nSO Rej)ort on Steam Cultivation. [Coleman. 



Lambton, where, under the able management of Mr. Steward, 

 his lordship's agent, steam cultivation appears under more 

 favourable circumstances. Until this winter the apparatus has 

 consisted of Fowler's 14-horse engine and anchor, with the 

 4 and 2-furrow ploughs, 7-tined cultivator, and drag-harrow. 

 Now the use of double-engines, with winding-drums, dispenses 

 with the anchor ; and, looking at past results and the favourable 

 character of the land, we think that this change is likely to prove 

 advantageous. The original purchase made in ] 8(j2 came to 

 albl., additional implements have since cost 1707., making a 

 total outlay of 1045/. It is a proof of superior management that 

 no serious accidents have occurred, almost the only breakage on 

 record being that of a driving-wheel. Repairs when necessary 

 have been done by the engineers of the collieries, and the " stitch- 

 in-time principle" has no doubt often prevented more serious 

 delays. These are advantages not generally enjoyed by the 

 ordinary occupier ; but we would urge on all the importance of 

 securing as engineer a man who is a thorough mechanic, per- 

 fectly acquainted with the mechanism of the apparatus, and 

 capable of executing all minor repairs, even though considerably 

 increased wages be necessary to secure such a man. 



The soil at Lambton is a strong loam on a clay subsoil, 

 tolerably free from stones, overlying the coal-measures. The 

 home-farm consists of 750 acres, of which about 400 are arable ; 

 the apparatus is also employed on two outlying farms about 2 

 miles from Lambton, which together contain as much more 

 arable land. The fields are much cut up by the working of 

 the collieries, and are not so symmetrical as is desirable lor 

 steam culture ; they run about 15 acres and upwards ; no 

 alteration has been made in their size, and no new roads have 

 been required. The quantity of work per day has varied, 

 according to depth, from about 3 acres, at the greatest depth 

 — 13 inches — done by the 2-furrow plough, to 7 acres at 6 

 to 7 inches. The cultivator (7-tined) has averaged about 10 

 acres. The average time consumed in moving tackle is half-a-day ; 

 the labour required in addition to the ordinary staff being 2 men 

 and 4 horses. The work of the engine has until lately been 

 entirely confined to cultivating the soil, recently it has been em- 

 ployed to drive a stone-breaking machine. No work has been done 

 for hire, but in a few instances land has been worked for tenants, a 

 liberality which is duly appreciated. The engineer fdls up his time 

 with carpenter's work or repairing machinery. Mr. Steward has 

 not found the drainage of strong soils improved, or the consump- 

 tion of the root-crop on the land facilitated ; it must be remem- 

 bered, however, that very deep horse-culture was practised previous 



