406 Report on Steam Cultivation. [Coleman. 



five years, and paying great attention to every point, Mr. Wilson 

 considers that, as far as actual cost is concerned, there is no saving 

 over horse labour, a conclusion which our figures verify ; but 

 there is a great advantage in the better quality of the work, and 

 in expedition. Ever since steam was introduced, the work has 

 been more forward. Then, again, in cleaning land, the rapidity 

 with which the cultivator travels tends to loosen and throw weeds 

 to the surface, and in certain cases a decided increase of crop 

 has been evident. Mr. Wilson has found it difficult to get the 

 anchor forv/ard sufficiently fast when cultivating short lengths. 

 The question naturally arises, would not the double-engine 

 system prove more successful ? We certainly are inclined to 

 this opinion, and believe the extra cost would be amply repaid 

 in the greater economy of work. 



No. 127. From Mansfield we drove through the Clipstone 

 water-meadows, to inspect steam cultivation at Carburton, one 

 of the home-farms of the Duke of Portland. These water- 

 meadows, comprising 500 acres, laid out on the catch system, 

 are probably the most perfect of their kind in the country. 

 The water is collected in a reservoir of 80 acres, situate on 

 the other side of the town of Mansfield, Avhich receives 

 the sewage of Sutton-in-Ashfield, containing a population of 

 6000, and flows through and relieves Mansfield, which has a 

 population of 12,000. The average rent of these meadows is 

 4/. IO5., and their value in connection with the large arable farms, 

 on the high ground, is very great. Those nearest to Mansfield, 

 and which receive the first supply, are naturally most luxuriant. 



At Carburton we found a very interesting case of light-land 

 cultivation. An area of 2000 acres of arable land affords great 

 scope for steam, and, notwithstanding drawbacks which a 

 riper experience might have obviated, we shall find results 

 which are encouraging. Work was commenced October, 1862. 

 The tackle consists of a nominal 12-horse-power traction-engine, 

 by Richardson and Darley, " Kirton-in-Linsey " — a complicated 

 affair. The engine has proved very unsatisfactory. The repairs 

 for the first 3 years in new fire-boxes, tubes, &c., being enor- 

 mous. The travelling-gear, wheels, &:c., altogether unsuitable — 

 Howard's apparatus, including 4-furrow plough, 5-tined culti- 

 vator, and 2000 yards of rope. The fields are generally large, 

 varying from 18 to 120 acres, the land gently undulating — in 

 fact, the conditions are very favourable to steam culture, though, 

 from the sandy nature of the soil, there must be a considerable 

 friction on the rope. With this exception repairs are incon- 

 siderable. The cost of apparatus amounted to about 900?., viz. 

 — 500Z. for engine and 400Z. for cultivating-tackle. 1600 yards 

 of rope have been bought to replace old rope, and the present 



