420 Report pn Steam Cultivation. [Coleman. 



chased in July, 1803, the 14-horse engine and apparatus, consisthig 

 of anchor, 4-1'urrow balance-plough, with digging-breasts, 7-tined. 

 cultivator, and 8U0 yards of rope, &:c., with which Messrs. Fowler 

 and Co, made such splendid work at the Worcester Show, where 

 it will be remembered they dug up a strong clay that had been 

 undisturbed for many years, thereby severely testing the strength 

 of the machinery. The excellence of the plant may be further 

 judged of by the trifling sum spent in repairs. The only expense 

 on the engine has been caused by an accident to the pump, whilst 

 nothing has hitherto been renewed save clips and porters — the 

 friction-pulleys of the latter having been covered with hoop-iron 

 riveted on, and the frame-rods strengthened by the farm-smith. 

 Another reason for this immunity from breakage is, that at first 

 the plough was not put in too deeply nor driven too fast. Mr. 

 Pacey estimates the expense of repairs hitherto at less than 

 8Z. a year. The farm consists of 1201 acres, 692 of which are 

 arable. The soil is a poor strong clay, with pebbles, on a yellow 

 subsoil, which it would be undesirable to bring too rapidly to 

 the surface. The fields are generally large, ranging from 10 to 

 30 acres, some part of the arable land being hilly. 



After the apparatus was put to work and found to answer, jMr. 

 Pacey was encouraged to take another farm in a very filthy state, 

 which he would not have occupied rent free if dependent solely 

 on horse labour. By the aid of steam 120 acres were fallowed in 

 the spring of 18G4 : some of the land being cultivated four times 

 a complete job was made, and the land is now as clean as can 

 be desired. It is right to state that, though only a yearly tenant, 

 Mr. Pacey has drained all the land at his own expense 3 feet 

 deep in the furrows. 



The chief alteration in cropping consists in the growth of a 

 larger breadth of vetches, which are eaten on the ground suffi- 

 ciently early to allow of a good fallow being made for wheat. 

 A considerable area of mangolds and swedes are produced ; but 

 the soil is too tenacious to allow of winter-feeding on the land, 

 and the corn-crop would often be better if grown upon bare 

 fallow. The corn-crops are decidedly increased, owing to a 

 greater depth and finer condition of soil. Spring-corn yields 

 fully 4 to 6 bushels more than formerly ; wheat about 4 bushels : 

 32 horses have been reduced to 20, and the saving of 600/, per 

 annum forms a handsome item for the creditor side of the account. 

 The area worked (either dug, ploughed, or cultivated) was as 

 follows: — In 1863 and 1864, when the work commenced, there 

 was a great area fallowed, which accounts for the much larger 

 result than in 1865 or 1866. In many cases the operations were 

 repeated three or four times over, especially in 1863 : — 



