Report on Steam Cultivation at Newcastle. 
300 
hour less than the 14-horse engine — to the time required to arrange the tackle 
in the held, which was carried without the assistance of horses, and likewise 
to the fuel consumed. The engines were masters of their work ; and, acting 
in combination, appeared to possess more power than the large engine and 
anchor ; but no tests were employed to determine this point. The advantages 
of this system appear to be : that horses arc not required to move tackle ; that 
there is a saving of time in setting down, taking up, and removing from field 
to field ; that the two small engines are both available for ordinary farm-work, 
such as thrashing, driving, barn-work, &c. ; and what is most important, that, 
in the event of an accident to one engine, the work need not be stopped, as by 
the aid of an anchor the single engine could still proceed, with the work, 
slowly, it may be, but still making some progress, at, perhaps, a critical time, 
when total suspension would be disastrous. Nay, we do not see why on very 
large occupations, or for purposes of hiring out, two anchors and extra rope 
might not be provided, so that in light work, such as scarifying stubbles after 
harvest, or; crossing fallows in spring, two sets could be employed, and thus 
an immense amount of work accomplished. This adaptability to varying cir- 
cumstances must always be considered a point of importance. The cost of 
labour, &c, is as follows : — 
8. 
d. 
2 engineers 
7 
0 
a day 
1 ploughman 
3 
0 
>> 
2 porter-boys 
2 
G 
>> 
Water-cart and boy 
4 
0 
j> 
Oil .. .. .. 
1 
G 
>) 
Total 
.18 
0 
Plot 3 was occupied by Messrs. Savory and Son, of Gloucester, who worked 
a 12-horse Double Cylinder Engine, furnished with two winding-drums, 
travelling round the boiler, and acting precisely on the same principle as the 
windlass exhibited by Messrs. Howard, only attached to and forming part of 
the engine : they worked Howard's Pour-furrow Plough and Fowler's Anchor. 
Not being provided with the required length of rope (1200 yards) they were 
unable to plough the whole length of the furrow. Owing to frequent 
stoppages to adjust the plough the work was slow, and the consumption of 
fuel greater than it should have been. The quality of the work was good, 
and second to Plot No. 1. 
This Engine can be used with either self-moving anchor or with fixed 
anchors on the round-about system, and is well adapted for colliery work, &c. 
The windlasses are thrown in and out of gear by a lever on the tender, which 
acts through a connecting-rod upon spur-wheels, throwing one into gear and 
the reverse one out. Cam-wheels regulate the guide-pulleys, which work 
from right to left, coiling the rope on the somewhat narrow drums with 
great regularity. Considerable power, however, appears to be consumed in 
this arrangement, and we noticed that the engine was not so steady or smooth 
in its motions as their double engines. For thrashing, a cross shaft is driven 
through the smoke-box from the fly-wheel. In case of stoppage a break is 
used to prevent slack rope being thrown off. An arrangement of this sort 
on the double engines might be useful. The cylinders are placed above 
and below the boiler, and occupy a position nearly in the centre of the engine. 
Altogether this apparatus has considerable merit. The particulars of labour 
being identical with Lot 1, are not repeated. 
Lot 4, in another field, fell to Mr. Steevens, who employed Garrett and 
Son's Double Engines (Savory's patent), working his Four-furrow Plough 
2 f 2 
