Clarke.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 251 



14-horse Fowler engine and anchorage, &C., with a 4-furrow 

 plough and a 7-tined cultivator, the cost being 945^. The culti- 

 vator is more worked than the turnover-plough, the principal em- 

 ployment of the engine being to smash up stubbles in autumn and 

 cross them in preparation for green crops or fallow. When the 

 land is clean, the plough with the digging-breasts on is the best tool 

 for this autumn work, to be followed by the cultivator crosswise in 

 spring. With steam usually at 80 lbs. pressure, and with a con- 

 sumption of 10 to 12 cwts. of coal per day, the work done is 5 or 

 6 acres of ploughing or digging, or 8 up to 11 acres of grubbing 

 with the balance-cultivator. The labour includes the engineman 

 at 3s. per day, ploughman 2s. (the common wage of the district), 

 anchorman 2s., and two boys at Is. each ; added to which is a 

 bonus of 6f/. per acre, divided among all the hands. These men 

 are at ordinary farmwork wheia the engine is not going. The 

 water is carried from near the homestead at a cost of about 3s. Qd. 

 a day, that is, by one horse and a lad paid Is. per day — the work 

 being light because the water-cart is fitted with a pump and hose. 

 The cost of oil is about Is. 6f/. a day, and the coal (costing 12s. M. 

 a-ton at a station 3 miles off) may be reckoned at 8s. Qd. per day. 

 Removal is effected by the water-cart horse, another extra horse, 

 and the men and boys engaged with the tackle, in about four 

 hours — the engine being self-travelling, with a man to steer. If 

 four horses are employed the shift can be done in three hours. 

 The repairs have cost on an average about 45Z. per annum for 

 plough and cultivator shares, porter-wheels and pulleys, and 

 repairs to the engine (which we shall presently explain), and to 

 the anchorage, plough, and cultivator ; besides about 20/. a year 

 for wire-rope. 



Mr. Watts does not make a practice of letting out the appa- 

 ratus, but has worked for a few friends : in July or August, for 

 instance, he cultivated 72 acres once over, and at a depth of 

 9 inches, for the contract price of 13s. 4(/. per acre, the farmer 

 finding coal and water, and sending the machinery home. A 

 detailed statement of the acreage done during the five years is 

 not forthcoming, Mr. Watts having tired of keeping elaborate 

 statistics without practical benefit to himself; but the following 

 is the account for 1866 from April to harvest, representing a 

 half-year's operations. The apparatus was engaged for 5 days in 

 April, 16| days in May, ^^ days in June, 17 days in July, and 

 9| days in August, — in all 55 days ; during which time 13 acres 

 were ploughed, and 374 acres were cultivated, the machinery 

 having travelled also 48 miles. The outlay for labour was 

 31/. 14s. ; this includes, however, only a portion of the water- 

 carting, as a considerable share of the tillage was contract-work. 

 The coals burnt were 33 tons, at 14s. 6f/., amounting to 23/. 18s., 



