Steam Culture. 
425 
Let us for a moment consider where the chief difference lies 
in th(^ modus operandi of these two powers. The heavy horse, it 
wouUl seem, does not move at the rate of more than two miles 
an hour ; the steam- plough more than half as fast again, or, when 
it works to the best advantage, even nearly twice as fast. On 
this, perhaps, the essential superiority of the latter chiefly turns ; 
for whilst in the case of the horse the traction-power is only the 
residue of the muscular power over and above that required to 
keep himself in motion — a residue which diminishes as his pace 
is increased, the fixed steam-power suffers no such diminution 
when its speed is augmented. 
On the other hand, without professing to have investigated the 
subject, I will venture to believe that the resistance of the soil 
does not increase in equal proportion to the velocity of the 
plough, and therefore that the more rapid instrument works at a 
great dynamical advantage ; and I invite attention to this branch 
of the subject, that it may be considered by those who are adepts 
at such calculations, as well as tested by experiments, if, indeed, 
our dynamometers are sufficiently perfected and proved for large 
pressures, to give us secure grounds of assurance. 
In these calculations the work of horses has been chiefly con- 
trasted with Mr. Fowler's steam-ploughing, rather than Mr. 
Smith's cultivating, because the two first were similar and com- 
mensurate, and therefore admitted of far easier comparison ; 
whereas Mr. Smith's first operation would not be generally 
equivalent to a ploughing, to which the first and second together 
would be more than equivalent ; whilst scarifying, as done by 
horses, would be too defective to admit of comparison. 
It is by no means within the scope of this Essay to attempt to 
decide between the merits of the two systems ; each will have its 
proper sphere of action, each has merits which within that sphere 
will rightly give it the preference. The indefatigable energy 
,and skill with which Mr. Fowler has remedied successively the 
defects in his arrangements as they became apparent, will secure 
him a high place amongst British engineers and inventors. 
There is a finish and completeness about his apparatus, a com- 
bination of ingenuity and simplicity which is very attiactive ; 
but the farm on which it is to work ought to have both finish 
and size in proportion, in order to do it justice. 
On the other hand, whilst the spirit and vigour with wliich 
Mr. Smith threw himself into steam-cultivation on a very small 
occupation, ought in itself to make him a man of note amongst 
English farmers, — the success which is attending his plan is 
now indicated by the safest of all agricultural criteria — over- 
hedge imitation. 
