418 Report on Steam Cultivation. [Coleman. 



farm, we are prepared to state that we have never seen land cleaner 

 or in higher condition, and an extraordinary head of stock is 

 kept. Thus on the 206 acres 152 Lincoln ewes are lambed down, 

 and the produce sold out at 20 months old, and about 60 head of 

 cattle kept. Such a favourable result on so small an area is only 

 rendered possible by the economical use of steam-power for other 

 purposes ; and we come to conclusions that Mr. Hemsley's ex- 

 perience is loo exceptional to build upon, and that from 250 to 

 300 acres of arable land is the smallest area on which it would 

 be prudent to employ steam cultivation. In draining this strong 

 soil Mr. Hemsley has made several wells, 4 yards deep, at con- 

 venient spots, to do away with the expense of carting water. 

 These wells cost about 30^. each, are covered with a square stone, 

 and are simple and practical, not only valuable for steam cultiva- 

 tion and watering cattle in summer, but of benefit to the drainage 

 as reservoirs for silt and air-holes. 



No. 133. At Lord A. St, Maur's home-farm at Walton, Howard's 

 apparatus has been at work since 1862, and is well spoken of by 

 Mr. Mountstephen, the bailiff. We have a 10-horse-power engine, 

 by Clayton and Shuttle worth, 5-tined cultivator, chisel-harrows, 

 and 3-furrow plough — the latter being found particularly useful in 

 a season like the last. The expense of repairs has been absurdly 

 small. The engine has never cost a shilling, and the bailiff 

 would undertake to keep the whole concern in order for lOZ. a year. 

 One new rope (800 yards) was bought last autumn, and the re- 

 mainder has been renewed since ; so we can easily calculate the 

 wear and tear of ropes from 1862 to the end of 1866. 



The farm contains 600 acres arable and 200 pasture : the soil 

 is a strong clay, on limestone. It is farmed on the 4-course. 

 Thus we have 150 acres for roots, either ploughed or cultivated 

 in autumn — in spring twice cultivated; 150 acres for wheat, 

 after seeds, beans, and fallow, either ploughed or cultivated by 

 steam; 150 acres for spring-corn, ploughed or cultivated. The ave- 

 rage daily work, ploughing or cultivating, is calculated at 5 acres, 

 including shifting. The number of days' working were, in 1865, 

 72 days ; in 1866, 97 days. From this it is evident that about 

 364 to 480 acres represents the work done, and it is equally clear 

 that a considerable portion of the tillage-work is still done by 

 horses : — 



£. s. d. 



Wages ^ ^5 ^ 



Water-cart 030 



Coals, 7s. 6c?., and oil, Is. 6c? 9 



Eepairs (10?.) 2 6 



Wear and tear on 638?., 7^ per cent. . . 12 

 Interest of money, 5 per cent 8 



2 9 8 



