CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



ticular end, that end being the production of a seed- 

 bed, of suitable depth and texture, and with the soil 

 as nearly as possible inverted in its bed and I do not 

 think they will be long in setting the steam-engine 

 about its proper task, in the proper way. But their 

 attention is distracted, at present, from the end to 

 the means. They are taught to think that the plough 

 is a sine qua non that steam-cultivation of necessity 

 implies ste&m-ploughing , and they are led to give up 

 the task in despair, because they are at fault upon a 

 false scent. 



We have many rolling implements employed in the 

 field, but we have only one instance of a revolving 

 implement. The clod-crusher and the Norwegian - 

 harrow roll, the hay-tedding machine (one of the best 

 instruments ever invented) revolves. I use the words 

 somewhat arbitrarily, but the difference I allude to is 

 very important. The first are liable to the evil of 

 'clogging; 5 because they derive their axis -motion 

 from the soil as they pass over and press upon it. 

 This action must not be confounded with that of a 

 machine which has its cause of revolution within itself, 

 independent, and acting upon the soil as a circular- 

 saw acts upon a board, or the paddle-wheel of a 

 steamer upon the water. The teeth of a saw clear 



