THE STEAM PLOUGH.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1433, 12 June 1867, Page 3

THE STEAM PLOUGH.

[From tho Melbourne " Argus," May 16.] The trial yesterday with the new and powerful steam-plough recently imported by Messrs James M'Ewan and Co., Elizabeth street, was witnessed not only by a large number of agriculturists but by many of our fellowtownsmen interested in agricultural machinery and implements. Importers went to see whether another channel had not been opened for their capital, and our local plough-makers appeared particularly anxious to learn whether a dangerous rival had appeared on the field. The makers of the plough tried yesterday are tytessrs J. and 17. Howard, of Bedford —well known throughout the world as most successful manufacturers in every department connected with agriculture. The many advantages which, in the manufacturers' opinion, have been established by the steam-plough since its application to husbandry, viz.—" That for the hard work of the farm steam is cheaper than horse-power; that deeper aud more effectural cultivation is obtained ; that it enables the farmer to perform his tillage operations at any period of the year ; that better cropß, with less manure, can be obtained by continuous deep tillage, especially on heavy soilB ; that the land may be more quickly and effectually cleaned and freed from weeds; that tenacious soils are rendered more friable and porous, good drainage is promoted by stirring the subsoil and breaking the ' pan,' rendering, open furrows unnecessary even on the strongest land ; and that the steam plough, cultivator, and harrow may be frequently worked to advantage in an unfavourable season, when it would be difficult or impossible to work with horses. To secure all these advantages, the entire apparatus is simple in its construction, easily understood and managed by ordinary farm-labourers; readily adapted to work in any desired position ; not expensive in its firßt cost, and economical in wear." But there are other phases of the question in favour of the steam plough. Land can be broken up at any time, and we all know the benefit of breaking up land when in a dry state, independently of being able to do the work much deeper at that time. The cost of the engine with many farmers has always been defrayed; and the extra gear, consisting of plough, windlass, anchors, &c, do not, after all, amount to such a formidable sum; the complete set of steam cultivating apparatus is £250 in England, and a three-furrow plough is put down at £65 more. The engine we saw used yesterday was one similar to those in daily use on farms, of tenhorse power, and tho windlass was so fixed that its driving-shaft was just level with the fly-wheel shaft of the engine ; no alteration appears to have been made, but all was as simple as possible. The men employed are as follows :—An engine-driver, who regulates the power according to instructions from the ploughman—slackening speed, for instance, within ten yards of each end, to prevent .the implement from running into the anchor; a wind-lass-man, who is rather an important personage —he has to fix the windlass and double snatch-block and attend to them, he must so guide the rope (made of-patent steel wire) that no twist takes place in it, he must keep his eye on the ploughman as much as possible, to see that all is right, and if an anchor gives way in loose ground, as it sometimes will, he must immediately slack off rope. The anchor-men have simply to see that their anchors hold fast, and shift them as the work proceeds. The ploughman has the hardest work of the lot— we tried a " bout" yesterday, and can speak from experience—but besides the manual labour he has to keep his eyes about him, and Bee that the rope is kept well btf the ground with rope porters. The latter I are simply small frames on wheels, ! with a revolving pulley in which the | rope traverses during work. Two boys j are able to attend to those used before and behind the plough. The porters stationary ro'-nd the paddock are heavier ones, placed about fifty yards apart, and are only shifted as the work advances. It is of the greatest importance that the rope be kept off the ground ; it not only preserves it, but ten times more power is required to drag a rope along the ground than over the " porters." The number of hands employed is six men and two boys, including wood and water carter; and the work performed

with a three-furrow plough is about seven acres in nine hours. This is cheap ploughing, barring accidents ; and there are thousands of acres in this colony without stick or stone in which this steam implement could be advantageously worked, and without any chance of breakage. According jto tlie present fixings, the plough can ' manage from forty to fifty acres with- | out the engine requiring to be removed. The piece of land operated upon yesterday was a paddock in the | occupation of Joshia Mitchell, and forming part of the Experimental Farm, on the Moonee Ponds, and to I the north of the Royal Park. The land is for the moat part heavy, although there are spots of a lighter character. It was pipe drained, and laid down with English .grasses some six years ago. The paddock contains about sixteen acres, and the engine was fixed at the north end of it; the stationary anchors were placed at the north-cast and north-west corners, and the plough worked east and west along the south side, working homewards towards the engine. A preliminary trial was made last Friday for an hour or two, but merely to accustom the men to the various duties assigned them, and it would have been better had they received a little further instruction, for I stoppages, although rot frequent, were in the majority of cases caused by ■ mistakes in the signals, &c. The J plough had a very Bevere test yesterday, but gave general satisfaction. The work was deep, although the furrow slices were not so well and evenly laid as they would have been by the common plough. The manager of the plough, Mr Webb (who has been engaged for a period by Messrs Howard), evidently understands his duty thoroughly, and was very willing to satisfy every query put t<» him. The furrows averaged ten inches by seven, but could have as easily been an inch or two deeper had Mr Webb been inclined to try the powers of the implement, but his wish yesterday was more to exhibit the principle upon which it works. That the steam-plough will be a success here by-and-bye there can be no doubt, and in our opinion the time is not far distant when every district will have its one or two ploughs, either stationary on the larger farms, or employed as threshing machines are now, wherever f he proprietor can find work for them. The engine employed was only tenhorse power, and was thought to be rather weak for the purpose; it worked up to 701b to the inch. At three o'clock the plough was thrown out of gear, and the rope attached to the cultivator, which was at once set to work upon the laud already ploughed. It choked up at first, but upon the centre tooth being removed, it did its work in first-rate style; in fact, the opinion of most of the farmers present was rather in favour of the cultivator as compared with the plough.