Reed.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 125 



management almost independent of rotations, live-stock, and 

 manuring. But his intended husl)andry will prudently embrace 

 the sheep-feeding of a portion of the root-crop, with probably 

 a purchase or stable-manure from London in return lor straw 

 sold oF. This is one of the most surprising examples yet seen 

 of the virtue of deep steam-tillage on a heavy soil, hitherto suf- 

 fered to lie semi-utilised under a miserable, yet costly system of 

 shallow culture by draft animals. But the immediate lesson 

 from the case is the certainty of profit to landowners from clear- 

 ing away those vermin-filled banks and bird-infestcnl scrub 

 fences, which are now choking up thousands of fine farms, and 

 obstructing the progress of the fructifying steam-drawn share," 



To this account, which our observations and enquiries completely 

 confirm, there are a iew facts to add. The land is so stiff as to 

 require three horses to plough 1 acre 5 inches deep. It is drained 

 3J feet deep, 10 to 11 yards apart, and is all laid flat. The 

 hedgerows are all cleared away, and the open space is divided 

 into blocks by five engine-roads — a main centre-road of gravel 

 and four grass-roads — from which every bit of land can be cul- 

 tivated. The cost of this clearance is seen from Mr. Clarke's 

 sketch. The supply of water is mainly from two wells : other 

 wells have been sunk at different points along the road, for the 

 supply of the engine. The water leaves a chalky deposit, and 

 necessitates the cleaning of the engine every fourteen days. It 

 is difficult to say anything respecting the former course of hus- 

 bandry, save that it brought but little grist to the mill. The 

 present rotation of crops is trefoil fed off, oats, wheat, fallow 

 (tares), wheat. This rotation has been followed since 1801, 

 without manure, not even a flock of sheep, yet with increasing 

 crops. All the land is under crop, be it observed, except a little 

 where seeds grow ; the crops, roots, hay and all, straw included, 

 are sold off. The stock is confined to eight horses and a few 

 pigs. That the crops appear to increase is due to the fact that 

 every fresh inch downwards opens to the penetratii:g rootlets 

 fresh sources of fertility. This is a case of a grateful subsoil, 

 whose resources have never before been drawn upon. 



At the last sale, which occurred immediately before harvest, 

 223 acres of wheat, 124 of barley, and 60 of oats had been sold as 

 they stood for 3400/., to be harvested at the cost of the purchaser. 



The Apparatus was bought, October, 1861, of Messrs. Fowler. 

 The engine, made by Kitson and Hewetson, is of 14-liorse power, 

 double cylinder, traction, and is used also to thrash ; one 4-furrow 

 plough, a 2-furrow subsoil plough, 7-tine cultivator, 800 yards 

 of rope, a self-moving anchor, 20 rope-porters, and water-cart ; 

 price lOGo?. 



Repairs, Renewals, Wear and Tear. — Rope, since 18G1, 780 



