212 Report on Steam Cultivation. [Clarke. 



ropo Is in orood order, and always "dressed" before laying bv. 

 Owing to the wet season, it had not been used since Julv, — this 

 was at the time of our visit, November 12th. 



No. 37. Mr. G. B. Skipwortb, of Moortown House. Caistor, 

 Lincolnshire, occupying about GOO acres arable (besides 80 acres of 

 pasture), two-thirds light, the rest strong land, situated in a level 

 tlistrict, and divided in 25-acre inclosures, has had o^ years' ex- 

 perience in steam ploughing. He began in June, 1863, with a 

 12-horse traction engine, built by Richardson and Darley, of 

 Kirton-Lindsey, working a Fowler's separate clip-drum windlass, 

 disc anchor, and 7-tined cultivator ; and in January, 1866, he 

 started a Fowler 10-horse engine Avith 3-furrow plough. The 

 first engine cost 500/., and its windlass tackle 350?. The Fowler 

 engine cost 550/. The repairs he reports as " trifling." and 

 occasioned by "bad castings or inexperience of men." He has 

 paid his engine-driver, 10s. ; windlass-man, 15.^. ; ploughman, 15^. : 

 anchor-boy, 6.s'.; two porter-boys, 5s. each ; ancl water-cart boy, 

 Is. per week. One horse fetches water in an iron water-cart, 

 fitted with pump and liose ; quantity about 400 gallons per day, 

 but in proportion to the fuel burnt. Oil costs Is. iid. a day ; and 

 coal, at 14s. a ton, is consumed at the varying rate of 1 to 2 cwts. 

 per acre, according to the work. It requires one hour to " take 

 up " the tackle, and another to " set down :" the anchor being 

 moved by 2 horses, but sometimes without horses. The area 

 ploughed or dug amounts to 3 roods per hour, or about 7 acres 

 a day. The cultivator does 1 to 2 acres per hour, or 10 to 15 

 acres per day, — an exceedingly good performance. When let 

 out, the prices charged have been 8s. to lOs. an acre on light 

 land, and 10s. to 15s. an acre on heavy land. The engine is em- 

 ployed for thrashing, grinding and sawing. 



Mr. Skipworth has dispensed with 6 out of 18 horses. His 

 heavy-soil fields drain better after steam culture, and though 

 he has not altered his rotation, he estimates the general increase 

 in the yield of his crops at " 10 per cent, and more." We did 

 not visit Mr. Skipworth's farm ; but probably if this " 10 per 

 cent." were converted into quantities, it might be stated as 2 or 

 3 tons an acre more of roots, and 3 or 4 bushels an acre more of 

 corn, derived from the steam-plough. 



No. 38. Mr. Thomas B. Dring, of Claxby, Spilsby, Lincoln- 

 shire, purchased a set of Woolston tackle, with 3- and 5-tined 

 grubbers, and 4-wheeled windlass, made by Butlin, of North- 

 ampton, about the year 1858. This he worked by an 8-horse 

 Clayton's portable engine, bought three years before ; but was 

 obliged to have the whole remodelled by Ashby of Louth, be- 

 cause of the ropes being "always in the pulleys," and the loss of 

 time in stopping the engine at the land's end. Now, the appa- 



