Coleman.] RepoH on Steam Cultivation, 



423 



between Feb. 23 and May 16 will be instructive, as showing the 

 average spring work per diem : — 



This averages nearly 5i acres daily. 



The daily expenses in winter are as follows : — 



£. s, d. 



5 men 10 6 



4 boys 3 5 



Horse and water-cart 4 



Coal, 11 cwts 9 4 



Oil 10 



18 3 

 In summer, 2d. a day extra per head. 



In addition to the above, 8c?. an acre for ploughing, and 4dZ. an 

 acre for cultivating, is paid, which would increase the expenses 

 about 2^. 6c?. a day.* No journal has been kept of the work, but 

 we have been furnished with the operations during the seasons of 

 1864 and 1865, from August 29th, 1864, to April 18th, 1865, 

 during which interval the apparatus was working and shifting 

 87^ days, and ploughed or dug 200 acres, and cultivated 146 

 acres ; which is barely 4 acres per day, — rather a poor result, 

 attributable partly to the fields lying at considerable distances, 

 and the hilly nature of the land. Taking this specimen as an 

 average we can arrive at the annual cost : — 



£. s. d. 



Labour 16 5 



Horse and water-eart 40 



Coal and oil 10 4 



Kepairs 11 5 



fWear and tear on 650?., at 7 per cent. .. 11 1 

 Interest at 5 per cent. 7 5 



Cost per day 3 8 



* The men employed working mowers, reapers, and other machinery, are 

 allowed f>d. a day extra, which is sometimes varied by payment per acre for work 

 done. This works satisfactorily, stimulating all the young men to become skilled 

 labourers. — B. 



t The difference between this and the original cost is a deduction in engine for 

 thrashing work. 



