Eeed.] 



Report on Steam Cultivation. 



109 



Mr. Linton was 



Fig. P. 



We saw tlie apparatus, but not at work, 

 kind enough to point out several ingenious 

 improvements of his own. Amongst others 

 may be noticed the wrought-iron cultivator- 

 prong and share shown at P, and the method 

 of setting the slack gear in motion inde- 

 pendent of the steersman's weight. 



No. 5. Mr. Barton, Wood hurst, St. Ives, 

 Huntingdonshire. Sept. 13. — Mr. Barton 

 is a good specimen of a thoroughly practical 

 man, who though not given to change or to 

 new-fangled notions, embraced steain be- 

 cause he saw in it the means of working a heavy-land farm 

 to advantage. He is a cowkeeper, provides the London market 

 with milk, so that it is a matter of importance to have 

 abundance of green cropping. The land belongs to Mr. 

 F. Annesley. It consists of 700 acres, 500 of which are 

 arable-land of so stiff a texture that sometimes 6 horses are 

 required to plough 6 inches deep. The under-drainage was 

 commenced before steam was introduced. Half the farm is 

 drained 4 feet deep. Experience has established the great worth 

 of deep drainage followed up by deep cultivation. A great deal 

 of the land is now ploughed on the flat. The subsoil is a 

 gaulty clay. The average size of fields is 30 acres. The 

 hedge-rows, which are kept low, are tolerably straight. The 

 fields are undulating and devoid of timber. The 4-course 

 system of cropping is observed : 1st. — Wheat. 2nd.- — ^Turnip- 

 seed, tares, or peas. 3rd. — Barley, oats, and part wheat. 4th. — 

 Two-thirds seeds and one-third beans. 



Red clover is taken once in 12 years. Dead fallows were dis- 

 pensed with when steam was called in ; all now is in cropping. 

 The land was formerly tilled by 27 horses, or 2 horses to 58 

 acres ; 20 are now kept. The water is good and abundant, save 

 in dry Aveather, when it has to be fetched 2 miles. It is obtained 

 from storage ponds supplied by drainage. 



The Apparatus was mainly bought of Messrs. Howard in 1862. 

 It consists of an engine of 10-horse power, made by Messrs. 

 Hornsby, and valued at 280/. They received in exchange for 

 it an 8-horse power engine of their own make, and allowed 

 65/. for the old engine. 



£. 

 The other meinbcrs were a cultivator, wiiullass, 1400 yai'ds) ^)/^^, 



of rope, &c. : — Price \ " 



Extras 20 



10 



Repairs, Renewals, Wear and Tear. — The repairs of the engine 



