192 Report on Steam Cultivation. [Reed. 



J'Vbrk done and Mode of doing it. — During a clay of 10 hours, 

 removals included, the 4-furrow plough works from 5 to 8 acres 

 3 to 6 inches deep ; the cultivator 10 acres, 4 to 8 inches deep. 

 He seldom uses the plough on his own land. From July, 1865, 

 to the end of the year, he scarified at home 290 acres ; from 

 January, 1866, to the day we arrived, he had scarified 319 acres 

 and ploughed 50. About the same work has been done each 

 year abroad for hire. To prepare 85 acres for roots this year he 

 has broken up and crossed the stubbles from 6 to 7 inches 

 deep, with a drag-harrow attached to the cultivator ; these 

 are now perfectly clean. He will plough in winter by horse- 

 power, and then putting steam again to work to draw the 

 cultivator through the pulverised soil, will drill with artificial 

 manure. 



Cost of Work 



Manual Work :— £. .s. d. 



Engine-man 3 6 



Ploughman 030 



2 porter-Loys 2 6 



1 anchor-man 020 



Boy, cart and horse 04 6 



15 G 



Coals 12 



Oil and grease 1 6 



Total cost per day 19 



N.B. — aSTo extra paj'ment to men, except for overtime. The ordinary daily 

 wage for labourers in the neighbourhood is Is. Sr7. When not steaming the 

 engine-man is paid 15.s. a Aveek. The "hard" coal is used; the cost per ton 

 home is 22s. ; the consumption per day about 9 cwts. 



Mr. Redman considers a rope of 450 yards the proper length 

 to be used with advantage to his own tackle. This (costing 

 45?.) should cultivate 1500 acres, which would bring the expense 

 to l^d. per acre. He thinks, also, that 15 per cent, upon outlay 

 will cover all contingencies, interest of outlay, and supply a new 

 apparatus when required. In his opinion the occupation of a 

 farm of 400 acres of heavy land would justify a man in the 

 purchase of steam tackle as a profitable investment. He expe- 

 riences no difficulty from flints on light soil except when the 

 ground is very much baked. We did not consider it necessary 

 to make a close inspection of a farm so recently brought under 

 steam cultivation. 



Our tour comprised two or three other farms which did not 

 present any features of special interest. 



