382 Report on Steam Cultivation. [Coleman. 



We thus arrive at an annual outlay of 310/. 14s. Against 

 this we have the cost of 8 horses knocked off — 14 horses now doing 

 the work of 22 before. Each pair of horses with their driver, on 

 such land and with such deep ploughing, Avould cost lOOZ. per 

 annum : consequently, for the above outlay, we have a saving of 

 400/. in horse labour, showing a balance in favour of steam of 

 89/. 6s. on outlay, independently of the many advantages apper- 

 taining to steam culture on strong land. The character of the 

 operations we saw in progress, the excellent condition of the 

 apparatus, and the evident signs of good management every- 

 where visible, prepared us to anticipate a favourable result, 

 which our figures, fairly representing the case, bear out. Im- 

 provement of produce, ability to perform important operations at 

 the proper season, are important items which may be variously 

 estimated, but must be placed to the credit of the apparatus, and 

 we may fairly conclude that we have in Lord Durham's case 

 evidence decidedly favourable to steam culture, and it only 

 remains for us to point out the causes which have led to this 

 success. Good management, on the part of the employer and 

 the workmen, must occupy the first place ; sufficient area to be 

 worked to allow of a reduction of horse labour commensurate to 

 the cost of the apparatus, should come second ; and favourable 

 conditions as to soil and surface complete the list. 



We would, in passing, call attention to a simple improvement 

 in the engines, consisting of small conducting pipes from the 

 steam-cocks of the cylinders, which convey the steam to the 

 ground so that the driver's sight is not obscured by a volume 

 of steam, the noise of the rushing steam is much deadened, 

 and the risk of frightening cattle, when on the road, materially 

 diminished. 



No. 117. From Carlisle Ave proceeded to Baggrow, an off-shoot 

 of the Maryport and Carlisle line, to inspect the operations of 

 Mr. William Lawson on the Blennerhassett and Prior Hall 

 Farms, comprising together some 460 acres, of which about 380 

 are arable. Some idea of the Aariety of schemes entered upon 

 by our courteous host may be gleaned from his circulars : — 

 " Steam Cultivation, Steam Thrashing, Flax Retting and Scutch- 

 ing Mills, Nursery, Fruit and Vegetable Gardens,' added to 

 Avhich he has a manufactory for artificial manure, a system of 

 pumping liquid manure and distribution by hydrants, and interest 

 in butchers' shops at Carlisle and Newcastle. 



We first inspected the Prior Hall Farm, a useful tract of 

 strongish land 140 acres in extent, of Avhich 130 acres are arable. 

 The soil, a deep graA^elly loam with a yellow clay subsoil, is 

 greatly benefited by lime, which is found anil burnt on the 



