144 



Report on Steam Cultivation. 



[liEED. 



Mr. Palmer feels confident that his repairs would have been 

 very heavy. He has a smith's shop of his own, where repairs 

 are soon effected, and he would recommend no farmer to buy a 

 set of tackle without having such a forge. Since 1865 there have 

 been 2 engines of 10-horse power. He can work with either, 

 but one is usually employed abroad for thrashing on adjoining 

 farms. A new rope of 1600 yards has been purchased since 

 1863, which is now about half Avorn. The original wheels of the 

 cultivator were soon used up : larger ones of wood made at home 

 were supplied, which have worn much better. The implement 

 has been strengthened in all its parts. There were no means of 

 getting at the cost of repairs with any exactness. The apparatus 

 being at work we inspected it. The engine we found in ex- 

 cellent condition. It was driven at great speed, and the imple- 

 ment kept the porter-boys on the full trot in the discharge 

 of their duties — the pace was fully 5 miles an hour. The rope 

 was carefully supported. We found a rope-porter with wooden 



roller in great esteem — also home-made. 



It is made at a triflina: 



expense. The wooden rollers are replaced as soon as worn by 

 the wheelwright, and the wear of the rope is perceptibly reduced 

 by their use. The iron rollers last no time under the pressure 

 of the rope over the summits of the sharp inclines which here 

 abound. We observed that the snatch-blocks were blocked up 

 at either end of the implement's course to keep them more level 

 with the implement. Mr, Palmer and his son had evidently 

 given great attention to the working of the apparatus, and had 

 mastered its details so thoroughly as to enable them to supply 

 several deficiencies. 



Work done and Mode of doing it. — During a day of 10 hours 

 with cidtivator, the first and second time over, inclusive of 

 removals, 8 acres a day 6 or 7 inches deep ; with liarroxcs 

 (harrows 10 feet by 6) once and twice over, 16 acres a day. In 

 preparation for roots the stubble is broken up in autumn with 

 one or two harrowings, which Avould be better omitted if the 

 land is clean, followed by a cross stirring in the spring. 



