PLOUGHS.] 



OF ENGLISH FARMING. 



[pLouons. 



experience, improvements can only be made in 

 the inanut'aoturo ot tlie aocoiulary parts, and in 

 the proper adjustment of tlio whole. Iron lias, 

 in a great measure, superseded wood, the 

 nu-tal combining strength with lightness ; the 

 mouki-boards are of varying liMigth, to suit 

 uiriV'rent soils, and the coultors can bo inclined 

 to one side or the other. The Messrs. lian- 

 some may be said to have originally taken the 

 first steps in improving the plough ; and, with 

 iSlessrs. Busby, llornaby, and Howard, still 

 sustain the reputation they all have so long 

 merited. The Messrs. llansome, besides their 

 ordinary ploughs, have introduced a double- 

 furrow plough, for turning two furrows at the 

 same time ; by removing the mould-boards of 

 the ridging-plough, it is adapted for a sub- 

 soiler, to work after the plough ; and, by at- 

 taching a pair of open-ribbed mould-boards, 

 it is adapted for raising potatoes. — Messrs. 

 Howard, in addition to their other ploughs, 

 have a small pony plough. — Messrs. Hornsby, 

 also, besides implements adapted for heavy 

 and light lands, have a pony plough. — Messrs. 

 Hunt and Pickering have invented a new 

 mode of pitching the share : by a simple con- 

 trivance, the nose can be altered so as to regu- 

 late the depth ; and the patent oil-boxes for 

 the wheels, while retaining the oil, exclude 

 the grit. — IMessrs. Page have some very ex- 

 cellent forms of ploughs, with an adjusting 

 coulter. In some localities the wooden beam 

 has been retained, and attention has, there- 

 fore, been directed to the improvement of the 

 implement under this form of construction. — 

 Messrs. Grey have a sub-soil pulveriser, with 

 improved leverage ; and Messrs. Hancock, a 

 triple-trenching plough, which, on any soil, 

 will make a seed-bed at one operation. 

 These are gratifying tests of the inge- 

 nuity, and also of application, in reference to 

 the agricultural department of science. It 

 must be remembered that the steam-plough 

 was unknown at the Exhibition of 1S51. It 

 might then be considered as in an embryo 

 state, soon, however, to burst forth as an agri- 

 cultural fact. In general terms, the principle 

 which has now been established would appear 

 to consist of a strong frame, containing either 

 fixed ploughshares or tines for stirring the 

 soil, to which wire ropes are attached ; these 

 are received on a revolving drum, worked by a 



portable steam-engine, the framework being 

 drawn to and fro between anehorn fixed at op- 

 posite jiniiits, until the operation is completed. 

 — Mr. Fowler's name stands among those who 

 have directed attention to the development of 

 steam-ploughing. In that implement the soil 

 is turned over either by shares or by tines 

 fixed in a frame, and having a double set of 

 each, BO as to bo worked either way. The 

 windlass is attached to the engine itself, or 

 there are revolving drums worked bv the 

 engine : to prevent tiie drag of the slack chain 

 on the land, wire-porters are used — a very 

 important element in saving the wear and tear 

 and tlie dead weight. The Messrs. Howard 

 make use of revolving drums, worked direct 

 from the engine, by which much power is 

 saved ; the wire ropes pass through two re- 

 volving wheels lying horizontally, and near the 

 ground. A great improvement has lately been 

 made in the working by the additional central 

 wheel, placed at a little distance from the 

 others, which regulate the action of the wire 

 rope ; the rope-porter also is new, and very 

 eflicient. — Mr. Stevens's general-purpose im- 

 plement differs from the others. It is made 

 of wrought-iron and steel, and consists of a 

 main framework, which carries two under- 

 frames. To these are attached eight ploughs, 

 four at each end, which rise and fall parallel 

 to the ground, thus avoiding the balancing or 

 tipping motion. The centre wheels that sup- 

 port the whole machine are strong, and stand 

 5 ft. 6 in. in height, by which the draught is 

 considerably diminished when in motion. — Mr. 

 Hayes has invented an improved windlass for 

 steam cultivation ; the framework is very 

 strong. The following are the peculiarities ; 

 — " The plough can be instantly stopped by 

 anchormen at the headland, without stopping 

 the engine, the engine continuing in motion 

 as in thrashing or other work : no signals are 

 required ; the work may be performed in foggy 

 weather, or by moonlight, with perfect safety 

 to the machinery. One man can superintend 

 engine and windlass. A double cylinder is not 

 needed, as the engine is not 8to[)ped; and no 

 wheels are required to be put in or out of 

 gear." — The machine of Messrs. S.imson and 

 Jewell is called a paring and breaking cul- 

 tivator, and is adapted both for horses and 

 steam-engines. It consists of an iron frame, 



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