Olaeke.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 231 



spud-shape of tlie shares, and their downward pointing, giving 

 the greatest lift to the torn masses of earth, while the wheels in 

 advance upon the unmoved ground bear the weight steadily and 

 with the least friction, combine to make this " the best tool 

 (says Mr, Bignell) ever invented for strong land." Obliged to 

 put up with the absence of steam-power and the stronger grubber, 

 he last year worked two of these implements, each drawn by four 

 horses in length (so as to avoid treading down the broken-up 

 clods), and working 7 inches deep at the rate of 2 acres a day. 

 Horse cultivation like this was " only a little inferior " to steam 

 cultivation. With an 8-horse engine a fair day's work has been 

 4^ to 5 acres with the 3-tined implement ; in extra long days 

 7 acres have sometimes been accomplished. When the extra two 

 tines are added, of course, much more is done. The fields are 

 from 20 to 30 acres in extent, and well shaped for steam culti- 

 vation. Coals cost 14s. or 15^. per ton at the nearest station, 

 four miles off, and the consumption has been 8 to 10 cwts. a day. 

 Oil is put at \s., and water is carted by one horse, and a boy at ^d. 

 a day. The apparatus is worked by six men and a boy — two 

 men at 25. Qd. each ; four at 2s. each, and the lad at 10c?. per 

 day. Removal, varying a little according to distance, takes 

 about two hours' time, with 4 horses, the water-cart horse, and a 

 carter in addition to the steam-cultivating hands. 



Mr. Bignell and his neighbour have done a good deal of work 

 for hire — one finding tackle, the other the engine, and sharing 

 the expenses and the proceeds. This has been upon several 

 farms, the area varying every year, the average being perhaps 

 from 1 to 200 acres. The rates charged have been lbs. an acre 

 for " once over," and 255. for " twice over." The men, when 

 not cultivating, work at the ordinary labours of the farm. The 

 steam tillage on Mr. Bignell's own farm occupies 14 to 16 days 

 after harvest, and occasionally 3 or 4 in the spring ; and this has 

 been amply sufficient to enable him to dispense with 3 horses 

 out of the 10 formerly kept, and yet be always forward with his 

 work. Strictly speaking, 6 horses are now kept, with 2 colts 

 bred on the farm and worked half-time alternately. The manual- 

 labour bill, too, is not excessively heavy, amounting to less than 

 30s. an acre over the whole occupation — wages being commonly 

 12s. a week, in winter lis. a week, and "Wolverton" (the 

 railway works in the vicinity) making labourers very inde- 

 pendent. 



The apparatus cost 190/., 'and a new rope since, 60Z. ; and 

 the repairs (of which no account is given) are less heavy now 

 than formerly, owing to the better management which has come 

 into practice. 



Among the general results, the drainage of this cold stiff clay 



