236 Report on Steam Cultivation. [Clarke. 



£. s. d. 



Engine-driver 028 



Four labourers, at 2s. 3 J 09 



Two porter-boys, at lOrf 018 



One boy carrying water (no water-cart being used) 10 



One day's manual labour 14 2 



Coal (for 11 acres per day of 10 hours, a rate of workj 



to be mentioned presently), 15 cwts. at lis. per ton, > 13 



with carriage, 2s. 6cZ J 



Oil, one penny per acre on 11 acres 11 



Repairs and renewal of rope and wearing parts, at) ^ ^ ^ 

 Id. per acre \ 



Total working expenses per day . . ., 1 14 6 

 Or 3s. \^d. per acre. 



Add — Interest, 6c?. per acre 05 6 



Depreciation, at 5c?. per acre 4 7 



Total outlay per day 2 4 7 



Or a fraction over 4s. per acre. 



Mr. Dickson states that, on their very heavy clay soil, the culti- 

 vator taking 3 feet breadth and smashing up the land 6 to 8 inches 

 deep, and travelling at the pace of 3 miles an hour, requires a 

 pressure of 80 lbs. in the double-cylinder 10-horse power engine. 

 There is " regularly on the move " by the cultivator from 6 to 

 8 cwts of soil, the shares cutting 3 feet of width, while it is 4 feet 

 from the foremost point to the heel of the hindermost share — the 

 weight of soil in a square yard, 6 inches deep, being 4 cwts. 

 3 qrs. 14 lbs. At this width, depth, and length, the rate of per- 

 formance for a full day of 12 hours is 11 acres. The ordinary 

 average of Avork, we were informed, was 6 to 8 acres a day (we 

 suppose including removals), from 6 to as much as 10 inches 

 deep — the steam working at a pressure of 50 to 70 lbs., with a 

 consumption of 9 to 13 cwts. of coal. The manager's statement 

 refers to their highest speed, with a greater pressure and more 

 fuel burnt. In his figures, too, he has forgotten the cost of re- 

 movals, which must be allowed for, if we would get at an average 

 instead of a full day's work. The shifting, we were told, is done 

 by help of 7 horses (4 horses, except for great distances), and 

 takes 2i hours. The engine, when uninterruptedly at Avork, has 

 to be moved about twice a Aveek ; so that we may add say 2s. bd. 

 a day to the total daily outlay, making 21. Is. per day. Dividing 

 this by the lower average of 8 acres per day, the total cost of 

 a first smashing up (Avithout including cross-cultivating or har- 

 rowing) is Avithin a trifle of 6s. per acre. Undoubtedly, heavier 

 repairs during the next three years will tend to raise these figures, 

 which, as they are, certainly speak Avell in faAour of steam culti- 



