chiefly as regards the Production of Meat. M2il 



of an example farm which has been under the present occupant 

 for over thirty years. Two men and a boy were at one time 

 regularly kept, one man being employed almost exclusively in 

 winter in threshing the grain crops with a flail. His work is 

 now done by a water-power machine in a couple of hours per 

 week. Six to eight women and boys were employed in hay- 

 time, the regular men-servants cutting the grass in the early 

 mornings with the scythe — say from 4 to 10 A.M. ; the 

 remainder of the day they were occupied with the extra hands 

 in making hay. Now the grass is cut by means of a Wood's 

 machine tended by the man, at the rate of several acres per day ; 

 the boy, in the mean time, strewing and turning with the tedder ; 

 gathering into rows with the horse rake ; and collecting into 

 cocks with the sweeps. When dry, another forker, lader and 

 raker are required, and the hay is put into the stack, while the 

 outlay is but a few shillings in place of many pounds. As a 

 rule, too, the quality of the hay is superior, for the grass being 

 cut at the proper time, the seeds are saved, and the hay being 

 made more quickly, the nutritious juices are retained. Similarly, 

 in harvest. Instead of two or three month-men, and a host of 

 full reapers, half-reapers, piece-workers, &c., four good hands 

 for sheafing, and a couple of bandsters only are required ; and 

 the grain is cut and secured as it becomes ready, in a short time 

 and at little outlay. I could multiply instances in favour of 

 machinery over hand labour, not only in the matter of efficiency, 

 but also as a means of curtailing actual expenses ; from the 

 steam machine which will thresh and dress a Carlisle bushel of 

 wheat per minute to the neat little oil-cake breaker which is 

 declared to be such a boon to the cattleman ; or from the first- 

 class reaper, that will cut down ten acres of wheat per day, to 

 the newly-invented sheep-shears that will denude a sheep of its 

 fleece in a few minutes, although guided by the most inex- 

 perienced and unskilful workman ; but I forbear, as enough, I 

 trust, has already been advanced to show the importance of in- 

 troducing improved machinery upon every homestead, not alone 

 on the giound of economising labour, but also because it is 

 always under the farmer's control — in times of prosperity as 

 well as adversity ; when wages are low, and when the value of 

 labour is excessive. 



Concluding Remaeks. 



The principal feature of this Report being an account of the 

 improvements which have taken place with regard to the produc- 

 tion of meat, I have already endeavoured to show how its manu- 

 facture has extended of late ; and while this is so far satisfactory, 



