Coleman.] Report 07i Steam Cultivation. 405 



and 3 or 4 lads) tlie engineer, who acts as foreman, receives a 

 bonus after tlie following rate : — 



'7. d. 



Ploughing .. .. li i)er acre, or 2 with 23resser. 

 Cultivating .. .. Oi' „ 1 if drag is attached. 



£. s. d. 



Wages 13 6 



Water-cart horse "0 3 



Coal and oil 7 8i 



Repairs 11 Gf 



*Wear and tear, calculated on 731/. 15s. at 72 per cent. 12 Sa 



Interest at 5/. per cent 8 1^ 



2 IG 2 

 Ploughing, 14s. O^d. an acre ; cultivating, G.s. ^d. an acre. 



The annual cost, assuming our figures to be correct, amounts to 

 252/. 156-. 



Mr. Wilson is unable to speak positively as to the reduction 

 of horses ; but, as nearly as he can calculate, seven have been 

 put down, and the cost of their keep, 6cc., will more than equal 

 the annual outlay on steam. The result might be still more 

 satisfactory considering the large fields and light land. Save the 

 wear and tear in ropes and shares, repairs should be insig- 

 nificant, yet we have a formidable sum to charge, which 

 amounts to \s. 9c/. an acre. Then, again, the quantity of work 

 per day is small. It is true this is only an estimate ; but, in 

 every case where verification was possible, we have found the 

 estimate to exceed the reality, and therefore we believe it is fair. 



The farm is principally managed on the 5-course shift, seeds 

 remaining down two years. Tlie exception applies to one seed- 

 field, about 40 acres, which is sown with turnips, about June 

 or July of the second year after affording a spring bite, the turnips 

 being followed with oats. The seeds looked well ; but this is 

 due to the comparative newness of the land rather than to any 

 influence of steam culture. Operations are not here confined, as 

 at Teddesley, to the fallow-crops, but the plough is used for the 

 ley ground, and for the seed-furrow after roots, and indeed for 

 all kinds of Avork. Mr. Wilson was the first to introduce a 

 presser, which he finds of essential service in solidifying the 

 furrow, especially in the case of the ley ground. The imple- 

 ment was made out of two ordinary horse-pressers. A strong lad 

 steers and turns the implement at the land's end. Mr. Wilson 

 also uses skim-coulters, whicli help to bury the grass. The 

 10-horse engine has generally proved sufficiently strong, but 

 more power would be no disadvantage. After an experience of 



* 150Z. is deilucted from the capital account, to represent the proportion of wear 

 and tear on engine for barn -work. 



