250 Report on Steam Cultivation. [Claeke. 



the steam culture if we set off this work against the "repairs," 

 which are not stated ; and we have thus a total expenditure of 

 about 163/. 



Mr. Pell formerly kept 18 horses. The steam-engine has dis- 

 placed four of them, and therefore the saving, valued at 44/. per 

 horse (for which refer to the opening of this Report), just about 

 meets the outlay incurred by the steam-cultivator. 



The gain consists in a better drainage of the heavy staple con- 

 sequent upon breaking up the panny subsoil, in a considerably 

 increased acreage of root-crop, and a better grown and larger 

 root-produce per acre ; though Mr. Pell has not found any greater 

 facility than before in feeding-off by sheep. More roots have 

 necessarily brought more stock and more manure, resulting in a 

 larger yield of corn. In fact, Mr. Pell is of opinion that, by the 

 introduction of steam tillage, his grain-crops have become more 

 productive to the extent of 6 bushels per acre more than they were 

 before. Such handsome results having accrued, it matters very 

 little whether or not the steam tillage costs a few pounds more 

 than the old horse tillage which it has displaced. 



No. 60. Mr. John Walker Watts, of Orlingbury, Welling- 

 borough, Northamptonshire. Leaving the Nene valley at Wel- 

 lingborough, and passing through an undulating district of rich 

 pastures, with clay-banks or oolite stone in the road-side cuttings, 

 and with brick-and-tile yards on either hand, we found the pretty 

 village of Orlingbury. Here resides A. A. Young, Esq., who, 

 having had a Fowler steam-plough in partnership with Mr. Watts, 

 has now given up both land and implement into the hands of the 

 latter gentleman. Mr. Watts occupies 570 acres arable and 400 

 acres grass — the soil for the most part an exceedingly strong poor 

 clay, upon a tenacious clay subsoil, but with occasional patches of 

 red land of a much kinder and more productive quality. The sur- 

 face is hilly, presenting many rather steep inclines, the elevations 

 in many of the fields preventing portions of one headland from 

 being seen from the headland opposite, thus rendering needful 

 very smart practice with the steam-plough signals. Considerable 

 clearances have been made of bushy hedge-rows, the inclosures 

 now averaging about 30 acres each ; and though no new roads 

 have been formed, the headlands have been straightened to facili- 

 tate operations with the engine and travelling anchorage. One 

 field of 65 acres has been shaped out of six inclosures, of which 

 the fences have been " stubbed up ;" and though still of a long and 

 most irregular figure, in spite of the give-and-take straightening 

 of a water-course, the principal part of the area is tilled from two 

 straight engine ways, while small angles are left to be finished up 

 by horses. 



The tackle was purchased in October, 1861, consisting of a 



