Reed.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 181 



plougliing and dip;<:iiig once, and for cnltivatin2; twice over. They work from 

 light till dark. The Coal is " Seeleys," los. M. per ton, home : consumption, 

 1 ton per day. The repairs on this act have not been ascertained. 



It is Mr. Cooper's impression that tlae two engines consume 

 no more coal or water than the single engine. This tackle is 

 set down in 10 or 12 minutes. It will do 2 or 3 acres a-day 

 more than the single set. These advantages distinguish it as 

 specially applicable for the purpose he has in view, namely, to 

 keep it working on contract jobs. Some little difficulty is felt 

 in supplying the engine on the upper headland with water when 

 the land under cultivation is in tilth : in case of stubble and 

 firm ground, the slack-rope pulls the water-cart from the bottom 

 to the top end. When, in travelling, a miry place or a hill is 

 met with, one engine helps the other. The machinery is very 

 simple, and occasions no fear of breakages. As the engine-men, 

 who were farm-labourers, are much left to themselves, they are 

 inspired with a lively interest in their work : in other words, 

 they are well paid. Mr. Cooper provides in every way for their 

 comfort. We found him building an engineer's-house on four 

 wheels, with interior dimensions 14 feet by 7, to hold 3 beds ; 

 fitted with cooking-stove, and capable of accommodating three 

 men and two boys. It is constructed with two windows, a door, 

 and movable ladder behind. The fabric is of wood, shielded by 

 corrugated iron, and is yet so light that two horses or the engine 

 can pull it. This arrangement, in districts scantily populated, 

 is evidently necessary where contract-work is taken. Mr. Cooper 

 spoke very strongly about the superiority of the double set of 

 tackle over the single. " If," said he, " the question is to get 

 over a certain quantity of work in a given time, that implement 

 which will do it best is the best to buy." So convinced is he 

 of this, that he will either part with the single set he now has, 

 or buy another 14-horse power engine to complete it. The 

 obstacle to its general use is the price. He considered that a 

 man with 400 acres of arable land would do well to buy a double 

 set of tackle ; but he would dissuade any man from doing so 

 unless he takes a personal interest in steam. Abundance of work 

 may be found for the engines by contracting to thrash, cut chaff 

 with Maynard's apparatus, or grind with the American grist-mill, 

 both which machines he uses. 



Repairs, Reneicals, Wear and Tear. — Particulars to come under 

 this head may be gathered from Mr. Cooper's tabular statement. 

 Respecting the rope, however, it will be well to remark that 

 500 yards were bought in 1864, and 500 in 1866. The tackle 

 was not at hand for inspection. 



Work done ivith single engine tackle, and Mode of doing it, per 



