242 ' Report on Steam Cultivation. [Claeke. 



the money between them as tliey please ; generally the engine- 

 man taking Qd. a day extra, and the windlass-man 2</. a day 

 extra. For each removal Ss. are paid, the shift commonly occu- 

 pying 2 or 3 hours with 8 horses. 



Twenty horses were formerly kept. Some years ago the 

 number was reduced to 14 ; but Mr. Lavender was obliged to 

 increase them again up to 18, the present force, owing to the 

 fields lying very much scattered about. The 4-course system of 

 cropping is followed, and both a larger breadth of roots and 

 heavier root-crops are grown in consequence of steam cultivation. 

 No improvement is perceptible in the Avheat-crops upon steam- 

 cultivated land ; but, of course, Avith more root-produce, there 

 should be a derivative increase in corn. No example was adduced 

 of steam versus horse tillage in the case of any individual crop. 

 Mr. Lavender has never adopted the Woolston trenching-up for 

 winter. As to drainage, he told us that the deeper culture 

 decidedly makes a dryer layer for sheep. His verdict is that 

 "all o-horse land, if on a good-sized farm, should be steamed;" 

 and if he were now without a steam-cultivator, he would cer- 

 tainly buy one to-morrow. 



No. 54. Rev. J. W. C. Campion, of The Manor, Westoning, 

 Woburn, Bedfordshire, occupying 500 acres arable, and the same 

 area of grass — hilly land, consisting of stiff clay and strong loam 

 — has worked a Howard set of tackle for four years. The 

 10-horse engine and apparatus Avere bought second-hand for about 

 500/, ; the repairs are not stated, as they would form no guide 

 to what might be looked for with new first-hand machinery. In 

 Mr. Campion's fields, of about 30 acres each, the average day's 

 work, including removals, is 7 to 8 acres cultivated. The five 

 men and two boys cost \Qs. a day ; water-carting, Qs. ; oil and 

 grease, 25. ; coal, at 15s. per ton, including carriage, costs 15^. 

 per day ; and a removal, if done at once, takes 10 horses, which 

 is accomplished and steam got up in four hours. The engine is 

 employed " at other times " in thrashing, but the apparatus is 

 never let out. The force of horses has been reduced from 22 

 before to 16 now. 



Mr. Campion reports that the drainage has been rendered 

 more effectual by the steam culture, but that he cannot feed-off 

 roots any better than before. He has increased the acreage of 

 his root-crop, and all his crops, "with the exception of the wheat 

 crop," have been more productive. 



Very few hindrances in work have been met with, and no 

 stoppages when duplicates of the parts have been in possession. 



No. 55. Mr. James Bartlett, of Whitfield, Brackley, North- 

 amptonshire. The main object of our visit here was to learn the 

 practical working of steam culture with Woolston implements, 



