392 Report on Steam Cultivation. [Oot.eman. 



Rods. — One deep ploughing in autumn, 10 to 12 inches, 4 to 5 

 acres a day. One cultivation with the same implement, having 

 tines in place of skifes. These tines are so arranged that, by 

 having 4 extra brackets, they cover the wheel-tracks ; , on the 

 furrow-side a small frame is bolted on, which allows of the tines 

 coming out beyond the wheel ; this appears to be a practical 

 measure, and we are surprised that it is not more common. We 

 were assured that the alteration from plough to cultivator can be 

 effected in a couple of hours. The remaining operations consist 

 in twice dragging or once cultivating, the cost being rather in 

 favour of the drag. Manure is always applied in autumn, about 

 15 tons per acre, besides artificial manure costing 2/. per acre on 

 roots, and 30^. on corn and grass. If roots come again in the 

 second year similar operations would be required ; but whether 

 this is the regular system, or only an occasional introduction, 

 we did not learn. 



Wheat follows roots. The land ploughed 6 inches deep, and 

 the seed drilled by one operation, as described above, in the 

 spring, Crosskill rolled, 15 to IT) acres a day. 



The Seeds are ploughed for oats, as light as may be, about 

 8 acres a day, then harrowed and drilled at one operation. 



In addition to the above, on an average about 50 acres annually 

 are done for hire. The digging-breasts were used during the 

 first year, but not found so satisfactory as the mould-boards. For 

 stubble-ploughing broad mould-boards — from a pattern made on 

 the farm, much deeper than the American — are used, and very deep 

 cultivation is carried out, thus with 3 furrows instead of 4, 14 

 inches broad by 10 deep, and with 2 furrows, 18 inches by 12 deep. 

 Occasionally in preparing for roots the Norwegian harrow is used, 

 occupying the same place under the implement frame and attached 

 in the same manner as the drill. It is greatly to be regretted 

 that no accurate accounts were forthcoming, and no information 

 given, by which we could arrive at conclusions as to the profit- 

 able nature of these operations which have been so successfully 

 performed. We learn that breakages were frequent during the 

 first year, and we could hardly expect that the various novel- 

 ties could be made to work without some failures at first. Still, 

 here is a great fact — 300 acres of strong land worked without 

 horse-pressure. Does it pay ? are the crops increased ? and to 

 what extent? Is the amount paid in labour greater than before? 

 That the work can be done under difficulties that have put a 

 complete stop to mere cultivating apparatus is proved by us. 



There were other points besides steam cultivation that in- 

 terested us at Halewood. AVe saw immense heaps of mangolds and 

 swedes stored without straw, except a handful just along the ridge. 

 The width of one stack was G yards at base, and the height to top 



