Coleman.] Report on Steam Ctiltivation. 381 



to the introduction of steam. The crops g;enerally are decidedly 

 inci'eased and improved, but no accurate information on this 

 point was produced. The exception is in the case of clover, 

 which is found uncertain and difficult to grow once in 5 years. 

 This may arise either from too much of the subsoil being brought 

 up or, as we incline to believe, fiom the mechanical condition 

 being too loose. The clover after harvest is generally abundant 

 and forward, but it dies away during winter and spring, and we 

 should recommend folding over with sheep, and thus consoli- 

 dating the surface, more especiall_y as the headlands which are 

 cultivated by horses, and more or less consolidated, generally 

 produce a good plant. No journal having been kept, we were 

 unable to find out the number of days during which the steam is 

 employed, and can only arrive at an approximate result by 

 reference to the system of cropping and the average amount of 

 work done per day. 



The land is farmed on the 5-course shift, seeds remaining 

 down 2 years. Steam culture is now entirely confined to the 

 fallow, for when, in some instances, the clovers were ploughed 

 for oats experience proved that horse labour is more advantageous. 

 We have then 160 acres of fallow. This receives a deep furrow 

 in autumn, with either the common or the digging-breast, and is 

 twice cultivated in spring, the drag-harrows, going a double- 

 tine, between the cultivations. Assuming one-sixteenth of the 

 area to be headlands which are worked by horses, we have the 

 following results : — 



150 acres of deep ploughing or digging in autumn. 

 300 ,, cultivated in spring. 

 300 ,, dragged a double-tine. 



Calculating that 4 acres can be dug and 10 acres cultivated or 

 double-dragged, we find the number of days during which steam 

 is employed, including removals, averages 101. 



The expenses per day are as follows : — 



£. s. d. 



*Laboiu- o 17 2 



Coals, at 8s. a ton 6 



Oil 16 



Wear and tear and interest on original outlay at 122 



per cent. (1045/.) 15 1 



Repairs, estimated at 50Z. per annum, about .. .. 10 



2 19 9 



* Engineer, 3s. 6(Z. ; ploughman, 3s.; anchor-man, 2s. 8fZ. ; 2 boys, at Is. 4f7., 

 2s. M. ; man with water, 2s. -Ml. ; horse, 3s. ; total, 1 7s. 2d. 



