180 
Application of Steam Poicer 
an upright boiler ; double cylinders ; a different arrangement of 
toothed gearing for communicating motion to the tilling shaft and 
to the travelling wheel ; a movement by which the tilllng-part 
was lifted or lowered by the power of the engine ; smaller mould- 
boards to the curved ploughs ; and minor improvements as to 
the engine pumps, &c. The weight was about a ton less ; and 
by having 210 feet instead of 130 feet of heating surface, there 
was a great increase of power. At the Carlisle Meeting, in 1855, 
this engine was exhibited in the showyard, but not at work in 
the field ; 6 horses drew its weight of 5^ tons ; and though sup- 
posed to be of 14 horse power at 50 lbs. pressure, the friction- 
brake gave the power as 19 horse. The " tiller" of this machine 
makes 30 revolutions per minute ; the rate of advance is 95 feet 
per minute ; and as there are three plough cutters on each disk 
or plate, making thus three cuts in each revolution, each share 
strikes the ground 12§ inches in advance of the last in the same 
track. The depth varying from a few inches down to 95 inches ; 
and each cutter taking a breadth of 10 inches, the ground is 
severed into curved flakes or spits. The wing or small mould- 
board on one side each share is not turned over as in the common 
plough, and does not even rise to the perpendicular, but yet, 
owing to the speed, throws the piece of earth over sideways ; 
and this piece falling before the second- cutter of the preceding 
set, is again broken up and further comminuted. Neat inversion 
is not attained ; but less stubble was left on the surface (in the 
former trials) than is often the case with" a common plough, — the 
little left being quite shaken to pieces, so that tlie harrow which 
was attached to the back of the machine raked all off the land. 
The breadth of ground taken atone time is 50 inches; equivalent, 
at the stated rate of advance, to 2635 square yards per hour, or 
6J acres in 12 hours. Time is lost, however, in turning at the 
ends and crossing over the land- — the machine throwing its work 
only one way ; but the inventor considered that steam-power 
should be used in a continuous progression, witliout stoppages 
except for taking in water, beginning at one corner of a field, or 
in the middle, and going round and round until it was finislied. 
An association was formed for carrying out the scheme with lOZ. 
shares, including two dukes and various baronets among the sub- 
scribers ; but unfortunately this ingenious invention has been no 
more heard of in the agricultural world. 
In December, 1852, Mr. John Bethell patented a rotary 
digger attached to an agricultural steam-engine. It consisted of 
a drum or shaft, round which are arranged in a helical direction 
a number of prongs or tines. Tiiis digger turns in bearings made 
at the end of a frame, or a ])air of lever arms, secured to the 
back part of the engine carriage in such a manner that it may 
