Coleman.] Beport on Steam Cultivation. 387 



moderate, and are assessed at 61. per annum. The fields are 

 larg-e, the surface perfectly flat, and if the drainage were better 

 the land would answer admirably, as larger areas can be worked 

 without a shift ; 70 acres of fallow are worked generally 3 times 

 over, or 210 acres in all in 42 days, the engine being employed 

 an equal time thrashing, grinding, &c. The expenses per day 

 can be easily calculated : — 



£. s. d. 



Laboiir : 2 men, 3 lads, and 2 boys 12 



Water-cart and horse 040 



Coals and oil 10 



Repairs, estimated at 10? 049 



Wear and tear on 400Z.* at 7i per cent 14 3^ 



Interest at 5 per cent 9 6j 



Daily cost 2 14 6i 



— \0s. 10|r/. an acre for each operation, and an annual expense ot 

 114Z. 10s. dd., against which we have the saving of 4 horses at 45Z. 

 each — leaving a balance in favour of steam ot 55Z. 8s. ^d. The 

 shepherd, who showed us the farm in the absence of the tenant, 

 considers that in dry weather it would be practicable to scarify 

 for corn after roots fed off; but, as a rule, horse-ploughing is 

 preferable. Clover appears to come thicker and the grasses grow 

 more vigorously after steam culture, whilst the surface dries more 

 rapidly than formerly, in consequence of increased depth. The 

 land is fertile, very heavily stocked, great crops result, and the 

 whole appearance was like paying rent. 



No. 119. From Carlisle we proceeded to Liverpool, calling on 

 the road at Kirkby Thore, to pay the Messrs. Nicholson a flying 

 visit. We could have wished for more than a scanty two hours, 

 for this interesting case of steam as an auxiliary to horses. 

 However, thanks to the kindness and excellent arrangements of 

 our hosts, we were enabled to take rather more than a bird's-eye 

 view of one of the best-managed enterprises we have seen. Situ- 

 ated on rising ground, 350 feet above the sea, and lying between 

 the Crossfells (whose snow-covered sides stood out in bold relief) 

 and the lesser ranges of the lake district, this holding presents 

 difficulties of climate which are successfully combated ; and any 

 deficiency on this score is amply compensated for by the fertility 

 of the soil, which may be described as a rich clay loam on the 

 new red sandst(me, interspersed with boulder-stones evidently 

 brought down from the neighbouring mountains. The subsoil is 

 generally strong clay with occasional beds of gypsum, which are 

 worked both as a manure for clover and also for commercial pur- 

 poses. The Messrs. Nicholson occupy two adjacent farms — one 

 the property of Lord Lonsdale, the other partly their own land 



* Deducting half cost of engine. 



2c2 



