Eeed.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 155 



land is so clean, that one sound operation is otten made to take 

 the place of two. The time is well chosen, the operator is 

 careful as to the nature of the operation, and then throws his own 

 impetus into men, horses, and tackle, and achieves the object in 

 the best manner, the shortest time, and at the least cost. The 

 cultivator is used generally, but all muck is ploughed in for 

 roots and layers for wheat. 



Cost of IFork. — The engine-driver who receives Is. IQd^ 

 an acre, distributes it generally as follows : — 



s. ,1. 



Engine-man 6 



Windlass-man 2i 



2 Anchor-men 5 



Ploughman 3 



1 water-cart boy and 4 porter-boys .. Si 



1 10 



Horse with water-cart 6 



Coal 11 



Oil n 



Expenses per acre 3 42 



As some readers may like to see how a year's work looks on 

 paper, we append a statement drawn up by Mr. Cooper, affecting- 

 the year 18G4, for distribution amongst a few friends interested in 

 steam culture. (See following page.) 



The labour is paid at the uniform rate of Is. lOd. per acre : 

 the consumption of coal and oil of course varies with the time 

 occupied in doing the work, but these are kept in stock and used 

 only for the steam cultivation, they also are taken upon an 

 average of the 731 acres. The horse with water-cart is omitted, 

 and the horses employed in removals. An additional Sd. an 

 acre (which under the peculiar circumstances seems sufficient), 

 raises the total, as shown on next page, to 3^. O^d. an acre. 



To pursue the calculation a little further, it is necessary to 

 refer to the statement of Mr. Cooper's capital account. It will 

 be seen that (with the omission of any charge for Fowler's 

 plough borrowed) the annual charge for wear and tear, allowing 

 half that of the engine for other services, amounts to 46Z. Is. 3d., 

 for interest 20/. 10^. 6^., together 60/. lis. dd. This sum dis- 

 tributed over 731 acres (the year's work) gives Is. 9f rf., which, 

 added to 3^. O^d., the expense of labour, coal, oil, and horse, 

 forms a total of 4s. 10^/. an acre. But these figures may be 

 looked at in another light. This sheet shows what steam has 

 done. Suppose that the 12 horses displaced by steam would 

 have done the same, what would have been the difference in the 

 expense? We estimate that a farm-horse costs in attendance-, 

 food, wear and tear of implements, and harness, depreciation 



