can render it a truly economic 

 agent, and to which we assuredly believe it is destined 

 ultimately to attain. 



THE IMPLEMENT JUDGES AT CHESTER, AND THEIR AWARD 

 ON THE PORTABLE THRASHING MACHINES. 



Sir, — On account of many remarks made, I venture 

 to trouble you with the following, as I wish to be set 

 right with the public, having acted for some years as a 

 judge for the Royal Agricultural Society, and hoping 

 that what I have done has been for the mutual benefit 

 of all classes belonging to it. I cannot, tben, allow bad 

 motives to be imputed to me, without speaking. 



" CLASS IX. POR THE BEST POKTABLK COMBINEP 



Thrashing Machine, that wim. bf.st pre- 

 pare THE Corn for Market." 



On carefully examining the Judges' Report of the 

 Chester trials of the above-named machines, I cannot 

 understand the decisions arrived at. I fear I am vrry 

 stupid ; but I will take the judges' figures on the points 

 of perfection, and the headings used for some time by 



previous judges, and which fully report on the points 

 most worthy of consideration. 



OJ.D Style, as undeu. 



It is thus shown that, on these points, Hornsby is a 

 clear winner by 38 points ; while in the Judges' Report, 

 with their new and additional points, they put Clayton 



