STEAM CULTIVATION.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 418, 25 October 1861, Page 3

STEAM CULTIVATION.

The Royal Agricultural Society of England commenced their operations at Leeds on the 2nd of July, with the best and most important implements for the cultivation of the land by steam power. The trial took place at Garforth, about six miles from Leeds, and has continued with extraordinary success.

The prizes offered by the society were two of £100 each. One being for the best application of steam power for the cultivation of the soil;

The second, for the application of steam power for the same purpose, to be worked with ordinary portable engines suitable for farming purposes, not exceeding ten horse power. The competition, as was expected, has been a severe one, and perhaps, the most important ever known. Ten of our large manufacturers entered to contend for the prize. The trial field has been thronged with thousands of visitors, amongst whom were many of our noblemen and leading agriculturists.

Tne principal competitors were Messrs. J. and F. Howard, of Bedford; Mr. J. Fowler, with Messrs. Kitson and Co., Leeds; Mr. Rcmaine, ftom Canada; Roby and Co., Lincoln; Messrs. Richardson, Beard, Crowley, Kirby, Williams, Hancock and others.

i^The judges: Mr. Clare, Jewel Read, of Plumstead; Mr. Owen, olßotherham; Mr. Owen Wallis; also the society's consulting engineer, Mr. Amos, of Southwark; and the Hon. Augustus Vernon, the steward of the implements. The land is in the occupation of Brady Nicholson, Esq., and the pieces selected measure from thirty to. forty acres—some portion of it very heavy, and full of limestone, or rock.

After the judges had set out the different parts, the trials commenced, Messrs Howard making the first start, with their new light cultivator, doing some excellent work at the rate of one acre per hour, inverting the soil from eight to nine inches deep, on 9. piece between four or five acres. This was completed in a masterly manner in four hours and forty minutes, consuming four cwt. and a half of coals.