The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-06-09
The slearn-PIow.
Greenville (Miss.) Times.

We have this week had the pleasure of
inspecting the working Of the steam-plow
on the Walnut Ridge plantation of General
Hampton, and for the benefit of cur readers
will attempt description of the machinery
and manner of using it. Two engines. iden-
teal IN all respects, and of fourteen horse
power, furnish the motive power. They are
able to move at speed OF from six TO seven
miles an hour over any ordinary road, and
of dragging heavy loads. Consequently,
there is no difficulty in getting them in po-
sitiOn on the field. Below the boiler of
each, and between the front and rear wheels,
is large drum, or vertical axis, on which
is wound coil of four hundred yards of
wire cable. The engines, being stationed
at a convenient distance, not exceeding four
hundred yards apart, the plOw or other inn
plement used, with the cable of each engine
attached to it and is moved by the coil being
wound in one drum and played on; by the
other. On reaching the end of the row, at
signal of the steam whistle, the winding
causes the engine to move forward the prop
er distance; the action is reversed, and the
pillow runs back to the engine from which
it started, and so backward and forward at
| the rate of about five miles an hour, tearing
| up the ground to any depth desired, not ex-
ceeding eighteen inches.
The turning pillow consists of q number of
| plows on strong wrought iron frame point
| ed at each end; in fact, two triangles Joined
at the base, and their planes making an an
| gle with each other, and resting at the juno
| ton on an axle between two large wheels
| and nicely balanced; when in motion the
! plows of one triangle are in the ground !;
those of the other are in the air, and point
ed in the opposite direction; upon reaching
| the end of the row, the plowman shifts his
| seat from one triangle to the other, the plows
| lately in the ground are now in the air, and
| whole affair ready for the motion to be re-
| versed. In fact it is a double-ender, with
| motion like a shuttle. The harrow is ar
| ranged in the same way. The cultiYator is
reversed by the wheel being locked when a
| pull of the cable turns it very quickly and
easily. To each of these implements wings
can be attached with CORES pOnding plows
or teeth, and by this means the amount of
| work doubled, but the soil in this country
has proved too tough to admit of their use
/ at this season of the year without an in
creased power in the engines. Besides these
implements described are ditching plows
capable of making a ditch two feet wide
and two feet deep, a circular saw for cut
| ting wood, and other fixtures. The engines
can be used for various purposes besides
blowing. and will no doubt prove very val
| liable. Water IS supplied to the engines
| from cart constructed for the purpose
The engines consume about cord and half
of wood, or ton of coal per day. Two en-
| gineers, an operator for the pillow and a man
! for the water cart are required. 1t is claim
ed that the plow can now break up fifty
acres of land a day, but at present in bed
| ding for cotton, it prepares from twelve to
| thirteen acres day, fourteen inches deep.
| 1t was built by John Fowler & CO., steam
plOw works, Leeds, England, and put to-
| gether in this country by MIR. GroOms, who
| remains in charge of it. MIR. Grooms has
! in Egypt and in Cuba, and is confident it
will succeed here. We see no reason why
| it should not and trust it will soon be fol-
| lowed by others.