Beed.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 167 



stony, a stratum of thin, liuno;ry marl intervening between it and 

 the chalk. Drainage is not required ; and it is difficult to 

 procure water, no special provision having been made for its 

 supply. Two men and carts are usually employed to fetch it. 

 This farm, which has been many years in the family, is the 

 property of Mr. Barclay of Lombard-street, who has given every 

 encouragement he could to the employment of steam. The 

 tenant has been enterprising and skilful in the use of it ; but he 

 has not produced such results as he would do if the imple- 

 ments supplied were better adapted to the character of the land. 

 He follows the four-course system of cropping ; and in doing so 

 says that the main advantages he derives from steam are, that 

 the fallowing for roots is less expensive ; the root-crop is more 

 certain and much heavier by virtue of its being sown at the 

 proper time ; and the number of horses is reduced. Although 

 he had very few statistics to offer, he affirmed that on no account 

 would he farm without steam. What he had done convinced 

 him, without going accurately into figures, that he must be a 

 gainer. If more roots — that is to say, more sheep-feed — are 

 obtained, there must on such land be more corn grown. The 

 horses, formerly twenty-four, are now nineteen in number — two to 

 98 acres. The average amount of stock kept is 600 ewes and 

 40 beasts. For land of such weak texture the roots were very 

 good ; and the stubbles showed that the corn-crops were better 

 than crops generally grown on similar soil. The land was clean, 

 and throughout well farmed, without much dependence upon 

 artificial manure. 



The Apparatus (Fowler's) was purchased Christmas, 1862. 

 Its parts are, an engine of 10-horse power, double cylinder, 

 traction, manufactured by Messrs. Clayton and Shuttleworth 

 for a gentleman who.ordered it for estate-work. It was converted 

 at Leeds. Two-thirds of its time it is engaged in thrashing, 

 grinding, and chaff-cutting. It is driven by a labourer from the 

 farm — a 4-furrow plough, a cultivator with 7 tines, an anchor, 

 porters, and 800 yards of rope. Having been used one year, it 

 was bought for 600/. 



Repairs, Renewals, Wear and Tear. — The Engine, which is 

 in excellent condition, has caused very little expense. The 

 travelling-gear and one axletree and a clip-drum have been 

 renewed. The implements have needed no repair, and are in 

 good state. The anchor is also in nice keeping. The shares, 

 on such sharp land, wear considerably ; but not more than they 

 would do by horse-power. The rope, having been well kept 

 and carefully supported, is in excellent repair ; the stress on it 

 has never been great, though it mii^ht suffer from wear. 



The Work done, and mode of Worhiny. — The engine, with a 



