16 SCIENTIFIC REPORTS OE THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



Statement B. 



Showing the above cost divided into following operations pei* acre 

 in the year 1916-17 and 1917 -IS. 



The enormous rise in the cost of spare parts and replace- 

 ments owing to the war has resulted in a great increase in 

 the general working cost per acre this year. This, how- 

 ever, is due to the absolutely abnormal conditions with 

 regard to imports now prevailing, which have necessitated 

 laying in a stock of spares sufficient to carry one over a 

 considerable period, the possibility of being unable to 

 procure spares in the future having to be carefully guarded 

 against as we are now absolutely dependent on the tackle 

 for cultivation, and the greatest objection to it is the fact 

 that the breakdown of one engine alone is sufficient to 

 render the whole tackle useless. 



But with the renewals which have been made this year 

 (including a set of new cables which will be good for 

 another 3 years' work) the tackle is now to all intents and 

 purposes as good as the day it started work. 



