410 Report on Steam Cultivation. [Coleman. 



The soil may be described as a strong brick-earth on new red 

 sandstone, naturally heavy land and difficult to cultivate with 

 horses. The calculation extends from the date of purchase to 

 Lady-day, 18G6, three years, when the farm was let and the 

 apparatus taken by the new tenant at a valuation : 350 acres 

 were cultivated each year — 6 acres a day being the average of 

 operations, including removals. No new rope was purchased 

 during the three years. The original outlay for 1400 yards 

 supplied with the tackle was 61/. ; the value last Lady-day 20/. : 

 which leaves 41/. to be distributed over 1050 acres of work, 

 being an average of 9c?. an acre. The amount to be paid by the 

 incoming tenant is not yet quite arranged; but, supposing the 

 apparatus to be worth 400/., and its excellent condition seems to 

 justify such an estimate, we have as the result of 3 years' work a 

 depreciation of 120/., which approximates closely to our allow- 

 ance of 7^ per cent per annum. Now as to the saving of horses, 

 Mr. Wilkinson, the tenant, considers that without steam 5 extra 

 horses would be necessary — he keeps 10 now ; and, looking at the 

 stubborn nature of the soil, we agree with his valuation : indeed 

 we think the calculation well within the mark. These 5 horses 

 would cost 225/. a year, and this sum may be placed to the credit 

 of the steam-cultivator. Cost per day : — 



£ s. d. 



Labour 14 7 



Coals, 7 cwts. at 12s. a ton 4 3 



Oil 8 



Repairs (7?. 4s. 6c^.) 2 6 



Wear and tear, calculated at 71 per cent, on 520/. (57 days) 13 8? 

 Interest of money, at 5 per cent 9 I5 



2 4 91 



Cost i)ev acre, 7s. 2d. ; cost per annum, 125/. ; cost of horse-labour saved, 

 225/. : clear profit on steam, 100/. per annum. 



Now this appears to us an exceedingly satisfactory result. 

 Here is a farm taken in hand after years of mismanagement : 

 draining and buildings done without extra horse-power ; the land 

 cleaned in a manner and with an expedition that with horses 

 alone would have been impossible ; those who knew the land 

 formerly are astonished at the result. The tenant informs us 

 that taking the apparatus was a perfectly voluntary act, and it is 

 right to notice this fact as confirmation of the evidence already 

 adduced of success. We did not see the apparatus at work, the 

 land not being sufficiently dry ; but the condition of the windlass 

 and engine proved how well it had been managed, and how little 

 the worse it was for wear — not a shilling has been expended on 

 the windlass, and the brasses and bearings appeared as good as 

 new. The following particulars of repairs may be interesting : — 



