Clarke.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 257 



ovei* less than 5 acres a day, but the work was beautifully done ; 

 the cost, 135. or 14^. per acre. The lands, never very high- 

 backed, were levelled before steam culture was begun, and all 

 well drained, 4 feet deep, at 8 or sometimes 9 yards apart. The 

 clay land was laid flat gradually, and has been so for several 

 years, yet, in spite of the present wet season, no water whatever 

 has troubled them — the yearly rainfall here averaging aljout 

 25 inches. The fields also were squared, the fences made 

 straight (which is most important), trees cleared away, and the 

 inclosures made to average 30 acres each. This farm (Mr. 

 Ealand's own property) lies remarkably well for steam tillage ; a 

 good public road dividing it into two portions, with a stream 

 flanking the road, so that the engine can traverse alongside of 

 (or not far from) the brook ; and, when required, a man can 

 water the engine by bucket, without the help of horse and water- 

 barrel. 



In April, 1865, after two years' experience of hiring a steam- 

 plough, Mr. Ealand purchased a 14-horse Fowler engine (a 

 traction and self-steering engine) for 614/., with 4-furrow plough, 

 ^7/. ; 7-tined cultivator, 70Z. ; anchor, 55/. ; rope, 84/. ; porters, 

 25Z. ; and water-cart, 25/., making a total outlay of 970/. Mr. 

 Ealand's " repairs " for a year and a half have amounted to 

 10/. 155., which included the renewal of the large wheel of the 

 anchor, and some smaller matters. The engine does all the 

 heavy work of the farm (including a little on the Heath, but 

 mainly in the Vale). In 1866 it did 70 days' work of cultivating, 

 ploughing, and digging before harvest, and tilled about 100 acres 

 afterwards, besides being 54 days in thrashing corn, — which, he 

 says, saves him 55/. a year. The engine never goes out for 

 hire ; for, having used his tackle fairly and carefully, Mr. Ealand 

 says he will not be set to the roughest and hardest work that 

 farmers cannot do vv^ith their horses, and it would be of no use if 

 he could not earn 5/. a day. The hands that work the tackle 

 are four men and four boys, paid by the day, namely — engine- 

 man, 35. Qd. ; ploughman, 25. 9f/. ; anchor-man, 25. 6t/. ; water- 

 cart-man, 25. 6(/. ; and the four boys Id. each — plus a little beer, 

 given only in hot weather. Four boys are used in " portering," 

 when it is rough work, as in crossing a fallow, in which case a 

 boy can work only two porters properly. This abundant help 

 takes care of the rope ; when at good work only three boys are 

 employed. Ordinary wages are 155. a week, and these hands 

 are employed on the farm when not with '' the steamer." Mr. 

 Ealand's observation of the way in which the man used to drive 

 so as to rack the engine, when he hired a steam-plough, decided 

 him against acreage payment of the men. Instead of this lie 

 gives good daily wages, and after harvest the working hours are 



VOL. IIL — S. S. S 



