516 TBANSACTIONS Or THE 



STEAM CULTIVATORS. 

 At Salisbury, we had four competitors, viz : Mr. Fowler, Mr. 

 Boydell, Mr. Collinson Hall and Mr. J. A. Williams. 



The judges decided that on the JT.orning they were to begin 

 working, they should give notice of being ready. They to start 

 from the yard as from the homestead of a farm. Mr. Boydell 

 most triumphantly ascended the hill to the ground laid out ^or 

 plowing, and fully proved its power as a traction engine. He 

 shortly commenced plowing, but this was not satisfactory, for 

 nothing could keep the plows in the ground ! The work he com- 

 pleted, in breaking up the soil with Coleman's large cultivator, 

 was excellent; but this of course, does not comply with the rule 

 for the prize. 



Mr. Collinson Hall's engine was unable, through an accident 

 in making a sharp turn, to reach the field in time for the trial. 

 He succeeded eventually in bringing up his engine and making 

 good work. 



Mr. Williams' system was anything but satisfactory. 



Mr. Fowler after much delay began plowing. The work done 

 was very good, but here we must say, we could not reduce the 

 price per acre below that of the Boxted trials. As far as plowing 

 is concerned, we think Mr. Fowler still stands preeminent over 

 any others. We cannot say that his plows are economical substi- 

 tutes for the plow or the spade. We vote Mr. Fowler a medal. 



THE OX, VERSUS STEAM PLOW. 

 By H. Meigs. 



We have felt enthusiastic, as well as many others, with the 

 prospect of plowing our immense fields with steam-plows, and in- 

 deed we had entered into the theory of steam-plows for England, 

 and other well populated districts. We are convinced that we 

 and others were too fast. 



From all times past, the ox and the man occupy the farm toge- 

 ther. And undei' no circumstances can it ever be good farming 

 to keep the ox without his labor. The cow rewards us richly 

 with milk, butter and cheese, the calf pays in the market, while 



