EXHIBITION AT HAMBURG. 27 



The plougliing match was oue of the most important features of the fair. It 

 was witnessed by a large number of spectators, and took place on a field quite 

 a distance from the grounds on which the great exhibition was held. The 

 power was horse and steam. We watched with great anxiety the results of 

 ploughing with the horses, as several American ploughs were tried side by side 

 with the English ones. As furrow after furrow was turned, we were con- 

 strained to admit that in this department the English had the advantage. The 

 ground upon which the trial was made was a low meadow, mostly clay, very 

 hard and dry. The soil was in bad condition to show the best work from any 

 plough. There was no room for debating the result, however, for the American 

 ploughs on trial did their best under the circumstances, guided as they were by 

 practical American farmers. The steam ploughing was good. There were five 

 entries made, all with stationary engines, and all from England. The ploughs 

 were arranged to cut from three to five furrows at a passage, there being two 

 sets of shares to avoid the necessity of turning the plough. The engine, having 

 two upright drums or capstans, is set at a point in the field which may be 

 called the apex of the triangular space occupied by the apparatus. At each 

 of the other angles is set a guide pulley, through which a strong wire rope was 

 passed from one of the drums to the other, and to this rope between the pulleys 

 the ploughs were attached. By the movement of the engine the rope was first 

 wound around one of the drums and unwound from the other, and the furrow 

 being run through, the motion was reversed and the ploughs were run back iu 

 the opposite direction. They were attached to a frame which was balanced 

 upon the axle of a carriage, the guide pulleys being moved as required to 

 reach the unploughed portions of the field. This ploughing was all admirably 

 done, considering the condition of the ground. 



The expense of the engine and machinery connected with the steam plough 

 was from three to four thousand dollars. The movement of the ploughs could 

 not have been less than three miles an hour. The first prize was awarded to 

 John Fowler, of Leeds, England. Governor Wright, the commissioner ap- 

 pointed by President Lincoln, in alluding to this matter, uses the following 

 language : 



" Several unsuccessful attempts having been made in our own country to plough by steam, 

 these trials received the especial attention of Americans present. Five ploughs were entered, cut- 

 ting from three to four funows at each coui'se, in a highly satisfactory manner. I was convinced 

 that if some modification was made by which the expense attending the machinery for this 

 operation could be materially diminished, the introduction of ploughing by steam could be 

 easily effected so as to be highly advantageous to the agricultuial interests in many portions 

 of the country. 



" It is most manifest that steam is designed to play an important part in many of the branches 

 of agriculture. In the opinion of yoiu commissioner we have not been sufficiently mindful 

 of the progress made in Great Britain and other portions of Europe in tlie improvement in 

 agricultural implements, brought about by the sharp competition of the English manufacturer 

 for the European market. We are content with our unparalleled success, and we may well 

 say we are ahead of the nations of the Old World in machinery in its adaptation to the wants 

 of the people, in cheapness and utility, in the great labor-saving machines of the day, 

 threshers, mowers, reapers, grain cleaners, «fec. Yet a few days' witnessing the steam ploughs 

 and steam machines in operation upon the national fair grounds at Hamburg would induce 

 you to say we are behind many of them in the application of steam to agricultural work. 

 Whatever the wants of the present day may be, the time is not far distant when many por- 

 tions of our country will require this wonderful element, if we shall fully develop the hidden 

 resources of our rich but diversified country. So important did the steam plough appear, that 

 a partial promise was procured from an eminent English firm to attend the first national ag- 

 ricultural exhibition held in the United States with their steam ploughing apparatus, if aa 

 invitation should be extended to competitors in this mode of ploughing. " 



There can be no doubt that either of the steam ploughs would work with 

 great satisfaction upon the prairie lands of the western States, but whether the 

 system of ploughing can be made economical may be considered very ques- 

 tionable. 



