Keed.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 187 



others a thin chalky soil, 5 inches deep, is found not good for 

 turnips, but productive of wheat and oats. There are 2 courses 

 of cropping : — 1st, the common 4-course crop ; 2ndly, 2 crops of 

 swedes, turnips or rape ; wheat ; seeds ; oats ; or two years tur- 

 nips, oats, seeds, and wheat. These variations are tried to adapt 

 the cropping to the season. In such a situation wheat must be 

 sown early. The fields vary from 15 to 17 acres. The storage 

 of water, at such altitude, requires great attention, since the 

 natural supply fails when it is most needed. Mr. Woods has 

 spouted all his buildings, cottages, &;c,, and preserves In large 

 tanks the greater part of the abundant rainfall of that neigh- 

 bourhood. His arrangements, in this respect, have been very 

 successful. The power at his disposal consists of 12 horses 

 (4 bullocks were sold when the tackle was bought) and Smith's 

 apparatus, bought in 1861. It consists of an 



Price. 



Engine oi 8 -horse power, with single cylinder and portable,! £. 

 made by Butlin, the hind carriage being fitted with springs, [ 230 

 which greatly reduce the jar in travelling J 



Cultivators, 1400 yards rope, luindlass, porters, &c 250 



480 



The engine, which never quits the farm, is used about 36 days in 

 a year to thrash, grind (when it works in a capital house), and 

 about 10 days in the field, when it is worked up to 70 lbs, steam 

 pressure. The apparatus has been well taken care of, and has 

 cost little or nothing for repairs. The expenses on the engine 

 cannot be put down at 5/. per annum. 



Work done. — The stubbles are not broken up till late ; they 

 are then ploughed with horses. Steam is used in spring only to 

 fallow for turnips, while the horses are engaged preparing for 

 oats and spring-corn, during 10 days, in March and April. 

 Removals included, which occupy 6 horses and 2 men a J day, 

 the pace per day Is 8 acres with the 5-tIne cultivator: — 



Wear and tear Is estimated by Mr, Woods at 10^, per day. 



We thus estimate the entire cost in this case : — 



Per day. 

 £. s. d, I 

 The manual labour amounting to 19s., and the coal and) -i n a 



oil to 10s., make the total day's expense j 



5 per cent, interest on 350?. (lOOZ. on engine) divided i -t -ir q 



amongst 10 days j 



Maintenance, 5 per cent, on 350?,, the work being light,) -i -rr a 

 divided amongst 10 days ) 



4 19 



This gives 49/, 10;?. for 10 days' work. Many would be disposed 

 to grumble at this result, and certainly the employment of steam 



