THE STEAM PLOUGH IN AUSTRALIA.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 13, 7 December 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE STEAM PLOUGH IN AUSTRALIA.

Exactly twa years ngo the steam plough was first introduced to this colony, and a sufficient time having; elapsed to -permit of a thorough trial of its merits, we propose giving?— -what we know will deeply interest many of pur readers — a brief account of its per^ formances. Although landed in Octo-; ber, 1 86 1 , it was not until the January following that it was publicly "tried; but^ then, both at the farm of Mr? Wade at Belford, and at the Model Farmji it^ power and rapidity of execution were -i conspicuously shown. . Mr. Graham ; next removed it to Wahgunyah, -on the Murray, when, both upon His own jfarm; as well as in breaking up new land for other residents in the district, its services have been- largely' in." reqnest_.»' Shortly after its arrival at Wahgunyah^ it was set to work to 1 prepare land for : vines. Fifty acres of lami were first / trenched by it to a depjh^varying from, fifteen to twenty inches* according to the nature of the suhsoilf whilst of ordinary farm land 206 acres were ploughed to a depth of from six to seven inches. By this time work of a different character claimed attention, I and in due season the engine was employed in threshing. During the last season 60 acres more have been -' trenched for vines, and about 120 acres ploughed for cereals. Thus the total I amount of work performed during the two seasons is 320 acres ploughed, and 1 1 1 acres deeply trenched. Comparing - this with the performances of ' similar -' apparatus in England, the result is at % first sight rather unfavourable,* but a*■ little reflection will enable those who 1 . are capable of estimating the difficulties ""' attendant on working portable machinery : at a long distance from the manufactory > to arrive at a different conclusion. '. There cannot be a question thas, until - superior workmanship is more easily attainable in the country districts, a - great drawback will exist to the use of j apparatus of the kind under' notice, - especially in breaking up new land, which, when free from stumps, is often intested with stones. These Mr. ' Graham found highly destructive, so \ that breakages were numerous, and more sorious in character than in England, - where the land has been worked for - centuries. The wear and tear of the • wire rope has also been heavy, the set : which consisted of about 800 yards, which came with the plough, being . nearly worn out, as well as 600 yarda more purchased subsequently. Jt/.will be remembered that ~the "plough- and - ■ apparatus in que tion are on Fowler's - principle, nnd we: c manufactured by the eminent fi. m of Ransomes and -v Sims, of IjSwich. The engine is of : ten-horse pover, aad the plough is «i-own. in fru towa-ds and fioaa'the -4 engine, ana « JO . W yj*A«-u»o , which traverses th >. opposite headland. ; Although Mr. Graham has minutely '\ studied the descriptions of the various. v more recent inventions or assumed improvements which have appeared in the English agricultural press, he is still of opinion that the principle of Fowler's apparatus is a correct one, and, with ; certain modifications, admirably adapted for colonial use, Thus, for example, ; he would recommend an engine of at least fourteen horse-power, instead of one of ten, his experience of the latter proving that it is much too light, having frequently to be worked up to. 100 lbs. pressure. To this unnatural straining, many of the breakages are due, and they would undoubtedly have been, in a great measure, avoided by the use of a more powerful engine, and apparatus of ' proportionate strength, this condition being also insisted on by Mr. Graham. 1 The wear and tear in performing I above-mentioned work, includiug that of the wire rope and all breakages, has amounted to not less than £300. Much, of this, however, Mr. Graham considers is due to want of- experience in working the apparatus, but in part, also to the lightness of the plough and engine already referred to. For ordinary ploughing it proved amply strong and no breakages occurred, but trenching amongst stumps and stones is too much for it, until several parts have been replaced by stronger ones. Notwijh-/ standing these drawbacks, Mr. Graham is highly pleased with his purchase! land has been trenched with it which could not have been done at all by bullocks within any reasonable time. The land it has worked was most obdurate and unyielding ; to which we may add that much of it was worked at a season of the year most unfavorable as cegards facility of working, but the best for the purpose of the cultivator. This power of working land during dry weather may be regarded as the great superiority of steam over animal power; it is a point that cannot be measured by money ; and in this particular, steam possesses the same advantages in this colony as in England. The difficulty in effecting repairs may also be overcome by keeping a surplus stock of the parts most liable to wear or breakage, and such provision is intended to be made for the future. With regard to the form of the plough, Mr. Graham is; still in favour of a Cotgrave's trencher, but made extra strong. This in connection with Fowler's apparatus, with cither one or two engines, he would prefer- to all others for breaking up land for vineyards. To Mr. Graham the colony is greatly indebted for his enterprise in introducing the steam plough, as well as for this plain and open statement of its faults and advantages. We have no doubt that this will tend greatly to promote the spread of steam cultivation. The system has been fairly tried, and we candidly join Mr. Graham in-con-sidering it " a great success."