404 Report on Steam Cultivation. [C^olemax. 



and generally well adapted for steam. The apparatus was 

 obtained from Leeds, May, 1862 ; an agreement being entered 

 into that, if at the expiration of a year Mr. Wilson was dis- 

 satisfied with results, Messrs, Fowler would take it again, 

 repaying Mr, Wilson for the outlay, less a fixed sum for hire ; 

 finally the agreement was extended over a second year, the first 

 year's experience not being satisfactory, and then Mr. Wilson, 

 being convinced that steam could be economically used on light 

 land, closed the bargain. These facts are noticed as evidence of 

 a deliberate conclusion in favour of the use of steam on light 

 land. 



The particulars of outlay are as follow : — 



£. s. 

 10-horse-power engine, 4-fun-ow plough, 7-tined cultivator,] 



anchor-ropes, porters, &c., carriage from Leeds, and men> 860 

 teaching use, ^c ) 



Additions : — £. ft. 



Presser 12 



Drag 3 



Bow on plough for ditto 2 



Skim coulters 1 15 



Stakes shod with iron instead of claw anchor .. 2 



Alteration of disc anchor 10 



21 15 



To;al 881 15 



The cost of repairs, including ropes, shares and points, porter- 

 wheels, lScc,, during 4;^ years, equals 24 9Z., or 52/. per annum. 



700 yards of new rope have been purchased. 



The following account of the number of days during which 

 steam was employed for the last 2h years is valuable. 



steam Culture. Grmdjng. Sawing, 

 or Ihrasning. 



Days. I )ays. 



From the harvest of 1864 to harvest of 1865 .. 86 .... 18 

 „ 1865 „ 1866 ..104 .... 24 



„ . 1866 to January 1, 1867 .. 36 .... 42 



226 84 



This gives an average of 90 days per annum cultivating and 

 ploughing, and 33^ days thrashing, &c. Unfortunately we have 

 no record of the actual number of acres ploughed and cultivated 

 during this time, and must, therefore, fall back upon Mr. Wilson's 

 estimate of 4 acres ploughed and 9 acres cultivated ; and, supposing 

 the time equally divided between the two operations, we have 

 annually 180 acres ploughed and 415 cultivated. In addition to 

 the ordinary wages (which amount to lis. lid. or 13.<?. Id. 

 per day, according to whether the presser is used, for 3 men 



