Eeed.] 



Report on Steam Cultivation. 



153 



The Apparatus. — Mr. Cooper began in 1860 with an okl set 

 of Smith's tackle, exchanged for a cart colt. He took it to 

 pieces, acquired a good 



knowledge of its details, ^H A 



reconstructed it, and 

 worked it with a steam- 

 engine of small power. 

 In the hands of his en- 

 gineer, a clever fellow, 

 previously acquainted 

 with machinery, toge- 

 ther with a blacksmith, 

 both guided by himself, 

 the apparatus has under- 

 gone since that time a 

 total revolution. The old 

 cultivators have been 

 abandoned for a larger 

 one better adapted for 

 light land, with 6 tines 5 

 feet wide, see Fig. A. It 

 is raised and lowered 

 very simply, works 

 steadily, and has re- 

 quired no repair. One 

 thing is yet wanting to perfect it, and this is easily supplied, 

 namely, an arrangement by which the tine frame may be lowered 

 when one wheel is upon the 

 unbroken soil. The windlass 

 is also home-made. Two 

 drums fixed in a heavy. frame, 

 earned on wheels. A pully 

 on either side receives motion 

 from the engine by means of a 

 band. No repairs have been 

 needed by the machine since 

 it was made. The snatch- 

 blocks are from Messrs. 

 Howards' ; the porters are of 

 his pattern, save that repre- 

 sented by Fig. C, used in 

 the line of the fixed rope. B 

 shows the fore-carriage, steer- 

 age, draft, chain, &c. with 



arms of " turning bow " at an angle of 45°. D shows the crank- 

 axle. The steersman rides on a seat behind. 



For some time Mr. Cooper was under the impression that he 



