Coleman.] Rejiort on Steam Culticatimi. 377 



dition of the macliinery in 18G2, and partly to the tenacious 

 quality of the land, and the fact that on the hillside the plough 

 was sucked in to such a depth that the resistance became enor- 

 mous. In some instances it was found necessary to cut out a 

 track for the engine to keep it from Ijeing drawn into the field, 

 and it was always indispensable that it should traverse the higher 

 ground ; the anchor could not be kept in its place except at the 

 bottom of the field. Previous to the introduction of steam the 

 farm was in a high state of cultivation, having been managed 

 for many years by the present energetic bailiff, Mr. Andrew Stone- 

 house. The ploughing by horses was as deep as now, viz., 12 

 to 14 inches, ibar very strong animals being put to each plough : 

 everything was thoroughly well done. Eleven horses, all in their 

 prime, were then kept ; the present number is eight, but mostly 

 aged. No marked increase of produce has followed the use of 

 steam, nor is the land drier than before.* It is all well drained, 

 but after rain it does not dry more rapidly. 



The principal operations are in preparation for roots, which are 

 largely grown in spite of the unfavourable nature of the soil. The 

 advantage of being able to dig up the stubble in dry weather in 

 autumn must be great, and the opportunities for making a tilth, 

 despite natural obstacles, a consideration, when it is determined 

 to have roots, cost what they may. We were told of one field on 

 which steam-driven implements performed 32 operations before 

 the crop Avas sown. First a deep ploughing with two furrows (the 

 frame carrying only two ploughs) ; cultivation in spring ; Crosskill 

 rolling, dragging and cultivating ; these operations being repeated 

 until the suriace was reduced to a fine powder suitable for the seed, 

 and a great crop was the result. What the swedes cost per ton, and 

 whether a bare fallow with a commensurate outlay on artificial food 

 would not have proved more profitable, are questions that suggest 

 themselves to the practical man; but roots were to be had, and 

 there can be no doubt results were obtained which would have 

 been simply impossible under horse cultivation. The use of the 

 clodcrusher and drag-harrows combined answers admirably in 

 spring. The deepest cultivation is for roots. The digger with 

 forked breasts is generally preferred to the ploughs. The land for 

 beans, which are largely grown, is dug or ploughed about 7 inches 

 deep. All the land for cereal crops is ploughed by horses ; the 

 steam-plough goes too deep and irregularly. The wheat-crops 

 are better after bare fallow than after roots drawn off, although 

 the latter are well manured. On such land the "eating on" of 

 crops would be impracticable except during the height of summer, 



* This unexpected fact, upon which Mr. Stonehouse strongly insists, may be doe 

 to the removal of farrows. The land must, we thiuk, be more healthy. 



