176 Report on Steam Cultivation. [Reed. 



Shuttleworth, which is used for thrashing and other work, a 

 4-furrow plough, a 7-tine scarifier, anchor, porters, and 800 yards 

 of rope : value, 881/. This sum includes a thrashing-machine. 



Repairs, Renewals, Wear and Tear. — These were never heavy, 

 and of late they have been very small. In looking over the 

 accounts and vouchers for five years, it was discovered that, 

 together with maintenance, they would amount to an annual 

 charge of 15 per cent. The special account for rope stands 

 thus : — Beside the original 800 yards in 1859 there have been 

 supplied 400 yds. in September, 1861, and 300 yds. in March, 

 1862 ; 800 yds. have virtually disappeared, the remaining 700 

 are half worn out ; but it is worth observing the time and duty 

 through which the ropes of 1861 and 1862 have carried the pur- 

 chaser. In point of quality, Mr. Arnot says they are twice as 

 good as that of 1859. The wear of rope thus entails a cost of 

 126/. The repairs of the engine are under 5/. per year. A drag- 

 harrow has been added to the tackle. We were unable to see 

 either the engine or the implements ; but were assured that they 

 were in an efficient state. 



IVork Done and Mode of Working. — Per day of 10 hours, in- 

 cluding removals : plouqldng 6 acres, 9 inches deep, cultivating 

 10 acres about the same depth. He began by ploughing 13 in., 

 but soon repented of what proved to be an error upon his sandy 

 loam. The mode of preparing for the various crops is as fol- 

 lows : — For roots, if weedy, the wheat-stubble having been 

 broken up in September, is scarified and harrowed by horse- 

 power ; and when the rubbish has been well weathered, it is 

 readily turned down by steam with a 10-inch furrow. Long 

 manure is also, when applied, ploughed in with as little diffi- 

 culty. The land in spring is ridged with horses ; dung is 

 applied, the ridge is split by horse-plough, and left for deposit 

 of seed. For wheat after potatoes, only one scarifying is re- 

 quired ; for oats, the land is skimmed before winter, and a 6-inch 

 furrow, with 10 loads of manure, is given before sowing ; for 

 green-rye, the land is scarified, dunged, and ploughed in Sep* 

 tember, and sown directly, so that it may be cleared from May 

 to July following. As the green-rye is cut, the land is dunged 

 and ploughed (generally by horse-power), and so long as the 

 season serves, it is replaced by cabbages, dibbled, followed by 

 turnips, rape, &c. Should the cabbages be removed in March, 

 the land by a single furrow is fitted for spring-wheat ; if in April, 

 for barley. For wheat, after seeds, one furrow suffices. It will 

 be readily perceived that this quick rotation and constant occu- 

 pation of the land necessitates a vast amount of labour, and of 

 labour which must be done, if it is to be profitable, just at the 

 nick of time. The tendency of such land so occupied is to 

 become weedy ; the success of such culture depends on cleanli- 



