Clarke.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 20.") 



this for only some of the days in a year, depends greatly upon 

 the standing sum due upon the investment. Moreover, it is high 

 time to disabuse ourselves of the early impression that steam- 

 tillago apparatus is novel, and therefore to be loaded with the 

 highest percentage that doubt and distrust can decently lay upon 

 it ; for, on the contrary, it is now old-established, with settled 

 experience on its side, and amenable to the same ratios of cal- 

 culation that are applicable to other mechanism. 



One remark we would add, — that if we do treat steam field- 

 machines too favourably, at any rate we bear with equal lightness 

 upon all, and our moderate allowance for gradual destruction 

 and going out of fashion will be as fair for one maker's " set " as 

 for another's. 



The " method " of our Report will be as follows : — 

 Section I. — 3[edium and Light-Land Far:\is, 

 Section II. — Heavy-Land Farms. 

 Division 1. — East. 

 Division 2 . — West. 

 Division 3. — South. 

 Division 4. — North. 

 Section III. — Partnership. 

 Section IV. — The Hiring System. 

 Conclusion. 



Section I. — 3Iedium and Light-Land Farms. 



Comparatively little of really light soil under steam cultiva- 

 tion has been seen by this Committee ; and some of the lightest 

 was on farms to be described in "Section HL ; " so that we 

 place in the present " Section " merely a few farms which could 

 not be very well classed as " heavy." And in each climatic 

 district (not of England and Wales, but of our 19 counties), we 

 will take these farms pretty much in the order of their size, 

 beginning with the smaller and advancing to those of larger 

 acreage. 



Division 1. — East. 



No. 34. Mr. J. F. Edwards, of Tanholt Farm, Ej-e, Peter- 

 borough, Northamptonshire, has had eight years' experience of 

 steam husbandry, upon a farm of a little over 300 acres arable 

 and 100 acres grass. The surface is level, or but slightly un- 

 dulating, presenting a scarcely perceptible slope, only a few 

 feet elevated above the great horizontal plain of the fens ; and 

 the inclosures are of considerable size, open ditches few, and 

 the low thorn fences generally clear of timber. Good roads, a 

 new covered homestead built in handsome style, and a model 

 farm-house, are other advantages enjoyed upon this holding. 



