The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-11-05
From the London Farmers Magazine.l
INTRODUCTION OF STEAM POW.
ER N FIELD CULTURE.

We have long beheld with no ordi-
nary satisfaction the great impetus which
has of late years been given to the on
ward progress of agriculture. The ener-
gy, talent, and capital, the mechanical
skill, engineering ability and chemical
science which have been brought into
requisition for the purpose of developing
the utmost powers of the soil under the
best practical management, cannot fail
to win from US our highest need of
praise. We hail with great gratiica-
ton these strenuous and enlightened
efforts which have been made, and are
nov making, to introduce every available
appliance and judicious practice likely
to promote agricultural advancement.
Time was, when Adam delved, and
Eve spun." In the vast and progressive
prosperity of Great Britain Eve has
long been in advance of Adam" Spin
ming has attained far greater perfection
than delving; for obvious reasons; me-
chanical continuance is applied in a fixed
and convenient form: all that such skill
and that scientific talent can achieve is
brought into full operation within a
limited space. This cannot be done in
in agriculture with ease and facility;
but, Notwithstanding, great progress is
daily making. Throughout this aud the
sister kingdom great efforts are made to
introduce into everyday practice the
same powers which lave caused such an
astonishing increase in the manufactured
products of the country. Mechanical
skill has done much in promoting the
prosperity of agriculture. The plough
is now nearly perfected. Agricultural
machinery of the very best character
and workmanship is now supplied at a
cheap rate for every conceivable purpose
of farm husbandry and management.
For many of the important operations
of farm business the power of steam has
been brought into general use. All Ia
Dor that can be done by a steam engine
being stationary is executed by steam
power. This is the rule already. The
great problem to be solved is the intro
duction Of steam motive power in field
culture. This is the grand desideratum.
That it will be achieved, we have not
the shadow of a doubt. Indeed it was
shown it has already been accomplished,
at the late meeting of the Royal Agri-
cultural Society at Chelmsford. The
important question of economy is, how
ever, yet to be solved. Ploughing was
effected, we'll performed, by both fixed
and locomotive engines. Trench plough
ing, subsoil ploughing, cultivating, was
alike efficiently done. The fact is COM
plete. Steam motive power can be ap-
piled to field culture. What, then, is
it destined to achieve in agriculture ?
It's power is promoting progress in man
ufacturing industry is most marvellous
can it effect much in cultivation ? We
think it can. It is the motive power
that is required all other requisite ap-
plianees are available. We think it is
destined TO accomplish a benefit as great
for agriculture as for manufactures: not
precisely in the same way, by admins
tering power merely, but in the collateral
advantages that must follow. 1t will
ultimately revolutionize agriculture as
it did the old spinning jenny, and the
still older distaff. We are well aware
that. the soil, whether cultivated by
steam or animal power, has only certain
inherent to be fully developed.
It cannot be made to produce grain so
speedily md continuously as a mule
frame Will yield reels of inely-spun
But it will do this-it will set
aside all obstacles to good cultivation.
Farmers will not then abandon deep Gull