Eeed.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 115 



4 to G inches deep, including removals, about (5 acres ; and 

 8 acres the second time over, the same depth. About 200 acres 

 of ground are broken up every year, and much of it is twice 

 done. The apparatus is almost exclusively used in the autumn. 

 Mr. Armstrong does not care about it before. " The moment 

 after the corn is off we begin ; work all harvest from 5 o'clock 

 till 8 P.M." Eighty acres were done since harvest, in spite of 

 wet. The steam-pressure is seldom above 70 lbs. The mode 

 of preparing for roots is as follows : the wheat-stubble having 

 been manured is broken up at two operations in autumn, and in 

 spring it is stirred once or twice. If Mr. King's experience 

 were available here, one autumn operation would suffice. 



Cost of WorTi. 



£ s d 

 Manual and horse labour per clay : — - . • 



Engine-driver 3 



5 men, 2s 10 



1 boy and horse 5 



18 



Coal 8 3 



Oil 10 



Total 1 7 3 = 3s. 103 (Z. per aero. 



N.B. — 3'^. an hour is paid for all hours beyond 101. 



Mr. Armstrong's estimate of the cost of cultivating an acre 

 stands thus, interest being charged on three-fifths of the cost of 

 the engine, and on all the tackle, and 400 acres being taken as a 

 year's work : — 



s. d. 

 Depreciation 10 per cent, on 3707. divided over 400 acres .. 1 10 



Interest 5 per cent Oil 



Eepairs of engine and apparatus (30/.) 16 



Maintenance of rope 18 



5 11 

 Labour, coals, and oil 3 10 J 



Total cost per acre 9 9| 



Five ropes have been bought in all, the two first iron, the rest 

 steel ; the last, bought in 1866, is expected to last till 1868. 



Breakages mostly occur in snatch-blocks. The tackle is in a 

 good state. It has been let out, but has been so badly tieated 

 that it is never to go again off the farm. The second year about 

 300 acres of contract-work was done, the two operations for II. 

 an acre. The price was then raised to 1/. 10s. 



Mr. Topham, a near relative to Mr. Armstrong, occupying an 



I 2 



