Claeke.] Report on Steam Cultivatioru 235 



reached, being remarkable — tbe raw tenacious gaulty clay having 

 been obviously changed by cultivation into a brown unctuous 

 earth, at once perceptibly better to the feel. Although the old 

 high-backed lands have been everywhere levelled over a 4-feet 

 deep drainage, the whole of the fields are declared to drain well 

 in the wettest of seasons ; and we found nothing like sloppiness 

 or sponginess, though we entered almost every field in wretchedly 

 wet weather. 



One set of tackle, of Messrs. Howards' own principle and manu- 

 facture, with a 10-horse-power double-cylinder engine, performs 

 the heavy tillage labour of these farms, and is now limited to this 

 work alone, not being let out on hire ; while another portable 

 engine is employed to do all the thrashing and other yard work. 

 Thus the expenses of steam cultivation are not mixed up with 

 those of any other operations ; and the cost of repairs, «Scc,, has 

 been charged against the farms, on the same scale as they would 

 be to a complete stranger, in order to make them a thorough 

 test and example of the pecuniary as well as other aspects of 

 the question. Mr. James Dickson, the farm-manager, has fur- 

 nished us with the following " epitome " from his account books, 

 giving the totals of three years' experience : — 



Acres. 



The extent cultivated by steam has been 2751 



Cultivated for neighbours 300 



Harrowed by steam, 535 acres, equivalent to cultivating (half) 267 



In three years 3318 



The expenses for rope, repairs, and renewal of wearing parts 

 have amounted to 99Z. 15^. 55., or say 33Z. per annum. Divided 

 by the acreage, it comes to Id. and a fraction per acre. 



Interest, at 5 per cent, per annum on the cost price of 540/., 

 comes to 80Z. 2s. in the three years, or a fraction under ^d. per 

 acre. 



Depreciation, at 5 per cent, per annum on the main portion of 

 the engine and apparatus, but excluding rope and other wearing 

 parts, say upon 440/., amounts to QQl. in the three years, or a 

 fraction over 4|(/. per acre. The three items of repairs, interest, 

 and depreciation, make a total of about Is. Qd. per acre. 



We must remark here, however, that any heavy repair, such 

 as a new fire-box next year, would materially increase this very 

 low average, derived from an experience of three years. 



To get at the total cost of any given operation, according to 

 this statement, we have only to ascertain the daily working 

 expenses and the number of acres done per day. Mr. Dickson 

 gives them as follows : — 



