912 Transactions of the American Institute. 



thus far made, even there we will find, that although considerable 

 has been attempted and accomplished in drainage, the utilization 

 of sewage and other matters related, more or less, both to agri- 

 culture and engineering, the head and front of the progress made 

 in agricultural engineering, consists in the application of steam to 

 the tillage of the soil, and hence a birds-eye view of the subject 

 under consideration, will involve a somewhat extended prospect of 

 the present condition and past progress of this department of terra- 

 culture. 



That the attention of scientific mechanics should have been earlier 

 directed to steam cultivation than to any other portion of the fai"m- 

 ing interest, may be easily accounted for. The stifi" clay soils and 

 dank mosses common in many parts of England, capable only of 

 being imperfectly plowed with horses, and in many cases wholly 

 defying all ordinary means of culture, could not but suggest inquiries 

 as to the possibility of applying to the plow the motive power so 

 valuable in the propulsion of other machinery, and consequently, 

 w^e find that even before the condensins: engine of Watt had 

 revealed the gigantic capabilities of steam, daring innovations on 

 established customs had proposed the culture of the soil by machines, 

 in which it was designed to dispense with animal power altogether, 

 and it may perhaps be interesting to consider some of these earlier 

 attempts, not only because of their antiquity, and the inventive 

 genius displayed iin ther design, but also for the reason that in a 

 gi-eat degree they furnish the foundation principles of construction 

 around and upon w^hich the eiforts of later projectors have gathered 

 and crystalized, to such an extent, indeed, as to justify the propo- 

 sition wliich we propose to consider at greater length hereafter, 

 that whatever measure of success may have attended more recent 

 steam plowing experiments, has resulted not from the application 

 of new mechanical principles, but simply by greater skill in prac- 

 tical construction. 



The sixth patent mentioned in the English records, was granted 

 in January, 1618, to David Ramsey and William Wildgosse, and 

 the invention is described in the quaint language of the period as 

 " Newe, Apte, or compendious formes or kinde of engines or instru- 

 ments and other profitable iuvencons, wayes and means for the 

 good of our commonwealth, as well to ploughe grounde without 

 horse or oxen, and to enrich and make better and more fertill as 

 well barren peate, salte and seasande, as inlaude and uplande 

 grounde within our kingdomes of England and Ireland and our 



