Coleman.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 375 



Calculating the average work at 5 acres a day ploughing and 

 10 acres cultivation, we have 84 days per annum for the tackle 

 to work ; the cost per day being as follows : — 



£. ■ s. d. 



*Labour, iucluding water-cart 104 



Coals, 13 cwt., at 7s 4 21 



Oil 16 



fWear and tear and interest of money at 122 per cent. 



on 840? 1 15 



{Kepairs 5 6 



3 6 6i 



The annual cost of steam cultivation, therefore, equals 

 279Z. 95. Gf/., supposing that the whole of the ploughing and cul- 

 tivating were done by this power ; but it was evident, on inspec- 

 tion, that this was not the case, as we found part of a stubble- 

 field, one large wheat-field, and all headlands ploughed by horses. 

 As the area worked by steam is reduced, the cost would be 

 increased ; but assuming our calculation to be correct, we shall 

 still see that steam cultivation has not been a direct gain at St. 

 Helen's. The number of horses, originally 14, has been reduced 

 to 8 : the cost of the 6 done away with, calculated at 45/. each,§ 

 would equal 270?. per annum; consequently we have a balance 

 of 9Z. 9^. 6(f. against the steam. This sum, however, might be 

 amply made up for in increased produce. What is the evidence 

 on this point? Mr. Coates, the bailiff, who has managed the 

 farm for some years before steam was introduced, says that " he 

 cannot say there has been any increase of produce ; but the land 

 has been wetter since than formerly — a fact that he attributes to 

 the doing away with the furrows and ridges." The drains are 

 laid 3 feet 6 inches deep, the land is considerably elevated and 

 *' sideling ;" and Mr. Coates believes that the explanation of this 

 apparent anomaly is found in the fact " that the water, after heavy 

 rain, instead of finding its way into the furrows, soaks into the 

 surface." We can hardly believe this would be the case if the 

 drainage were efficient and deep ; yet we are told that when 



* Engineer, 4s. ; plough, 3s. Ad. ; anchor-men, 3s. ; 2 boys, 2s. 6cZ. ; water-cart 

 man, 2s. 6(7. ; horse, 5s. 



+ i.e. — Ih per cent, for depreciation and 5 per cent, for interest of money. We 

 adopt the former rate, believing that it represents most closely the average rate of 

 depreciation on the entire plant. We quite agree in the opinion that, strictly 

 speaking, those portions of the apparatus that are from time to time renewed as 

 repairs should be struck out from the parts liable to be taxed for depreciation. 

 But on those parts, if they stood alone, 10 per cent, ■would not be too much to 

 charge, and we prefer to arrive at a result by a general charge, which our experi- 

 ence proves to be a close approximation, rather than complicate our Report and 

 trouble our readers with intricate calculations. 



X 2927. 6s., total outlays in repairs from Jan. 1862, to Jan. 1866, 4| years. 



§ According to the nature of soil : we have a pair of horses and attendant at 907. 

 in the case of light land, and lOOZ. on very strong soils. 



