Coleman.] Report on Steam Cultivatioji. 419 



Assuming- 80 days as the yearly average, we have an annual cost 

 of 198Z. 135. A:d. Formerly 24 horses were kept to do the ordi- 

 nary farmwork — now only 12 are so used ; and here we may 

 notice a fact which was constantly brought before us, viz., that 

 the area cultivated by steam does not represent the acreage that 

 would be worked by the horses displaced, evidently showing 

 that by the use of steam the number of operations is greatly 

 reduced, one thorough piece of Avork by steam-power proving 

 more effective than several horse-operations. The annual cost of 

 these 12 horses would be GOO?., consequently at the present time 

 there has been an annual saving of 387Z. 65. 8<f. 



Calculating that 2000 acres have been worked by steam from 

 1862 to 1866 inclusive, and that the original ropes (1600 yards), 

 costing 69?., were worn out at the latter date, the expense of rope 

 has been 8J(/. an acre, which agrees very closely with the most 

 successful cases on strong land that came under our notice. The 

 surface is generally undulating ; the fields average from 15 to 16 

 acres, and are well adapted for steam culture — in many cases 40 to 

 45 acres can be worked without moving the engine. The soil is 

 a sticky limestone-clay, difficult to work by horse labour. The 

 effects of steam culture have been very evident in an increased 

 produce ; in the case of corn fully 6 bushels per acre, whilst root- 

 crops are grown over a larger area and give a better yield. This 

 satisfactory result is attributed to greater expedition attainable in 

 catching seasons, more thorough exposure of the soil to atmo- 

 spheric influence, and more perfect drainage. The clover-crops, 

 which are grown every eight years, are greatly improved, the 

 plant less liable to fail, and the produce increased. This is 

 accounted for by the surface being more friable. A much heavier 

 stock is now kept : 310 ewes are put to the ram, the lambs being 

 sold in autumn, whilst 50 head of cattle are grazed in summer 

 and 80 in winter. Mr. Mountstephen considers the effects of 

 steam culture so beneficial, that he would not hesitate, if occu- 

 pying the farm as tenant, to take the apparatus at a valuation. It 

 is his opinion that 300 acres arable is the minimum area on which 

 steam could be profitably employed, supposing that the engine is 

 used for thrashing purposes. Last year an adjoining farm was 

 taken in hand in a very neglected state : at the period of our 

 visit drainage-operations were in progress, and steam will un- 

 doubtedly prove of great service in the improvements that are 

 contemplated. We cannot leave this case without expressing our 

 opinion of its highly successful character and importance as an 

 instance of the profitable application of steam under good 

 management. 



No. 134. Mr. Pacey, of Garthorpe, near Melton Mowbray, pur- 



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