GiS TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



more. The motive power, at a short distance, resembles a railway 

 engine without its tender, moving in the reverse direction, with 

 the revolving plow shares placed directly behind the funnel. 

 This machine was different from most of the steam plows before 

 invented, as they had a system of stationary engines and endless 

 chains. The locomotive made use of by Usher, was a ten horse 

 power, with four plows affixed; but it was adapted for six, and 

 might have worked ten without an increase of power. The plow 

 shares penetrated the soil from seven to nine inches, and tore up 

 the loam as loosely as a garden soil. 



At the trial of this plow forty gentlemen were present, and 

 determined that, with a few improvements, the locomotive might 

 be made to turn and move about so as to tear up every inch of 

 soil in a lot. And further, that two skilled men could manage 

 it and drive six plows at once. The cost was about $2,500, 



In one of the experiments, harrows were attached, and it was 

 suggested that, were a broadcast sowing machine added,, all the 

 spring work might be accomplished by one operation. 



In 1851, a Mr. Williams, of London, discovered that a common 

 farm engine, of five horse power, would grind the grain, cut the 

 chaff, thresh the crop, saw the wood,ii'rigate the farm, and plow 

 the land. 



By propelling six plows at a time, according to the nature of 

 the soil, and plowing twenty yards of land in width, without 

 moving the engine, and draw the plows in furrow backwards as 

 well as to her, by means of a pulley fixed in a frame at tlie other 

 end of the field. It will not be a difficult task to satisfy practical 

 farmers, that if we plow by steam, it should undoubtedly be 

 accomplished by the farm engine; and a six horse power engine 

 will be ample for all those purposes. 



Mr. Williams says such an engine will draw six plows two 

 miles an hour, plowing through land from seven to nine inches 

 deep, both to and from the engine. And when the land, twenty 

 feet in width, is plowed, the engine will propel herself and the 

 machine, to the next land. The opinion of the gentlemen who 

 examined Mr. Williams' machine, was divided on the question of 

 expense, and they concluded, that up to that time, no one had 



