Coleman.] Rej)ort on Steam Cultivation. 407 



stock will barely last this season, being much worn. The cost 

 of the new rope up to the end of December, 1866, was 71/. The 

 total acreage worked is stated to be as follows : — 



Acres. 



Cultivated 1900 



Ploughed 3600 



5500 

 The total outlay for ropes has been 142?. Assuming the value 

 at present time to be 257., the cost has been very little over bd. an 

 acre — an expense which will favourably compare with ordinary 

 experience. The average work per day of 10 hours has been — 



For light ploughino; on level land with 4 furrows .. 7 acres. 



„ hilly work with 3 furrows ., 5 „ 



Cultivating 5 tines 12 ,, 



It was difficult to arrive at the amount of horse-labour dis- 

 placed, on account of the work done by the farm-horses on the 

 estate ; but, after a very careful investigation, we come at the 

 following conclusion, viz. — that 50 horses would be employed 

 without steam, whereas at the present time 30 do the work : so 

 we have thus a saving of 20 horses, and the value of their keep 

 and attendance to place to the credit of the steam cultivating 

 account. The corn is all cut by machinery, and occasionally 

 horses are borrowed from other farms: we have fully allowed for 

 this in our calculation. The average work per annum has been 

 about 850 acres ploughed and 450 acres cultivated, and on these 

 figures we can base our calculations. Assuming the average 

 daily work to be 6 acres ploughed and 11 acres cultivated, we 

 get 180 days as the total time per annum. 



On this calculation we have an annual cost of 5701., against 

 which may be placed the cost of 20 horses, and attendants, 

 Avhich cannot be valued at less than 900Z. ; so that, despite the 

 extraordinary outlay for repairs, we have a large profit on the ap- 

 paratus which we may anticipate to see increased in future seasons. 

 The cost per day is^ £. s. d. 



^Labour 17 8 



Horse for coals and water-cart 03 



Oil and coals, 15 cwts. 09 



fEepairs (chiefly on engine) 120 



Wear and tear at 7^ per cent, on 800?. (i of engine de-) q q u 



ducted for thrashing) j 



Interest of money at 5 per cent. 5 



3 3 4 



* Engine-man, 3s. ; -windlass-man, 3s. ; ploughman and 2 anchor-men, 7s. Gd. ; 

 5 boys, at \0d., 4s. 2d.: total, ITs. 8d. 



t The amount of repairs, ahnost entirely on the engine, is altogether ex- 

 ceptional, and proves either that the engine is a thoroughly imperfect one or that 

 she has been greatly misused. 



