Coleman.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 379 



enormous charge for breakages, which adds so much to the work- 

 ing expenses, must necessarily greatly influence the result. It will 

 be seen from the above that the charge to tenants of 12s. a day 

 for wear and tear, &c., is, as was said before, merely an acknow- 

 ledgment. Notwithstanding this liberality on the part of Lord 

 Zetland, we were surprised to learn that with two exceptions the 

 privilege was little appreciated, although after comparatively 

 shallow horse-work, the results have been more marked than on 

 the home-farm, and increased crops were in some cases clearly 

 attributable to the influence of steam. 



Three horses out of the 11 originally kept have been dispensed 

 with, and the account should be credited with their full cost, 

 which on such land cannot be estimated at less than 150Z. 

 a year.* We have still a balance of 297Z. a-year, as increased cost 

 of steam over horses, and the question occurs, will the results 

 justify this outlay ? The produce does not appear to have been 

 increased, the land is not drier than before, and we arrive at the 

 conclusion that steam cultivation on Tofts farm has not been a 

 profitable undertaking. 



We found two capital buildings provided for the tackle, in 

 which it is all housed during winter, a certain extra charge is 

 thus caused, of which we have taken no notice, but this outlay is 

 undoubtedly economical, as the machinery is protected from 

 weather and its durability increased. Tlae travelling-wheels 

 of the engine originally only 14 inches wide, were found too 

 narrow for so heavy a soil, and are replaced by 20-inch wheels. 

 Amongst the alterations we may enumerate a new clip-drum, 

 new anchor, 3 gearing-wheels, and minor tackle. Great expense 

 has been incurred from wear of ropes, which have been entirely 

 renewed. On such tenacious soil, worked so deeply, ordinary 

 tackle was found insufficient, and consequently implements of 

 extra stoutness had been purchased. Thus the 3-furrow plough- 

 frame is a very powerful implement, which it would be almost 

 impossible to break. This strengthening of parts is doubtless 

 one principal reason of the diminished breakage of late, and 

 there is reason to hope that future results may prove more 

 favourable, that gradually the heavy outlay may be considerably 

 reduced, and in the long run the investment prove less unpro- 

 fitable. 



No. 116. Proceeding towards Carlisle, we stopped at Fence 

 Houses to visit Bowes Farm, the property of Lord Durham, at 



* Further than this it is only fair to assume that on this very strong land the 

 horses, relieved from all the more exhausting labour, can be kept at a considerable 

 saving ; and therefore we may calculate 5/. a head on this score, which would 

 swell the total sum on the credit side to I90L 



