334 
An intermediate, and very simple process, has, | 
however, been found, whereby grain of any sort 
can be completely boiled, which is done by soak- 
ing the grain in water for a period of from six 
to twelve hours, according to its state of dryness, 
and then placing it in the receiver described for 
steaming roots, and applying steam for an hour; 
and thus we are provided with a simple and effi- 
cient steaming and boiling apparatus, applicable 
alike to the cooking of juicy roots, or tubers, 
and dry grains. 
Chesterfield’s portable steaming apparatus con- 
sists of a tripod-mounted, cylindrical, chimney- 
crowned boiler, a suspended, frustra - conical 
steaming-pan, and a connecting elbow-pipe be- 
tween the two; and has in the chimney an open- 
ing for the supply of fuel,—on the top of the 
boiler an opening for the supply of water,—in 
the lower part of the boiler a tap for drawing off 
water,—below the boiler an opening of the fire- 
grate,—and in the lower part of the steaming- 
pan a pipe for carrying off the pernicious extract 
of potatoes. This apparatus is both cheap and 
convenient ; and will be found especially bene- 
ficial to farmers, butchers, and other feeders of 
pigs and cattle; and is calculated to supersede 
in many cases the fixed furnace as it can be re- 
moved at pleasure from one part of the home- 
stead, or of the farm, to another; and, from the 
simplicity of its construction, there is not the 
least danger of its getting out of order. An- 
other important consideration is the great sav- 
ing effected in consumption of fuel, as 8 or 10 
sacks of potatoes can be steamed with 1 cwt. of 
coals. The boiler may at any time be used 
separate from the steamer where a large quan- 
tity of hot water is required for any purpose, 
and may with perfect safety be removed to any 
place at pleasure. 
STEAM -PLOUGHING. ‘Two principal at- 
tempts to apply steam-power to ploughing were 
commenced, about seventeen years ago, by John 
Heathcoat, Esq., in bog reclamation, and several 
years later by John Upton of Southwark in gen- 
eral tillage. But we can afford to quote only a 
general notice of each; and must refer any of 
our readers who wish a fuller account to the 
7th volume of the Quarterly Journal of Agricul- 
ture, and the 12th volume of the Transactions of 
the Highland Society. 
“The principal machine in Mr. Heathcoat’s 
invention is locomotive, and so contrived as to be 
capable of travelling on the surface of bogs, the 
consistence of which would be insufficient, pre- 
vious to a long and expensive drainage, for sus- 
taining the weight of horses. The moving power 
is steam, generated from the peat and water of 
the bog itself. The diggings from the drains 
furnish abundance of fuel; and the drains yield 
an unfailing supply of water. The prime agent, 
steam, is thus obtained at the cheapest possible 
rate; the local fuel requiring no transport, and 
the water no outlay in reservoirs or other con- 
STEAM-PLOUGHING. 
structions, to ensure a constant provision. By 
far the greater part of the power of the engines 
fixed on the machine is available, and employed 
to actuate the ploughs or other agricultural im- 
plements. These are moved at right angles to 
the line of progress of the machine, not dragged 
after it; the machine itself remaining stationary 
whilst the ploughs are at work between it, and 
two small auxiliary carriages, in the manner to 
be presently described. In commencing the re- 
clamation of a bog, a roadway is to be first 
traced out in a suitable direction for the pro- 
posed operations. This is done simply by form- 
ing two drains parallel with each other, and 
about seven yards apart. The principal machine 
is launched on this roadway. No metal or ma- 
terial of any sort is necessary for its solidity ; 
the machine rests on the raw bog, and bears on 
so large a surface of it that its buoyancy is in- 
sured. It also consolidates and dries the road- 
way by its pressure. The two auxiliary carriages 
are stationed (where space permits) at a distance 
of about 480 yards asunder; one on each side of 
the principal machine, and parallel with it. 
Each carriage is furnished with a large wheel, or 
pulley, round which a band passes, proceeding 
from, and returning to, the principal machine, 
whence it derives its motion by proper apparatus. 
These bands are connected with the ploughs, or 
other agricultural implements, which are drawn 
to and fro between the machine and the auxi- 
liaries. One quarter of a mile of land in breadth, 
exclusive of the roadway and headlands, is thus 
operated upon on the two'sides of the machine. 
The auxiliary carriages travel on four wheels, 
resting on planks, which form a moveable rail- 
road. One of the planks is let into a shallow 
trench cut in the bog, against one side of which 
plank some friction rollers, fixed on the carriage, 
press in order to resist the pull of the engines. 
Ploughing is the first agricultural operation. To 
accomplish this process in a thoroughly me- 
chanical manner, and to adapt it to steam power, 
it was necessary to contrive peculiar ploughs, 
furnished with sharp working knives, which 
divide every root and fibre of the bog plants, to 
the depth of 9 inches, and turn over a furrow 
slice of 18 inches in breadth, completely revers- 
ing the surface, and turning the heather side 
downwards. The underlying heath, moss, and 
other bog-herbage facilitates the discharge of 
water, and permits the rain and air to penetrate 
the furrows. Drains are formed as the plough- 
ing proceeds, that the vast quantities of water 
liberated by that process may be immediately car- 
ried off. After lying a few months in this state, 
exposed to the action of the atmosphere, the 
ploughed surface is found to be so considerably 
pulverized, that little remains to be done to fit it 
for the reception of grass-seeds. The complex 
operations necessary to prepare the soil for the 
culture of other and more important crops than 
grasses, will also be materially simplified and 
