388 Report on Steam Cultivation. [CoLEJiAN. 



— in all 780 acres. The former was entered upon six years 

 since, and was at that time in a very neglected state. A field 

 was pointed out where a great crop of wheat — some 60 bushels 

 per acre — had been reaped last harvest, which on entry was in 

 such a poor state that the landlord would only charge for seed 

 and cost of sowing. The whole farm has been drained under 

 Mr. Parke's superintendence, and the old story holds good — the 

 pipes are far too small. Some 18 acres of bog-land have been 

 reclaimed by the tenants, and an excellent job made of it, and 

 very complete farm-buildings erected ; the haulage having been 

 entirely done by the tenant. Besides all this Messrs. Nicholson 

 trade in gypsum, which is ground and led to the railway and other 

 places. AH this explains the reason why draft horses have not 

 been put down to any considerable extent. 



It is always interesting to inspect improvements so evidently 

 profitable as those at Kirkby Thore. Without disparaging the 

 exertions of those amateurs who often lay out largely for the 

 benefit of the less affluent, we cannot but avow the conclusion 

 that such a farm as this must do better service to the progress 

 of steam culture than any amount of eccentric and often wasteful 

 expenditure. The practical farmer (whose interests the Royal 

 Agricultural Society must ever have in view) will be satisfied 

 by a visit to Westmoreland that steam culture, in the hands of an 

 intelligent man, may prove a good investment. Mr. J. Nichol- 

 son, being one of the Inspection Committee, had not filled up 

 any schedule, and Avas not prepared with figures, our report is 

 therefore shorn of statistics. Still we trust sufficient has been 

 gathered to indicate the result, and we have only to add that as 

 practical men we express great satisfaction at all we saw. 



Messrs. Nicholson invested in Howard's tackle in May, 1863, 

 to be worked by an 8-horse-power engine (Clayton and Shuttle- 

 worth), which they already used for thrashing, «Scc. The tackle 

 consists of windlass, cultivator, and drag-harrows. 



The total cost, including the engine, may be put at 510Z. 

 The repairs have been trifling, and chiefly done at home ; the 

 engineer, filling up his time as farm-blacksmith, looks after 

 little failings. No rope has yet been renewed. 



Hitherto cultivation or grubbing only has been attempted ; but 

 the experience of last autumn, which was too wet for such ope- 

 rations, has shown the desirability of adding a 3-furrow plough ; 

 and it is under consideration to make this addition, and at the 

 same time to get more power, and probably introduce a 12-horse- 

 power traction-engine. The 5-couise rotation is adhered to Avitli 

 slight deviations, seeds being grazed for 2 years. There are 500 

 acres of arable land, consequently 100 acres of fallow crop, /b?" 

 toldch aionc steam cultivation is emplo^'cd. Here, again, we find 



