Coleman.] Report on Steam Cultivation. 399 



employed that year. The amount of apparatus will be seen from 



the following list: — £. s. d. 



2 engines, rope and cultivator 1302 10 



1 plough, complete 84 



Lamps, anchors, snatch-blocks, rope-porters, &c. .. 65 4 6 



Water-cart, 21^., house on wheels, 45/. .. .. 66 



Duplicates 72 10 8 



1590 5 2 

 The advantage of being able to use either the direct or round- 

 about systems is twofold. The latter can be set to work earlier 

 in spring, when the headlands are not sufficiently dry to carry 

 the engines, and in the event of an accident to one engine work 

 need not stop entirely. A capital of 3000Z. in lOZ. shares was 

 subscribed, of which 1700Z. has been called up. The soil is 

 mostly strong, and the fields vary very much, and are not 

 generally well adapted for steam. Up to the present time the 

 joui-nal presents us with a melancholy chapter of accidents — 

 principally in consequence of repeated breakings of the coiling- 

 screws attached to, and working the windlasses, and the clutches 

 connected with the road-gear ; and it is quite evident, from a 

 careful study of the facts, that these portions of the apparatus 

 were defective in construction. They are now materially altered 

 and strengthened. Unfortunately the failure of last season has 

 prejudiced the farmers against the apparatus, and a long 

 period must elapse before such lee-way can be made up. 

 The arrangements as to labour are very similar to those at 

 Whitchurch. Mr. Gower thinks the engines would move better 

 and not stick fast so much if running on four wheels instead of 

 three. The boilers being transverse appear to advantage on hilly 

 land. When the apparatus first started there was plenty of work 

 to do ; but farmers got tired of waiting, and set to work with 

 their horses, and last year the wet season together with the 

 cattle plague much influenced the demand. No accounts have 

 as yet been published ; but the following abstract conveys some 

 idea of the present condition of the Market Drayton Steam Cul- 

 tivation Company, Limited : — 



Working Account from September 1, 1865, to February 1, 1867. 



Cr. £. s. d. 



By wages 145 4 



,, oil and cotton-waste .. 14 13 

 ,, wearing parts .. ,, 10 



,, other repairs 22 15 6 



, , coals 2 10 



, , manager's salary, at 40/. "i „ , _ „ 



a year / 



, , sundries and carriage . . 15 



,, depreciation at 10 perl , .„ „ ,, 



cent., say .. .. ../^^° ^ ^ 



£406 7 6 £406 7 6 



Dr. £. s. d. 



To cash for 346 acres culti-"l 



vated / 



,, 96 acres ploughed .. 52 16 



• 173 



Balance representing loss 180 11 6 



