26 THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



carry the work out in a thorough manner without 

 unduly distressing the horses. All the cultivators we 

 have tried are fitted with tines, shares, or blades that 

 are movable, so that they can be raised or lowered for 

 light or deep draught respectively. They can be reduced 

 in number if desired, and in some cases the machines 

 can be widened or contracted to fit them for working 

 in rows of different widths in horse-hoeing. The 

 Planet Junior Machines are very useful in this way on 

 medium soils. 



Steam Power 



On farms and market gardens of the largest extent, 

 and with heavy soils, steam power is often a desirable 

 aid in ploughing and cultivating, or in breaking up old 

 pasture or arable land that requires to be deepened for 

 special planting. When the engines and tackle can be 

 conveniently hired and brought on to the land, it is the 

 cheapest form of preparing large areas of land, but it 

 will not pay on small extents, or when a portion only 

 can be done at the one operation. It is usual for the 

 hirer to provide and cart the coal for the engines, also 

 to keep them supplied with water, and this is a serious 

 item, especially when it has to be carted a distance. 

 When water is not procurable or only at a serious cost 

 in labour, it is useless to think of steam cultivation. 

 Otherwise where speedy preparation is important the 

 power is both cheap and valuable, but if the soil is 

 heavy and has not been efficiently cultivated it must be 

 remembered that the work is apt to be done in a rough 

 manner, necessitating much after-treatment to reduce it, 

 or a prolonged period of exposure to effect the same 

 object. Some forms of Agricultural Motors have been 

 tried with varying results, but improvements are being 

 constantly effected, so that we may look for really 

 useful machines in this direction. 



