The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-01-25

Steam Plsngh On the Sugar Plantations.
"Qsseaslander."
This powerful auxiliary in the cultivation OF
the land is now enlisted to aid the Queensland
sugar-grower. To Mr.. Macmillan, Of Airdmil-
Ian plantation, is due the high honor of being
the first to introduce it among our cane-helds.
A more important innovation on old methods
could not be. Many farmers and intending
planters were wishing fos reliable and detailed
particulars of its working-as to whether It ID
really . success in our Australian soils
whether it can overcome the roots, stones, and
impedimenta of our roughly cleared fields
how much work it does in the day and host
Of other information. So was instructed by
the proprietors of the Que.nslonder to visit il
when at work on the Burdekin delta lands,
and write an account on what saw. By the
courtesy of MIR. Macmillan am enabled to
furnish all this detailed Information, and also,
from my own personal examination, to give an
opinion as to IFS practicability. As farmer
by occupation, and skilled ploughman to
boot, it was with intense pleasure that IN
dertook my task, for although over twenty
years ago witnessed the first trials Of steam
ploughing in Victoria (which, by-the-bye,
was not . success), yet since that time it had
never fallen to my lot to again see il employed.
Mainly owing to the untiring determination OF
John Fowler & Co., of Leeds, England,
ploughing by steam has now been pretty well
perfected; other means of disintegrating the
soil by steam power may perhaps be dis
covered, but, as far as the operation of
ploughing and cultivating are concerned Fow-
ler's machinery does all that is required of it.
Higher praise could not be accorded to it.
1t was one hot day in last October that 1
frat caught sight Of these mammoth iron horses,
as they bnor;ed and pulled at their work.
Unless the reader has undergone the ordeal
Of actual plough-holding under our hot Aus
tralian sun he cannot appreciate the intense
enthusiasm | experienced as drew near to the
scene of operations; l therefore leave the
matter to his imagination, snd descend to the
practical in my writing.
The machinery now at work at Airdmillan
consists of two of Fowler's l6-horse power
engines, one three-furrow balance plough, an
eleven-tined cultivator, and knifer." As
TO whether they work satisfactory, sufficient
answer is that since the May previous no less
than 100 acres had been ploughed or broken
up with the cultivator, some of it twice and
some Of it three times over. 1t perhaps is not
generally known in this colony that until tho
double-engine system of working was dis
covered steam ploughing was never pro-
nounced success. This system is Fowler's
patent; it consists of placing the two engines
on opposite headlands Of the field to be
ploughed, and drawing backwards and for
wards the plough or cultivator, each engine
moving itself OH as required upon the headland.
Previous to this plan being adopted ono
engine only was employed, aud the plough, by
a complicated system Of angle-pulleys or
anchors, was pulled around the four corners
Of the field and this roundabout system is
still adhered to by sOme of the English
manufacturers. The disadvantage OF the
double-engine system is of course the cost OF
the second engine, but this is more than COM
pensated for By the simplicity of the direct
pull and the ease and automatic regularity
with which the work proceeds. Power is the
first requisite in an engine for ploughing; the
engines at Airdmillan are each of l6-horse
nominal-that is, at l00lb. pressure-but they
are made to be worked, if required, at a
higher pressure, and latterly the stiff and
trampled soil Of the Burdekin required l20lb.
pressure to get through the work; for draught
and cattle camping had made the land saw
broken up as hard as road. Strength Of
and weight are also requisite |
first to bear the jar of irregular strain when
ploughing or travelling, and the second to with
stand the pull of the plough; SO great is this
sometimes when root is como against that |
even these heavy powerful engines will be
drawn broadside on for root or to but such |
4 test of strength is not desirable. The space
between the two engines is $50 yards each
engine is, therefore, provided with that length
Of rope. At the time of my visit poughing
had been discontinued, the cattle-trampled
ground being too hard for it. Although some
500 acres had been ploughed with it, it was
Iound better, in consequence Of the hard nature
Of the soil, 10 substitute the nine-tined cult
rator for the first breaking-up. will describe
he mode of proceeding. Upon commencing a
new block the cultivator is attached to the
wire rope then away tro,s one Of the engines
i'll all its rope is paid out-45o yards it then
aces about till it is broadside on to its CON-
oauiou. A whistle is sounded to ask if all is
light, and on being answered by its mate, the
winding drum is connected with the gearing,
md the cultiyator is pulled by the wire rope
Until it reaches the engine pulling it. 1t is
hen, BY most simple ingenious continuance,
pulled out Of the ground, turned around, and !
way it starts back again. A man rides on the
and by wheol-leyer easily guides
t. Now as to the work it does, own TO !
cling satisfied; it was simply splendid to see
his hard soil heaved up with perfect ease, and
he tines penetrating TO depth of Hin. The
jumps we're gigantic, and roots were torn
through and brought to the surface in a man.
er delightful to witness. Now and again this
ccumulation of roofs would cause such ]
altering of earth as to apparently choke the
Implement beyond the possibility of clearing: D
ut the man riding holds up his hand, and one y
Dgine stops; then another signal, and the
ther engine gives pull backy ards, and the 4
bots are easily cleared off, OF course all
Jumps Of trees and large roots must be grub
cd previously, as the implement is not a
ump-extractor. The tines are of steel, and,
} may be supposed, are very strongly made
ill it sometimes happens that they get
visited by contact with roots before :he en-
inc can DO stopped, but more usually the
oft through their centre snaps, in which case
1other is at once substituted, and no delay
ours; q twisted tine Of course has to 90 to I
10 forge before being used again, but dupli-
ties are always on hand. A forty-acre square
ock is handy size for working with the
am-cultivator-that is, $50 yards is the
myth of the rope, and that distance square =
axes just about forty acres. One cultivator
course is not sufficient, 40, when foity acres
o accomplished, the engines are placed at r
70 side iradlaHds and cross-cultivation liz
me. This time the eleven tines are put in,
I'd the depth is increased to l6in. The effect
grand, tho soil being roo.ed up, smashed.
Tired, and consequently asated to that
ptb, and yet tho good surfsce,soil is not G.
ried under crude and sour subsoil. Not
at the subsoil on the Burdekin is sour, but [ r
nfess to great prejudice in favor of lsav- [
& virgin mould on the Top. Thesurface of
Q hsld now presents an extraordinary scene
snash-up, and walking upon it is tiresome
Iced; but it is not yet done with, although Y
hall not speak Of ITS decentralization, Eat i
this paper stick to the plough.
The stsam-pioughing and its accomplishments =
AirdmillAn ere under the immediate control
Mr.. Lionarons, and TO that gentleman an v
lebted for the following facts and figures. Y
hen ploughing to depth of lin. eight or y; ~
10 acres day were got over, frs, time 40
'ughing, and consequently stoppages through =
III, &C., interfering somewhat. Ths first
lie of cultivating, ten acres would be dono =
: day, even though the grouEd might be as Y
a "a rhna nj =.