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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



THE STEAM -PLOUGH, AND ITS PROGRESS, 



It is comparatively easy to put the general advantages 

 of steam power. Any such problem has already reached 

 a solution. We thrash, clean, and grind our corn — 

 bring home, feed, and sell our stock — all by the aid of 

 that now indispensable agent. Indeed, a homestead 

 without an engine would by this be considered as half 

 furnished as the house without a mistress, or the parish 

 church wanting a parson. Of course there are still 

 several minor matters scarcely as yet brought within 

 the scope of its operation. But these are all bound to 

 follow; and we shall soon grub up our roots, pump 

 our water, warm our cattle in winter, and cool them in 

 summer, as methodically as we cut chaff or winnow 

 wheat. In an agricultural point of view, steam has 

 only one grand difficulty remaining to contend with. 

 No wonder, then, that the recent discussion at 

 the Farmers' Club centred almost entirely here. 

 Everything else was pretty well taken for granted. 

 Much had already been accomplished ; and if we 

 could only achieve this, as much more must follow. 

 Once realize ploughing by steam, and drilling, drain- 

 ing, hoeing, and other similar descriptions of farm- 

 work would come " naturally." But at this point we 

 stop. The very Alps of our march onwards have yet to be 

 crossed. And old Bowler eats his corn and frisks his 

 tail, as much as ever the pride and pet of boys and 

 horse- keepers. 



However near we may actually be to a consumma- 

 tion of our hopes, it is very palpable that the prac- 

 tice of steam cultivation is yet in the hands of 

 enthusiasts and patriots. True enough that Mr. 

 Smith can count up a certain number of friends 

 and neighbours, who are really adopting the system. 

 But it is remarkable, on the other hand, how the 

 great body of farmers hold off; and the leading men 

 more particularly. Authorities who have ever been 

 ready to give to anything of promise a trial and a chance, 

 are by no means so ready now. Even the exciting and 

 highly-seasoned correspondence of some time jiast has 

 failed to arouse them. The usual commentary appears 

 to be : " Let them fight it out." And the agriculturist 

 waits, like a cautious jockey in a race, allowing the hot- 

 headed and impetuous to weary each other out, and 

 then coming up to win. Sound and prudent as this 

 Fabian policy may be, it is, for many reasons, to be re- 

 gretted. It is much to be -wished that even at this 

 stage the class chiefly concerned could be induced to 

 take a little more active interest in the question to be 

 solved. Inquire of our great manufacturing firms, 

 from whom they have received the moit valuable 

 hints and instructions for perfecting their inventions ? 

 Almost invariably you will hear, in answer, from the 

 farmers themselves— from those who have gradually 

 tested the value and capabilities of the implement in 

 everyday work, and learnt, with its uses, at the same 

 time its drawbacks and defects. It is by the same 



means that we shall make steam-cultivation a practical 

 fact. Much certainly has been done in this way 

 already by such men as Mr. Smith and Mr. Williams. 

 Much assistance again has been proffered them by the 

 more strictly professional mechanist ; but the culminat- 

 ing point — the strong and hearty pull to land them at 

 the top — must come from the hand of their own order. 



And this brings us t'j the weak place in Mr. 

 Mechi's paper, as read before the members of the 

 Farmers' Club. That it was got up by a man 

 with his heart in his subject no one who reads it 

 can for a moment deny. That it was prepared with 

 much ability and industry everyone will be equally in- 

 clined to admit. The figures were as telling as figures 

 well can be, and the general argument and deduction 

 honest and sound enough. What, however, was the 

 substance of this deduction ? It would, of course, be 

 impossible for a progressionist like the worthy Alderman 

 to talk to a body of farmers without scolding them; 

 and his charge against them now is that they do not 

 evince sufficient readiness to avail tliemselves to the 

 full of steam power. Notwithstanding all this had 

 accomplished for them, they did not go on with it as 

 they were warranted, or as other classes of the com- 

 munity had done. Surely the lecturer's own acute- 

 ness would furnish the reply to such a complaint. He 

 has studied the English yeoman's character long enough 

 to know his proverbial caution, and the festina lente 

 pace of his proceeding. And so, when, for the nonce, 

 the Alderman stands once more with a scroll in his right 

 hand, as the embodiment of progress and improvement 

 —the very high-priest of Ceres — vaticinating as the 

 Oracle, '' Level your lands, pull up your hedges, sell 

 your horses, and buy a steam-plough" — a classic chorus 

 of countrymen surrounds him, shouting, "Will it pay?" 

 " How can you do it ?" and " Let's see it first." 



If Mr. Mechi himself was not here equal to the oc- 

 casion, the speakers who followed him did little to 

 help him out. Almost the only members who ad- 

 dressed the meeting had each some several plan of his 

 own, at least identified with his name; and we had in 

 turn, accordingly, Mr. Williams, Mr. Fowler, Mr. Hall, 

 and Mr. Halkett. The one chief witness was wanting 

 — the farmer in no way associated with the inventor or 

 patentee, who had practised steam ploughing, who had 

 sold his horses, had grown a quarter an acre more, and 

 reaped all such similar advantages. However ener- 

 getically Mr. Fowler, Mr. Smith, or Mr. Williams may 

 talk and work — and it must be conceded that they 

 are equally ready at either — they must feel as strongly 

 as we do that it is not from their own mouths we must 

 be convinced of the efficiency of their systems. If any 

 one will but once show a lead, we may follow. Now 

 we all hear, more or less directly, of there 

 being tenant farmers who have really taken to 

 cultivating their lands by the use of steam- 



