Clakke.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 301 



The results are thus given: — Drainage is rendered more 

 effectual, but not to such an extent as to make heavy land dry 

 enough for sheep to eat off roots in winter ; and JVIr. Stratton is 

 enabled to crop oftener and in better season, of which the gain 

 will be very apparent to any practical man. But the steam- 

 engine displaced 20 oxen and 3 horses, which used to involve 

 a yearly outlay of probably 450/. to 500/. ; and yet this engine is 

 considered of more value than 30 horses in its capability for 

 executing a great deal of work per day or per week, to say 

 nothing about the quality, depth, and lightness of the tillage done. 



No. 85. Mr. Georges Barnes, agent for Mrs. S. C. Hawkins, 

 of Alton Pancras, Dorchester, has a Howard tackle, work- 

 ing a cultivator, side drag-harrow, and large drag, with a 

 10-horse engine. In 1802, the whole cost over GOO/., — a 

 new cultivator since added bringing the investment up to 

 625/. The repairs have been accomplished by the farm 

 smith. The farm embraces 700 acres of arable, and more than 

 700 acres of pasture ; the soil, clay, chalk, with different subsoils, 

 and very hilly and flinty. The fields vary from 9 to 84 acres: 

 little alteration having been made in preparation for steam 

 work. From 5 to 9 acres are cultivated in a day, with a con- 

 sumption of about 1^ cwt. of coal per acre. Water is brought from 

 made ponds by horse and water-barrel. To move the machinery 

 takes 10 horses, and half a day's time. The engine is used for 

 thrashing. 



Mr. Barnes finds the drainage quickened ; he has increased 

 the area of his root-crops ; and says, "in 1864, the season Avas 

 very dry, and roots generally very bad ; theirs was a fair crop, 

 caused, he thinks, by the land being prepared early in the season 

 by steam cultivator." They formerly worked 32 horses, but 

 since the cultivation began only 22 horses are kept. 



No. 86. Mr. Henry Parsons, of Haselbury, Crewkerne, 

 Somersetshire, On 1700 acres of tolerably level land, — for the 

 most part heavy clay, — has a Fowler tackle, with 12-horse engine 

 and anchor, plough, and cultivator. It was purchased in 1860 ; and 

 since then, two new ropes have cost 105/. ; repairs having been 

 " nothing serious." The performance is from 4 to 8 acres ploughed, 

 or 6 to 14 acres cultivated per day. All the hands are common 

 labourers. Coals cost 20^-. per ton. To shift the apparatus takes 

 4 horses, for half a day. The tackle is confined to the farm, 

 but the engine is used to do the thrashing. Mr. Parsons considers 

 that the drainage is more effectual, and that his crops generallv 

 are more productive. The farm having been added to from time 

 to time, the proportionate reduction of horse-flesh is not stated. 



The following is a Table similar to that furnished at the close 

 of each of our divisions : — 



