136 Report on Steam Cultivation. [Beed. 



crops year by year successively, where formerly a system of bare 

 fallow prevailed. No special preparation has been made for 

 steam-cultivation save the enlargement of the fields, which were 

 and still are small. The supply of water is convenient and 

 plentiful : in quality it is hard, which is not usual with pond- 

 water. One boy, sometimes with, sometimes without, a horse, 

 suffices to convey it to the engine. The land in the neighbour- 

 hood is for the most part in the hands of men who have taken 

 no steps to encourage the use of steam-power. 



The Apparatus was bought November, 1862, of Messrs. 

 Howard. It consists of an 



Engine, 10-liorse power, single cylinder, made by Enston of j £. s. d. 



Lincoln, which had been in use 3 or 4 years for general I ..;.-, ^ ^ 

 farm-work. It is not let out, but thrashes from 500 to 600 1 

 acres of corn a-year, besides grinding, and tillage work, valuej 



1 set of implements, windlass and rope (IGOO yards) , . . . 230 



Deep plough 60 



Side-harrow 3 10 



Carriage and man to start the tackle 20 



463 10 



Repairs, Renewals, Wear and Tear. — The breakages have 

 mostly arisen from the carelessness of boys. These, with wear 

 and tear, have been very slight — principally in porters, wheels, 

 and snatch-blocks, of which no exact account could be rendered. 

 One rope has done all, and is now getting weak. 



Work done. — In spring, 7 acres a day of 10 hours ; in autumn, 

 8, 9, and 10 acres. Deep-ploughing, 2^ to 3 acres. 



Acres deeply I'loughed. Cultivated. 



1862 84 



1863 71 .. .. 247 



1864 14 .. .. 219 



1865 20 .. .. 338 



1866 to Sept. 12 115 



189 919 



X.B. — Picmovals are ^laid for by the hour. They occupy from a half to a 

 whole day ; 10 horses concerned in the removal. 



Cost of work. — Mujiual labour, 5 men and 4 boys : when work- 

 ing by the day the ordinary payment is received, with \s. ^d. 

 extra for engine-man, windlass-man, and ploughman ; when by 

 the piece, they have 2s. (kl. per acre — working till 7 or 8 o'clock 

 in the autumn. 



£. s. d. 



7 acres at 2s. 6^7 17 C 



Coal — " Portland" and " Brindlcy Hards," 15s. per ton,) ^ _ „ 



home; ^ ton per dav ) 



Oil " 10 



Total per day 16 



