ClaPvIvE.] Report on Steam Cultivation. •>')? 



queries: — The apparatus is a Fowler 14-horse engine, with 

 4-furrow plough and 7-tine(l cultivator, bought in 1863 for rather 

 more than UOU/. It is worked upon level and hilly ground, in 

 fields generally of 10 to 20 acres in area, some much larger, 

 small fields having been united so as to make the inclosures of 

 convenient size ; and the " access " to fields has been altered in 

 some cases. The soils it has to work are those of the oolite and 

 Oxford clay formations, of which it ploughs or digs (J acres a daj^ 

 or cultivates 8 acres a day. The coal consumed is 12 cwts. a-day, 

 at 9^^. per cwt., with a shilling's worth of oil. The water is 

 obtained from wells and streams, and drawn in a water-barrel by 

 one horse, at a cost of 4^. a day. A removal takes 7 horses and 

 7 men and boys, one hour to take up and another hour to set down. 

 The hands are two men at 2^. each, one youth at Is. 6d., another 

 youth at Is. 4(/., and a couple of boys at Is. each per day. These 

 low wages for men working machinery are paid throughout the 

 year ; and, when not engaged in cultivating, the steam-hands are 

 employed in the woods and plantations — in draining, ditching, 

 and general improvements on the estate. " The repairs," Mr. 

 Andrews says, " may be taken at 5 per cent. ; some years con- 

 siderably less, in others more." Delays from breakage have been 

 a day or two at a time, sometimes even a week. The apparatus 

 has been used 8J years, in which time " 2000 acres, 3 roods, 

 34 perches," have been ploughed, dug, grubbed, or scarified ; 

 whereas 4000 acres could have been done, as the engine is not 

 employed for thrashing, sawing, or any work beside land-tillage. 

 If the tenantry were to fully avail themselves of this apparatus, 

 they might dispense with a great many horses. 



Mr. Andrews says that the drainage of strong land has been 

 rendered more effectual by the use of " steam ;" the acreage and 

 particularly the weight per acre of root-crops have been increased, 

 " the young plant in dry weather being much more certain than 

 when prepared for by the ordinary method. The crops generally 

 have evidently increased under steam cultivation : how much is 

 to be attributed to this, or how much to the generally-improved 

 method of farming, I am not prepared to say ; it is certain that 

 both have contributed in producing the result. I think, however, 

 that steam has the advantage of the two." 



The prices charged for work are no criterion whatever for the 

 guidance of letters and hirers of steam-tackle ; they are purposely 

 low, for the sake of getting steam-work patronised by the tenantry 

 for their especial benefit. We believe that " the estate-engine " 

 grubs at 66'. per acre, and 6^, per acre less for all over 100 acres. 

 This "encouragement" of steam tillage at a sacrifice (for such 

 prices will probably never pay for repairs, &c., of a travelling 

 apparatus) was offered to carry out the exceedingly liberal viev/s 



