The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-07-17


That steam plQNing is certain a |......s.
q some future period. regular branch 81
agriculture, may not Be doubted ant r,...
than that steam win eventually r1l,s...'i.
horse power, wherever II can is made -. -
able, IA the future. as L has aireatr done S.
the past Agriculture cannot afford ~ IS
main behind the other arts ia enY n6rtiea.
lar. Il has been brought "a that condition
now, in England and the East, that conro
ienco mainly determines whether the farm
be plowcd By steam or not Its great econ
omy IS no longer in doubt Ia thc month
Of April last ct a meeting Of the London
Farmers Club, q paper was read By f1rmtF
Mr.. J. X. Fowler, relating his experiences
with steam cultivation. IN the discussion.
or rather remarks-for there was no divided
opinion upon the matter-which followed,
several other farmers gave their views Ia
practical and interesting manner. ltappeau
that the use Of steam IS so rapidly extending
that at one factory IN England 100, chiefly
double, engines are made yearly 10 supply
the home demand, and sixty yearly for Tor.
eign customers. Also, that the unfavorablc
condition OF the public and farm roads. the
weakness Of the bridges, and the crooked
fences and small fields greatly retard tho use
Of the engines. Thatin Germany iiftv engines
that the improved cultivation dopth 81
fifteen 70 thirty inches being reached-so
increases the quantity and quality Of The
crop that the enterprise is very profitable.
In England, two hundred acres q week
have been plowed BY one set Of en-
/ gines and plows. with three men, and horse
and cart TO draw water and fuel, 70 attend
Il. The cost Of breaking up the ground
twelve or fifteen inches and then cults
waiting or breaking or loosing the subsoil
not turning It over, to twenty or thirty
inches deep, is there three dollars per acre
for both operations. Here our circum-
stances would about double that cost.
Therei It pays tenant farmer with but 500
acres to own a set Of plows and tackle, the
cost of which varies for different styles
from $1a, 600 down to So, 000 Mr.. Fowler
estimates that the original cost Of stocking
q farm that could fully employ an engine
and tackle would be but little more than an
equivalent force Of horses with the harness
and implements.
The engines used in England are wholly
on the roundabout system; that Is, the
plows are drawn across the field by two 10.
connective engines, one at each hoadland, o.
by one assisted by an achor on the opposite
headland. The plows in gang Of seven,
pioWlng land six feet wide, are drawn by
steel rope which is wound upon a drum
on the engine The direct traction engines
are found to be inferior in operation. No,
the least important benefit attaching TO thi,
method Of cultivation is that the great depth
to which the soil is opened not only Tend.
ers it porous for the escape Of surface.
water, but renders Il almost completely I'M
affected by drouths Of the most scriou.
/ ohoraofor fTffo khon q fl,n r,ron.,a,f l..rlfI
/ ton Of steam culture IN its native home and
adjoining countries, and as one crosses ON
magnificent level plains from Ohio westward
the thought occurs, what O field Cor the use
Of steam in place Of the horse and pillow.
man, who ''homeward plods his weary way
after painful breaking an acre aud half al
soil in ton hours If toll