, 1880-08-25

mouIdboard of a plough aecompiishes mora n
SCATTERING and pulverizing. The absence ~
any sIedging action upon the fGrrow bottom
must be of vast advantage for facilitating n.
descent of plant ~rootlets and the downwa-d
filtration of water and aerstion of the subso;I
and the manner in which the roots of couob md
thistles are drawn up ont of the subsoil Gin =.
Sin. long, instead of being cut or broken
was most admirable 10 the trial alluded ~
The total cost of the work could not be estimst :.
ed at more than half that of ploughinp bv
horses
The machine, weighed 12 tons, is carried
upon four wheels having fellies Eft. broad
making the maximum average weight restinn,
on the land one and a half tons for each font
breadth of wheel tire. This pressure (djmi.
nlsded by so much as may be sustained upop
Inc forks when entering the ground rolls upon
only SIT. breadth out of the whole breadth of
SOft. passed over. In horse pIoughing, how
ever, a weight of about two tons and a laif.
being that of three horses with implement aud
man, ~traverses the field for each Gin. or l0jn.
OF Width though. Of course, this pressure ia
distributed upon many points and is repeated
over some places. Hence it is not likely that
tne passage ofthe engine over the land will he
found to deteriorate its mechanic. texture in
any great measure. When travelling on roads
or through gateways from field to field. tho
maohlue is conducted sndwise; the fonr
wheels being set in a different position for tho
purpose, and forming two pairs, one tovsrS
each end of the boiler. How far portabili,v il
wet seasons aud in clay districts has been con-
sidered in the designing of wheels. which
though of eft. width, have q diameter Of onlv
BIT. remains to be proved. Contrary to what
might be the supposition, the inventor afirms
that this locomotive system, while the most
economical of motive power upon level lands.
Is also we'll adapted for moderate gradients.
and even for hills of considerable sIope. mas
much as the exc eedingly slow pace of progress
sion tells greatly in favour of this machine.
whereas, 10 hauling a quickly moving nipple
ment the power has to be increased in cumnla-
1--WE prop ortlon with the steepness of the
moline assembled. Should steam digging show
itseil a success, there can be no reason why a
machine of BALI the weight may not bs con-
structed to till a less area per day, and to be
more readily transporta5le in particular dis
working with ordinary steam engines not
specially mnde for the purpose, recourse NAV
be had to another form OF digger. in which
only the light forking part of the machine
travels, receiving motion from a stationary
engine by a rapldiy-driven manila rope car
ried upon removable porters.
AS the price of the steam digger ranges
between that of a single.engine set and a
double.engine set Of ploughing tackle on the
wire-rope principle, it is adapted for large
farmers and for men who work by contracts
and probably has a wide patronage aw aiting
it in foreign countries. One recommendation
is that it appears to suffer less disadvantage
than the rope system of steam tillage does
from short lengths of furrow, irregular boun-
daries; and dumps or single trees interrupt
ing a clear course 10 the field. A d~isadvan-
tage is that the digger performs only oue or
Two processes whereas on the wire.rope sys.
TENS the farmer can execute many or e%ra'ions
of tillage, accomplishing very great areas per
day in light surface work. And, hitherto, al
revolving steam diggers have been found
costly in wear and lear.