CLA.RKE.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 349 



tion — he told us that 100 tons of boulders had been taken out of 

 a 42-acre field. A large portion of these are granite, some 

 weighing as much as 4 tons apiece, a stone of that size extending 

 from the surface to a depth of 3 or 4 feet. Some are removed 

 by being dug round ; but 14 or 15, in that 42-acre field, had to 

 be blasted by gunpowder in mining fashion. 



As to results of steam culture, he thinks that the drainage is 

 much assisted from the complete breaking up of the solid " pan," 

 and he thinks that the land bears treading with sheep in winter 

 better than it used to do. 



He formerly sowed 40 acres of turnips, now G5 to 75 acres ; 

 but, by breaking up the clover in July by steam, he has some- 

 times obtained 100 acres of turnips. Sometimes he has thus 

 worked the clover-lea early and well in preparation for Avheat. 

 While he finds a very great improvement in the whole of his 

 strong-land cultivation, he gets better corn after the turnips than 

 he used to do after bare fallow ; and thinks that the wheat stands 

 better upon clover-lea broken up in July and August — it used 

 to go down and blacken with mildew. " The wheat crops 

 especially," he writes, " have been more productive," which he 

 attributes to the thorough working of the land in summer and 

 autumn ; but, at present, it is too soon to estimate the percentage 

 of increase in the yield. 



He used to keep 13 to 15 horses in summer, and yet this last 

 summer worked only 12 : in winter he used to have 12 or 13 ; 

 this winter he has only 8, 



Steam culture has to contend in the North Riding with the 

 impediment of small occupations of 100 to 200 acres : 40, 50, 

 and up to 100 acre holdings are very common ; and 400 acres 

 make quite a large farm. And Mr, Rowlandson thinks that 

 steam tackle should not be possessed by a farmer of less than 

 500 acres of strong land, or GOO acres of medium land. But 

 we need not repeat that various examples of successful steam 

 culture upon smaller quantities of arable appear in this Report. 

 The fields are so small and irregular, that the hiring system would 

 be at great disadvantage ; in fact, preparation of the farms for 

 steam tillage is urgently wanted. This is a landlord's question : 

 and we cannot help asking, Why is it that removal of hedge-rows 

 is delayed, when Mr. Kay's 12 miles of stubbing actually gave 

 his landlord 9 acres more ground ? 



We heard here an unexpected objection to the double-engine 

 system : the independent temper of the workmen, it is thought, 

 would not let two engine-drivers agree, and there is already 

 trouble enough to secure one good man. 



Particulars of Farms in the Section " Partnership" : — 



