Hints for Experiments. 243 



latter object is effected to such a nicety, that it has been used on the same 

 farm to harrow in grass seeds, and to grub or stir the soil to the depth of 

 twelve inches. Those who have not seen an implement of the grubber kind 

 at work may question its fitness as a substitute for the plough ; but, where 

 the soil is dry and the grubber can be dragged across it in different direc- 

 tions, it will not only equal but far surpass the plough in every case in which 

 littery manure is not to be ploughed in, or a tough sward to be turned over. 

 The effectual manner in which this implement mixes the top and bottom of 

 the soil together, and breaks all the parts of the soil to pieces, was com- 

 pletely shown last year in that part of Hyde Park submitted to its 

 operations under the direction of Mr. Shedden, the surveyor. We under- 

 stand the whole of the Park is to undergo the same process next year, 

 and we should certainly like to see the power of steam tried instead of 

 horses. 



But how is manure to be ploughed in, or a turf sward to be turned over, 

 by the power of steam ? Instead of the prongs of Finlayson's harrow, 

 substitute the self-cleaning coulters and shares of his self-cleaning plough 

 {fig. 64.), regulated as to depth by wheels. Any number of these will work 



together without a holder, just as well as any number of prongs. Nothing 

 can be easier than to construct a steam plough with the shares and mould 

 boards contrived so as to shift and adjust, for the purpose of forming drills 

 or ridgelets, and splitting them down ; and the harrow, with a rake attached, 

 and some other easy contrivances, and two attendants, might be made to 

 unearth a field of potatoes, collect them, and deliver them into baskets or 

 sacks, (the same, as to stones or weeds,) which, as filled, might be put into 

 carts, at the rate of fifty acres a day, or a much greater number, with as 

 much ease as the same machine would afterwards prepare the soil for wheat, 

 and harrow in the seed. 



It must always be recollected, in favour of steam ploughs and harrows, 

 that no holder whatever will be required, and that an engine of twenty 

 ploughs' power woidd be guided by one man just as easily as one of half 

 that capacity. 



The power of selecting, for the performance of all the principal plough- 

 ings and harrowings of the largest farm, weather when the soil was in the 

 fittest state for being laboured, and of executing these labours at any time 

 in two or three days, must also be taken into account. Add the saving of 

 horse food, of risk from diseases and death, of horse lodging, of men as 

 ploughmen and carters, and of capital ; because a steam-engine of twenty- 

 horses' power, adapted to impel ploughs, harrows, waggons, sowing, mowing, 

 and reaping machines, would certainly cost less than twenty horses and 

 their harness. One or two pairs of horses might, under such an arrange- 

 ment, be all that was necessary on even the largest farm. 



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