.')7() Report on Steam Cultivation. [Coleman. 



the drains were opened they were found clear and running- well. 

 Altogether it is a puzzling statement, seeing that the land was 

 generally so full of stones that thorough drainage should have 

 been easy. 



At first breakages were frequent in consequence of the ploughs 

 coming in contact with fast stones : sometimes as many as four 

 skifes have been broken in a day ; latterly the steel skife has 

 been used with marked benefit. 



The comparative lightness of the land may be gathered from 

 the fact, that although the tackle has been used for five years, 

 digging has never been resorted to except in one case, the plough 

 being always employed. The fact is that the soil is of a poor 

 hungry character, as was evident from the wretched stubble and 

 very moderate roots. There is but little mineral matter to be 

 benefited by aeration, therefore we find no increase of crop from 

 the use of steam-power. 



The wear of the ropes has been considerable, and their quality 

 has been found to vary much. The average quantity of ploughing 

 was formerly nearly 6 acres ; but during the last season a plough 

 has been taken off on account of the weakness of one rope. The 

 average depth of fallow-ploughing has been 7 to 8 inches — not 

 greater than formerly with horses. 



It is, we think, evident that from the nature of the soil and the 

 comparatively small area for cultivation, together with the break- 

 ages which occurred, that steam cultivation has not proved 

 remunerative at St. Helen's. From this example we may fairly 

 infer that land sufficiently light to be ploughed by a pair of horses, 

 and not of a nature to be seriously injured by horse-pressure, will 

 hardly pay for expensive steam-tackle, unless its area be very 

 much more extensive than that at St. Helen's. 



No. 115. We next proceeded to inspect the Tofts Farm, 

 belonging to Lord Zetland, where steam cultivation has been 

 carried on since March, 18G2. The farm is situated about 

 a mile from Saltburn, on rising ground, much of the land 

 having a considerable incline. The land, 300 acres of arable, 

 is a tenacious red and blue clay, on the ironstone, naturally poor 

 and hungry ; some Avork has been done for tenants, Avho are 

 allowed to have the tackle on payment of working expenses, 

 i. e. labour, coals, and oil, and 12^. a day towards wear and 

 tear — a mere acknowledgment, as will be evident Avhen we 

 come to figures. The tackle consists of Fowler's 14-horse- 

 power engine, anchor, two ploughs (a 3 and 4-furrow), 7-tined 

 cultivator, Croskill crusher, and drag harrow, costing altogether 

 1165/. 195. bd. The repairs and breakages, which, however, prin- 

 cipally occurred during the first year, amount to 474/. 15^. 3f/. 

 These breakages may be partly attributed to incomplete con- 



