Eeed.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 99 



this period there was one clay only in which rain did not 

 fall. It will be within your remembrance that the latter part 

 of July and the whole of August had been similarly wet, 

 and that the harvest everywhere was thrown backwards three 

 or four weeks. The consequence was that nearly all those 

 who received our visits were found to be either in the middle 

 or towards the close of harvest, with nothing* to show in the 

 shape of Autumn Cultivation either done or doing. Notwith- 

 standinsr these discouraijements, it was considered advisable to 

 go on. The rain was not allowed to interfere in the slightest 

 degree with the plan laid down, and though in many cases it 

 partially prevented the proper inspection of the farm, and in 

 many more did totally prevent our seeing the steam tackle 

 at work, it could not, of course, interfere with such collection of 

 statistics and opinions, and such personal intercourse with the 

 gentlemen visited as could be carried on under cover. For the 

 purposes of this enquiry the season must be considered to have 

 been singularly disadvantageous. Further disappointment was 

 experienced by the general dearth of anything like accurate 

 data relative to the amount of work done and the cost of doing 

 it. A few instances were met with in which considerable 

 attention had been given during the first or second year of steam 

 tillage to drawing out a debtor and creditor statement ; but 

 scarcely anywhere had this method been persevered in. Its 

 discontinuance, however, was almost always attributed to the 

 fact that purchasers having satisfied themselves of its economical 

 value in the first or second year, had discontinued a practice 

 which entailed a srreat deal of work without anv accom- 

 panying advantage. 



To some readers it may appear to be a matter of small conse- 

 quence that the steam tackle should be seen at work ; but in 

 almost every case where it was so seen, it was discovered that the 

 owners varied either the apparatus or the use of it, to suit their 

 special circumstances. These special changes, to overcome 

 special difficulties, are either overlooked in mere conversation 

 or imperfectly understood if described ; being often confined to 

 the mode of working, nothing but the observing eye detects 

 them, and duly appreciates their worth. \ our Committee there- 

 fore very much regret the loss of the opportunity, wherever it 

 did not occur. 



It must be further remarked that the comparison instituted in 

 this enquiry is only between Steam-cultivated farms. Of the 

 adjacent farms nothing was seen beyond the glimpses of them 

 afforded from the railway or the high road. A more extensive 

 survey would perhaps have shown that neighbouring farmers 



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