756 
Report on the Exhibition of Implements, 
for ploughing were combined in one self-moving apparatus. This 
was first shown at Salisbury in 1857 ; it was provided with two 
horizontal winding-drums, carrying the two ploughing ropes 
and an additional small drum for a headland rope by which it 
hauled itself along the headland parallel to a self-moving anchor 
at the other end of the field. The engine had two cylinders, 
and the boiler was carried on wooden wheels. Subsequently the 
engine was altered three times. In 1858, the winding-drums 
were replaced by grooved drums, thus introducing the system 
of working with an endless rope. The next alteration consisted 
in substituting three drum-sheaves for two grooved-drums, the 
central one being worked by the engine. Finally, in 1861, the 
clip-drum was introduced, in which form the engine was exhibited. 
This history is interesting, inasmuch as it represents some of the 
principal alterations that have taken place. Even the clip-drum, 
which was such an advance upon its predecessors, has now given 
place to single winding-drums. Two curiosities in the way of 
steam ploughs were shown, viz.. Fowler's 3-furrow steam plough, 
fitted with Kent wooden mould-boards. This was shown by 
T. Lake, Esq., Tony, Sittingbourne, and is described as one of 
the best steam ploughs ever constructed. And Fowler's original 
balance plough, lent by Mr. Edmund Ruck, Castle Hill, Crick- 
lade. Though not one of the very first implements constructed 
by Mr. Fowler on the balance principle, it represents early efforts, 
having the straight wooden beams, and the separate plough- 
middle on two wheels, which carries the fulcrum for the right- 
and left-hand side of the implement, steered by means of the 
two central wheels, and slack-rope drums. The last of the ancient 
implements of Messrs. Fowler and Co. that I shall allude to 
is the Sutherland plough, very properly named after the noble 
owner, who has done a great work of reclamation. It is hardly 
right to class this as an old machine, seeing that it is of 
comparatively recent growth ; but it well represents the progress 
that has been made, and the adaptability of steam power to 
a great variety of work. It was made in 1872, and was first 
worked by a roundabout tackle. Constant breakages occurred, 
and, at the suggestion of Mr. Wright, a large rotary knife was 
fixed in advance of the plough, cutting the sod, and lifting the 
implement over any rocks which came in the way. By the 
Duke's suggestion a subsoil tine of enormous strength was 
attached to the implement for tearing out stones. As a com- 
parison with these more or less ancient machines, Messrs. Fowler 
and Co. showed a IG-horse power winding machine, a 6-furrow 
balance plough, a 11-tine turning cultivator, a turning harrow, 
and the present Sutherland plough, all indicating in material, 
workmanship, size, strength, simplicity of construction, and 
