390 Report 071 Steam Cultivation. [CoLEMAN. 



results. Messrs. Nicholson, having so recently drained, cannot 

 speak positively of the effect on drainage ; they find, however, 

 that the succeeding operations by horses are decidedly light- 

 ened — an evidence of a deeper soil and more even bottom. Koots 

 can now be fed off more easily for two reasons : no horse-treading 

 to cause a pan, and the whole surface is moved, which is not the 

 case with horses. We quote Mr. J. Nicholson's reply as to 

 increase of produce, — "Yes, no doubt of it." The clover-seeds 

 are decidedly more certain, and the produce increased. VVe saw 

 a remarkably promising show of seeds. With a .3-furrow plough 

 and a more powerful engine — extra outlay which the success of 

 the past fully justifies — Messrs, Nicholson's steam culture will be 

 more valuable than it has proved as yet. We may add that 

 Mr. J. Nicholson was loud in his praises of the drag-harrow, 

 with its chisel-pointed tines, and we can readily believe that to 

 follow the grubber it will prove a very valuable implement. 



No. 120. The farm of Mr. R. Neilson, of Halewood, near Liver- 

 pool, was next visited. Unfortunately Mr. Neilson was from home, 

 and our information was principally extracted from the bailiff. 

 Fowler's tackle, consisting of 12-horse-power engine, and anchor, 

 &c,, 4-furrow plough and cultivator combined, implement-frame 

 for harrows, &c., was purchased September, 1863, costing about 

 1000/. The farm contains 300 acres, all arable. The soil is a 

 strong clay-loam, on the new red sandstone ; the land perfectly 

 level, and admirably suited for steam, the fields being now large 

 and rectangular : a strip of gravel, about 2 feet wide, has been 

 put along the upper side of the top headland for the off-wheel of 

 the engine to run on ; and in another case a pathway crossing a 

 field has been widened into an engine-way, the implements being 

 made to work on either side by shifting the anchor. Mr, Neilson 

 does nearly all his operations by steam-power, and we were 

 informed that the result was satisfactory. Much ingenuity has 

 been exercised in adapting the tackle to so many purposes. The 

 ropes, instead of being coiled under the clip-drum, are carried 

 from field to field on a double reel, mounted on wheels; the 

 cost of this was 15/. The rope pays out as the frame travels, by 

 merely fixing the end of the rope at the starting-point ; this is 

 a great improvement over the ordinary plan of having to pull it 

 all across a heavy field by horses. 



The Implement-frame carries a variety of different implements, 

 according to the nature of the case. Thus it may be used for 

 dragging only, for Crossk ill-rolling, for drilling and harrowing 

 both before and behind the drill ; or, as is more commonly 

 the case, the implements can be so arranged as to break down, 

 harrow, drill, and cover, at one operation. This is very inge- 

 nious, and, on such a perfectly level farm, practicable. We have 



