Coleman.] Report on Steam CuUwatlo)i. 417 



The only articles from the manufactory are points, the cost of 

 which will not exceed 3f/. an acre. The average work per annum 

 has been from 100 to 120 acres, partly with 3 and partly with 

 5 tines in the cultivator, and mostly twice in a place, i. e. 50 to 

 60 acres of surface. Tlie steam is almost entirely confined to 

 autumn cultivation. Here, as at Sutton, it is found desirable in 

 the case of the fallow-land to throw the surface into deep ridjres 

 before winter, and the fine surface is never aqain buried. In 1866, 

 notwithstanding' the wet season, the apparatus was at work ll^- 

 days, during which 55 acres were twice stirred, making 110 acres, 

 at an average of Ih acres a day ; the cost per day as follows : — 



Labour : — £. s. d. 



Engineer 3 4 



2 anchor-men, at 2s. Gi-y. 50 



1 ploughman 2 6 



Windlass-man (one-armed) 2 



2 hoys, at 8*^., porters 014 



1 boy partially employed pumping from wells , . 6 



14 8 : 



Coals, 2 ton, at 15s 7 6 



Oil 6 



Repairs, estimated at 050 



* Wear and tear on 260/. at 7i per cent 16 lOj 



Interest on 260/. at 5 per cent 17 11 



3 12 



r,i 



According to the above figures, the annual cost of steam 

 cultivation amounts to 52Z. lis. or ^s. 6d. per acre. On so 

 small an area it has not been possible to materially reduce the 

 number of horses kept, and we think it must be conceded 

 that where there are only 5 or 6 horses, steam cultivation will 

 not prove economical in this respect ; but the neck ot the work is 

 broken, operations are performed that horses could not effect, 

 expedition is ensured at seasons when despatch is all-important, 

 and alterations are made in cropping, especially with regard to 

 the fallow-crops, which could only be effected, without steam, 

 by extra horse-power ; and it is not too much to say that to obtain 

 stolen crops of vetches, to be followed by turnips — to properly 

 cultivate so large a proportion of cabbage and mangold as is 

 required for the large head of sheep-stock and cattle that are 

 wintered — one additional horse would be required, and the cost 

 of this horse would fully equal the cost of steam culture. The 

 question, then, to be solved is, whether this outlay has been 

 justified by improved produce. Having carefully inspected this 



* This sum of 26V.I. represents the cost of the cultivating machinery, plus ^_ of 

 the engine. The remaining i being charged to the various departments for which 

 steam is continually employed. , 



VOL. III.— S. S. 2 E 



