126 



Report on Steam Cultivation. 



[Reed. 



yards ; cost of rope per annum, 22/. The heaviest repairs are 

 on the 2 clip-drums. No exact account of repairs coald be 

 given ; but we Avere led to believe that the whole annual expense, 

 over a period of eight years, would not be more than 501. 



Work done, and Mode of doing it. — The following Table will 

 give some idea of the amount of work done in 1864 and 1865. 

 Since that time no account has been kept. Mr. Prout has given 

 us a separate account for 1865, by which it is apparent that the 

 result of 120 days' work is 879 acres done : — 



18G4 and 1865. 



It is a noticeable fact that the proportion of work is less year 

 by year as the farm advances toward a higher state of cultiva- 

 tion. Thus the tackle was standing idle from Nov. 16, 1865, 

 till August, 1866. All was in corn; there was nothing +0 do. 

 One operation now, where there are no weeds, and the land is 

 mellow, suffices to produce a better seed-bed than double the 

 labour would have produced in 1861. In preparation for roots, 

 the wheat-stubbles are broken up with plough and subsoiler from 

 12 to 14 inches, the top furrow being turned down 7 inches, the 

 tines running down 7 inches lower, and stirring, but not invert- 

 ing the bottom. This operation, which takes from 80 to 85 lbs. 

 steam pressure, and is done at the rate of oj acres per day, is 

 completed in November. In April this land is crossed with a 

 cultivator to a depth of 10 inches, a harrow being attached. 



Cost of Worh 



Manual and horse labour : — 



Engine-driver 



Plougliman Twage and allowance) .. .. 



Ancliorman (wage and allowance) . . . . 



Three porter-boys 



Man and horse for water-cart 



Expenses per Day. 

 £. S. d. 



Coals and oil 



15 



1 14 



i^ veragc daily wage, 2s. 

 '^ N.B, — Extra pay to ploughman and anchorman, 2(?, an acre when d-furrow 



