FOR AMERICAN VINES. 63 



The advantages are in favour of steam power for a lesser 

 area, if a portable engine is already in use for other work 

 on the farm, and worked a greater number of days, as in 

 this case the writing off of the capital and the wear and 

 tear is spread over a greater number of days. This is gene- 

 rally the case. 



Steam-power is therefore always cheaper when there is an 

 engine on the farm. 



Independently of the question of economy, which makes 

 us favour steam-power applied to simple-effect in preference 

 to double-effect capstans, we must also take the power of 

 the engine into consideration. If it is under 8 H.P., it could 

 not work, without stoppages, a plough working at a depth 

 of 20 inches. With a simple-effect drum, the pressure is 

 regained while the plough is being hauled back into position. 

 The engine can, therefore, perform in an intermittent way, 

 work that it could not do continuously. 



In conclusion, experience teaches us that it is possible, 

 with capstans driven either by steam or horse power, to do 

 deep ploughing impossible with ordinary teams, and at a 

 cost so much the less as the area to be ploughed is larger, 

 and always at a cost below 4 16s. per acre. 



For small growers who cannot spare the capital necessary 

 for the purchase of the plant, and for those who do not possess 

 an area large enough to justify the buying of such machinery, 

 the hiring of it becomes advisable, and many contractors are 

 nowadays ready to undertake the work at reasonable prices. 

 Many are already at work, and it is to be hoped that this 

 number will increase. They are called upon to render great 

 services to small growers, especially in viticultural regions 

 which have been unfortunately invaded by the phylloxera. 



