132 Report on Steam Cultivation. \ Keed. 



water leaves very little deposit. The horse power lias been 

 reduced from 24 to 22, or 2 to C4 acres, Avhich is excessive. 

 The covenants prescribe the 4-course system, but the tenant is 

 satisfied that any reasonable wish which he may entertain would 

 not be denied him. 



The Apjiaratus, bought 1862, and manufactured by Messrs. 

 Howard, consists of — 



£. 

 A 12 -horse- power, double-cylinder, traction-engine, by Bnrrcll 335 

 1 cultivator, 1600 yards of rope, a windlass and porters .. .. 250 



Total cost 585 



The windlass is Avorked with connecting rod and universal 

 joint. 



The Engine is furnished with a commodious house, where it 

 stands to drive the mill to thrashing and chaff-cutting machines. 

 The engine-driver is a well-trained farming man. The number 

 of days it is working could not be stated, but it was not more 

 than one-third of its time working on the land. The implements 

 and rope well kept under cover. 



Repairs, Renewals, Wear and Tear. — The Engine Avas in very 

 good condition. It is properly stayed to sustain a steam pressure 

 of 80 lbs., but burns an excess of coal. We thought this pro- 

 bably due to the steam space being small — without a dome. 

 The repairs of the engine, estimated by Mr. King, over a period 

 of 4 years, at about 40Z., or lOZ. per annum, the prime cost 

 having been 335Z. For the outlay on the steam tackle of late no 

 account has been separately kept. He roughly estimates that the 

 expenses of rope, engine and apparatus, including 10 per cent, 

 for maintenance and renewal, have been 3^. GfZ. per acre for 

 each time of cultivating. Of this total, one item, '2s. 8cZ. per 

 acre, is due to the rope and apparatus, and \s. for the engine. 



Work done and Mode of working. — During a day of 10 hours, 

 including removals, 5 acres are completed, namely, cultivated 

 and cross-cultivated, the implement going over 10 acres in a day. 

 As yet, less than 100 acres have been worked twice each year. 

 Mr. King expressed himself perfectly contented with this quantity 

 for the past, but he intends to do more in future. He stands 

 much in need of a plough. The clover-leys cannot be spared 

 till the 15th September, and horses, which are not wanted the 

 rest of the year, must, it is argued, be kept to do this and 

 harvest work while the steam tackle stands idle. There are each 

 year 175 acres of fallows, on nearly all of which either roots or 

 vetches are grown, and this is certainly due in great measure to 

 the steam apparatus. The preparation for the root-crop is as 

 follows : — In October the land for mangold and early turnips is 



