Clarke.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 233 



near Bedford, succeeded Mr, Pike (who liere began steam culti- 

 vation in the year 1857), and purchased his apparatus second-hand 

 in 1863. This consisted of a 10-horse-power double- cylinder 

 engine, with Howard's tackle ; the price not stated. After w^orking 

 it three seasons, his testimony is that he has worn out about half 

 a rope, and that the cost of repairs altogether averages 40/. per 

 annum. In the autumn of 1863 he broke up 38 acres for barley, 

 5 or 6 inches deep, by the 3-tined cultivator, in six days, in- 

 cluding three shifts. A bean-stubble was smashed up for 

 wheat, 5 or 6 inches deep, 13 acres twice over, making 26 acres 

 in four days. An average day's work is 6 acres, and a removal 

 takes 3 hours with 4 horses. In 1865, the summer tillage 

 consisted of 100 acres, done in 20 days — that is, an average of 

 5 acres per day, removals included. The depth of work with the 

 30-inch wide cultivator was 7 to 8 inches ; the autumn work was 

 127 acres in 25 days, at a depth of 4 to 5 inches. In both seasons 

 a portion of the work was " crossing." Here we have 45 days' 

 ■Nvork and 227 acres done in a year on a farm which includes 

 307 acres arable (besides 150 of grass) of peculiarly stiff stubborn 

 clay soil upon a subsoil of blue gault, some of it on steep hill- 

 sides, and lying in fields averaging 30 acres in size — some of 

 them enlarged purposely for steam culture. The engine is occu- 

 pied in thrashing, grinding, and chafF-cutting 98 days in a year, 

 or more than double the time that it is engaged in cultivation. 

 The average consumption of coal per day in 1865 was 12 cwts., 

 at 18^, per ton ; of oil 3 pints, — say 12^. per day, or 2s. 5d. an 

 acre for both. The wages of the 5 men and 2 boys come to 

 about 13*. Qd. a day, and the water-cart 4^. a day — that is, 3^. Qd. 

 per acre for both ; ordinary labourers' wages being lis. a week. 

 Mr. Horrell gives his engine-man 1^., his windlass-man 4^., and. 

 his anchor-men 2d. a day extra (when steam cultivating), with 

 a bonus of Qd. per acre for beer among all the hands. The daily 

 working expenses, adding say Id. per acre for removals, will be 

 about 65. Qd. per acre. What is the charge due on the machinery 

 we have not sufficient data for ascertaining ; though the 40/. for 

 repairs is the most important item. The pecuniary experience 

 of steam culture on this farm appears very similar to that of many 

 others which we have more fully detailed. 



The tackle is now used solely upon the farm ; but has done 

 contract-work at 21^. per acre, cultivating twice over, the farmer 

 finding coal and water, and bringing the machinery home. Mr. 

 Horrell does not consider this profitable, because of being set 

 to desperately bad pieces. The engine is occasionally let out to 

 thrash for other people, at a charge of 3s. per hour. 



Good public roads run alongside much of the land, and a grass- 



