Olaeke.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 359 



Subsoiling below Plough-furrow. 



s. d. £. s. d. 



Four inches lielow furrow, once over., per acre 15 0), o g 



2nd time over „ 8 6) 



The above prices will be charged for the working of ordinary clay lands ; 

 they will vary with the condition and description of the soil, the amount of 

 work required to be done, the size and shape of the fields, the convenience of 

 coal and water supply, and other minor considerations. 



No field will be charged for as being less than 8 acres. 



All expenses are included in the price named. 



In consequence of the new engine being a traction engine the prices have 

 been raised, but they include, in addition to the former charges, the expenses 

 of removing the apparatus, for which purpose horses will no longer be required 

 to be sent. 



April, 1865. 



Messrs. Howard's traction engine has the boiler placed trans- 

 versely across a carriage-frame, so as to avoid fluctuations of the 

 water-level in ascending or descending inclines ; and the steerage 

 is accomplished bj a single wheel turning on a "transom" in 

 front. It is fitted with two rope-drums, so that there is no 

 separate windlass to be moved, set down, and so on ; and the 

 consequent celerity with which the apparatus takes up its position 

 for work effects a wonderful saving in time. 



Division 2. — Companies. 



No. 111. The Herefordshire Steam-cultivating Company Limi- 

 ted (manager, Mr. John Phillips-Smith, of Hereford), which 

 works two sets of Howard double-engine tackle, two cultivators, 

 one 4-furrow plough, one set of steam-harrows, and four mole 

 draining-ploughs ; and the North Lincolnshire Steam-cultivating 

 Company (manager, Mr. Richard Toepffer, of Kirton-in-Lindsey, 

 Lincolnshire), and some other contract steam-tillage " concerns " 

 we have not been able to visit. 



Concerning the operations of the Lincolnshire Company, Mr. 

 Toepffer has obliged us with the following answers to inquiries : — 

 "We have three sets of Fowler 'double-engine' 14-horse tackle. 

 We can work, on an average, from the 1st of April until the 

 31st of October, that is seven months, in which period we calcu- 

 late having about 120 full working days. During the five 

 months from 1st November to 31st March all the hands are 

 employed in our mill, manufacturing oilcake and compound 

 corncake. We can find work in March, and almost all the 

 winter through. Our work is very often of the very worst 

 fields of the farms : but we have many customers who contract 

 with us, for instance, in spring, for crossing most of their turnip- 

 land ; in summer, to cultivate most of their summer-fallows ; 

 and in autumn, to cultivate most of the stubble-fields. In several 

 cases farmers have reduced their number of horses; in other 



