The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-18

1
organization. and it would be a compls
failure in short time"
Trials Of British Steam Plows.
| We take from an English exchange th
following sketch Of some steam-plow trial
recently had near Peterborough, England
"The object on the occasion vas two-folt
viz: to introduce an approved self-actin
anchor for using with the roundabout system
and to show what could be done With mou
powerful machinery and direct action by th
use Of two engines. The latter system va
exhibited by MessrA Fcwlsr d 60. I
Leeds.
"The new application referred to was in
vented BY Mr.. Champion, practical farmer
IL consists in what we may term q self-acI
ing anchor. The form Of the invention
simply cross-bar, in which are fixed spike
or claws for entering the ground. Tber
are two or three spikes fastened by clasps o.
each side Of the square iron bar, according
less resistance is required. The iron ba
which carries these spikes is placed acros
the back part Of Messrs Fowler Il Co.'S disl
anchor, and outside the frame, attached ID
the revolving bar is a ratchet with fou
catches, into which falls the stopnotch Of ,
lever. The distance, therefore, which Tho
anchor advances depends on the square and
the length Of the spikes and the sine Of the
ratchet. The one shown at work on Wed.
nesday was so constructed that the ancho.
advanced three feet each time the lever was
raised, and the ratchet turned round one
fourth Of its circle or side. When q pIow
or digger, however, has four breasts or dig.
gers" on it, and more than three feet OF
work is done at drag, the anchor does not
advance sufficiently far il the ratchet is
allowed to turn only one-fourth round. Ev-
cry three or four drags, threfore, which the
plow takes it is allowed to turn half round.
which keeps it in the right position for a
direct action Of the rope. But this is a
matter Of minor detail
The result Of this application is, the
claw anchors, which required a man at each
end to shift and keep in their place, are en-
tirely dispensed with, and three men and
two boys. viz one man at the engine, one
at the wind'ass, and one on the plow, with
the two boys at the rope -porters, can now
do the work more easily than the five
men and two boys previously required could
do. An important difference on the cost on
first OUTLAW, is also the result Of this system.
A complete set of round nd-about-tackle, viz.
windlass, to be driven by band or tumble
shaft, snatch-blocks, j 600 yards of 8 4 inch
rope, and combined plow and digger, as or
dinarly sent out, are supplied at the rate Of
ESQ. The patent selfacting anchors,
which save the work Of two men, cost $50
the pair,
"The anchor is undoubtedly the most sim
pie and efficient that has heen yet intro
duced. It will bear strain of 2O-horse
power, and it has never been turned over
while in hard ground the claw anchors are
sufficient to insert, and in soft ground it j.
next to impossible to keep them in proper
position.
'On Wednesday 10-horse engine was
employed, and one Of Messrs. FowIer's tip
action diggers was worked most effectively,
with four 'diggers' on a uniform depth Ol
nine inches.
"Messrs. Fowler q Company's system
needs no description at this date of ia
working. The clip-drum engines are placed
at each end Of the field, and the direct nc
ton thus obtained 10 we'll known to our
readers. Results, therefore, need only NOV
be given. Here almost n revolurion is jusl
now occurring. The small lOLborse engines
are being replaced BY 30 horse engines. and
for the superior work and greater economy
of this increased power il has been sstistac
torily calculated that so horse engines will
be even more efficient BY so horse engines
and l3-tined cultivators an average Of thirty.
six acres per day has been accomplished, the
cost Of which is actually 2s Sd. per acre
The calculation mentioned with regard to
the 20 horse engines is that the cot can
thereby be reduced to Is. Sd. per acre at .
depth of 10 inches.
"The practical experience which has led
to these conclusions has occurred, at Buscote
Park, Berks. Mr.. Campbell has there
worked since harvest the 8O-horse engines,
weighing twentyeight tons each each. which
we saw at the royal meeting at Manchester.
He has done between two thousand and
three thousand acres at the actual cost
named, Is. cd. per acre, his land being o
the Strongest and heaviest kind. The rate
at which he works is from three and hall
to four miles an hour, at which pace from
three to four acres are broken up in the same
time. The increased efficiency, too, of the
work done by this greater power is greatly
due to the increased pace which il permits,
for not only is the soil smashed up, but it i.
shattered at the same time.
The cost Of these 80 horse engines i,
FL, 100 each. and the stronger and larger
tackle and implements $400, in all e.. 600
"The work done at the trial with the 10
horse engines and cultivators was perfection
ITSELF Nothing could be better at the deptt
of ten inches. Between 7 A. NJ. and 2.3(
P. NJ. eighteen acres were done in the way
described. Whether or not a greater deptl
is advisable, as rule. for corn growing re
mains to he proved by results Mr. Camp
hell proposes to stir his land two feet deey
with his 3O-horse power engines, the cost 0
which wAl. Of course. be proportionare Il
the Is. sd. per acre, at 10 inches deep
These results Messrs. Fowler & Co. confes
TO be surprised at. and they acknowledg,
that they do not yet apPrehend how anc
where it is this saving arises. But from th,
actual experience Mr.. Campbell has had
there is no doubt about the economy of tn
large over the smaller power. So satisfied
too, are the men who have purchased en-
gines and tackle for letting out that sever.
orders for the larger sets have already beel
given, and they are in far advanced alag
of execution"
Tuu Moccachuaoffa State Iah0