at the Warwick Meeting, 1859. 
315 
Report on Steam Cultivation. 
There were seven implements selected for competition for the prize of 50/. 
offered by the Society for " the best application of Steam Power to the cultiva- 
tion of the soil." 
Albert Hudson Koyds, of Falinge, near Rochdale, entered a set of steam 
cultivating apparatus, consisting of a portable steam-engine, an improved wind- 
lass, self-acting crabs, &c., and a cultivator, invented by the exliibitor, and 
manufoctured by Bamish and Ratclifle, of Rochdale. 
William Henry Nash, of Cubitt Town, Poplar, London, sent a patent steam 
rotary cultivator, invented and improved by Robert RomaLne, of Canada, and 
manufactured bj' the exhibitor. 
William Crowley and Sons, of Newport Pagnell, entered a set of patent 
apparatus, invented and manufactured by the exhibitors, consisting of an or- 
dinary 8-horse portable steam-engine, with Hayes' patent windlass, wire-rope, 
pulleys, and anchors ; also a set of imiversal ploughs. 
R. liobey and Co., of Lincoln, entered a steam cultivator, invented by 
Chandler and Oliver, and manufactured by the exhibitors, consisting of a 
10-horse power portable steam-engine, with patent dram-windlass, anchors, 
&c., and a 3-furrow plough, manufactured by J. and F. Howard, of Bedlbrd. 
J. and F. Howard, of Bedford, sent a set of patent apparatus for cultivating 
land by steam, invented by William Smith, of Woolstone, consisting of an 
8-horse power portable steam-engine, with windlass, anchors, wire-ropes, 
pulleys, &c., and a scarifier with three, and another with five shares or sjjuds. 
J. Fowler, jun., of Cornhill, Loudon, entered two sets of steam cultivating 
apparatus : the first consisting of a 10-horse engine, with self-moving and 
reversing gear and windlass, self-acting anchors, wire ropes, snatch-blocks, &c. ; 
also a balance 4-furrow plough, fitted with scarifier irons, and a balance 
3-furrow Cotgreave plough. 
The other set consists of an 8-horse power engine, with apparatus on the 
same principle as the above, and a balance 3-furrow j)loush or scarifier. 
The trials commenced on the 8th of July, in a field of two-year old lej', the 
soil a very stiff loam, which resisted the action of the implements as much as 
any land we had ever witnessed, owing to the extreme heat and long-con- 
tinued dry weather ; and it was, in the true sense of the word, a trial Jidd. 
It soon became evident that the gi-ound was too hard for Royds' cultivator, 
which works with 9 coulters, 3 one way and 6 the contrary way, the 6 
coulters returning over the same ground which the 3 have partially broken 
up. It was regulated and steered by a man walking behind, who did not 
seem to have sufficient command of the implements ; and it was only by the 
most indefatigable exertions that he succeeded in going a few rounds with it. 
Nash's rotary cultivator, invented by Robert Rondaine, from various causes, 
chiefly connected with the faulty state of the engine, was also unable to pro- 
ceed, and we have to regret that we had not a better opportunity of testing this 
implement, which, in many respects, deserves commendation. The way in 
which it lifts the digger out of the ground, and the ease with which it turns 
round on its own length, are admirable arrangements. 
The set of steam cultivating apparatus by Crowley and Sons, after several 
attempts, was also obliged to retire. It is worked by a stationary engine, with 
windlass, wire ropes, anchors, &c., the chief feature being the windlass, which 
throws the work out of gear, rendering it unnecessary to stop the engine at any 
time during the work. 
The trial was now confined to three competitors — Messrs. Robey, Howard, 
and Fowler (2 sets) ; and a second field having been provided, they commenced 
the final trial on Monday, the 11th of July, in a field near the other, but, 
instead of being level, like the first, it was hilly, and the soil of a stronger 
nature. The ground being equally apportioned, they each started to work at a 
given time. 
