STEAM CULTIVATION. 451 



The ploughs are set in " gangs " on a tilting frame. One 

 end of the frame carries right hand, and the other end left 

 hand ploughs. The ploughman sits on the end of the frame 

 which is " in work," and guides the carriage by means of a 

 steering wheel. His weight holds the end on which he sits 

 down to its work, and tilts the other end up, so that its 

 ploughs are in the air. If the width of the field is consider- 

 able, " rope porters " or guiding wheels keep the rope from 

 running on the ground, and thus save power and prevent 

 wear and tear. 



The ploughs being ready to commence their work at the 

 side of the field next to the engine, this is set in motion 

 and the ploughs are drawn toward the anchor ; when they 

 arrive at the anchor side of the field, the ploughman changes 

 his seat to the other end of the frame, and the engine is re- 

 versed, drawing the ploughs toward it ; and in this manner 

 they are moved back and forth until the whole length of the 

 field is ploughed. They are then moved to the ends of the 

 headlands and these are ploughed. 



The engine is a locomotive, and advances along the head- 

 land so as to be always opposite its work, and the anchor is 

 moved at the pleasure of the operator, by the action of its 

 windlass. 



The ploughs are used in all cases where there is a sod or 

 a long stubble to be turned under, but fallow land is culti- 

 vated by the substitution of long-toothed grubbers, which 

 work at a greater depth. 



