APPLICATION OF STEAM TO AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. 51 



In some parts of the country, steam cultivating and thrashing com- 

 panies have been formed, who purchase the machines referred to, and 

 let them out on hire at moderate rates to the farmers in the respective 

 districts. A number of landed proprietors are at the head of these com- 

 panies, in order to give encouragement to their farmers in the culti- 

 vation of their land by these machines. It is therefore to be expected 

 that they must, in the hands of such companies, be subjected to fair 

 trial, and in time made, if possible, more simple in their construction, 

 and fit to be placed in the hands of farmers generally, who will at the 

 same time become familiar with the mode of working those machines 

 while employed on their respective farms. 



I think it may not be out of place here to throw out a few hints as 

 to what seems desirable to be attained in these steam machines, in 

 order that they may become in all respects adapted for farm-work in- 

 stead of horses. First, then, the principle on which Fowler's, Howard's, 

 or Smith's machines are constructed seems the best adapted for the 

 proper cultivation of the land that can be devised viz., that of keep- 

 ing the engine on the outside of the field, and dragging the implements 

 only over the land ; as by this method the land is not poached as 

 it would be were the motive-power to be made to drag itself over the 

 land along with the implements. Second, If the land was previously 

 trenched, where such is necessary, the implements used for cultivation 

 in connection with the steam-power could be made of a much lighter 

 description than they require to be, in order to be worked safely in the 

 present condition of most soils, as there would in that case be no stones 

 to interfere with their action ; and the land would be so open and porous 

 as to allow the cultivators to pass through it easily, so that a great 

 saving might therefore be effected in the construction of the tackle, as 

 well as in the power of the engine. Third, The engine, besides being 

 adapted to the cultivation of the land, should be so constructed as to be 

 used for driving a fixed thrashing-machine when necessary, or to propel 

 itself along the roads of the farm, hauling waggons of manure to the fields, 

 or along the country roads generally with the produce of the farm to 

 market, or to bring home the grain crop from the fields to the stackyard, 

 or the turnips from the fields to the cattle-houses at the steading ; and to 

 do all these or any other work which may be found necessary on a 

 farm, as is now done with horses. Until the engine and its accompani- 

 ments are adapted to perform all these operations in a complete and 

 satisfactory manner, and at a much cheaper rate than is now accom- 

 plished by horse-power, it cannot be said that steam machinery is fairly 

 available for all the purposes of the farm, or suitable to be put into the 

 hands of every farmer for profitable use. Much experience is no doubt 



