I-IO Report on Steam Cultivation. [Keeu. 



No. 20. Mr. J. L. King, Thorpe Hall, Scole, Norfolk, Sep- 

 tember 10th. Mr. King-, being unavoidably absent, kindly pro- 

 vided a substitute, who did the honours of his house, conducted 

 us over the cleanly, well-managed farm, and gave us all the infor- 

 m^ation in his possession. This gentleman, Mr. Bate of Sliimp- 

 ling Place, Diss, having taken great pains to collect reliable data 

 on the question of steam cultivation to lay before a neighbouring 

 Farmers' Club, had watched the process conducted on Mr. King's 

 farm with great closeness, and for one year had obtained a daily 

 return of the work done, for the purpose of comparing the result 

 with that obtained by Mr. Cooper and others. 



The farm consists of 660 acres — grass, 54 ; wood, 40 ; arable, 

 560, two-thirds heavy, one-third light and mixed. Three horses 

 plough 3 roods a day, 6 inches deep, on the heavy land. The 

 subsoil of the stiff land, which is drained 44 inches deep and 

 7 yards apart, is an adhesive brick-earth, mixed with stones ; 

 that of the light land is a gravel. The farm has been 16 years 

 in Mr. King's occupation and is farmed on the 4-course system. 

 He hires the land of Mr. Holland of Bedham, near Saxmund- 

 ham, who has granted permission to straighten fences, enlarge 

 fields, &c., and something in this direction has been done. The 

 fences are not irregular. The largest field was one of 19 aci'es, 

 the smallest one of 6 acres. We were informed that great benefit 

 had been derived through the drainage having been rendered 

 more effective after the soil had been deeply broken up by 

 steam : also from the larger area of root-crop obtainable, the 

 heavier crops harvested, and the ability acquired by the land to 

 carry sheep without injury. As to sheep, the advantage is felt 

 on the heavy land being so soon ready to receive them after rain. 

 It may also be mentioned that, while they are putting in barley in 

 that district during March and part of April on the heavy land, it 

 is of the utmost importance that the fallows should be forwarded 

 at the same time ; and this, during his use of steam, Mr, King 

 has been able to accomplish. The land which was in ridge and 

 furrow now lies on the flat ; the stubbles over which we walked 

 indicated heavy crops, and crops free from weeds. The turnips 

 and mangolds were very fine ; and have generally been far more 

 certain since steam has been employed, simply because the 

 season has been caught and properly used. The failure of part 

 or the whole of a root-crop is frequently due to the absence of 

 the supplemental power of which Mr, King has availed himself. 

 The number of horses was 20 ; it is now 15. This gives 2 horses 

 to 75 acres arable — too many, as we ventured to remark. It was 

 explained, however, that a new farm of 106 acres was in expect- 

 ation, which would be worked with the same power as that now 

 in operation. The teams, of course, have less work, and are main- 



