426 Report on Steam Cultivation. [Coleman, 



to allow of conclusions being drawn, so we think that 250 

 acres of strong arable land is the minimum quantity on which 

 it would be wise to introduce steam culture, the engine still 

 earning most of its money at other work ; in such a case we de- 

 cidedly recommend the roundabout plan, with a cultivator and 

 plough. On such a farm 10 horses would be reduced to 6 or 7, 

 and the saving of 150/. to 200/. would go a good way towards 

 paying the expenses. On light land a larger breadth would be 

 desirable, say from 350 to 400 acres, and as the acreage is 

 increased beyond these limits, the profit of the investment would 

 be increased. Wear of rope will always prove a formidable 

 source of outlay ; rather to our surprise we cannot discover any 

 material difference in favour of direct traction in this respect ; in 

 some cases, depending probably upon difference of soil, we find 

 the advantage the other way; the limits appear to be from 6c?. to 

 'dd. an acre. A point of great importance to impress upon the 

 novice is not to rack and strain the engine at starting by over- 

 taxing its powers. Many people have an idea that the power of 

 steam is really without limit, and that the proper thing to do is 

 to go down several inches below the horse pan, and increase the 

 depth at one operation, whereas better results will follow more 

 gradual proceedings, and the wearing parts of the engine be 

 kept right. When heavy work is required we must be content 

 with a less quantity, and take off one of the ploughs or reduce 

 the number of tines of the grubber. The speed of the engine 

 should be uniform and tolerably great, and the power should be 

 master of the work. 



One of the most important objects of this enquiry was to 

 collect information relative to the success or failure of Steam- 

 ploughing Companies, of which several have been established. 

 We investigated the results in two cases, namely, at Whitchurch 

 and Market Drayton ; the latter, for reasons detailed in the 

 report, may be passed over, since the failure of the apparatus is 

 enough to account for the result ; the Whitchurch Company 

 affords an interesting case, from which we may venture to draw 

 conclusions. It is not a success, nor is it a failure : the facts are 

 not sufficiently encouraging to justify our recommending invest- 

 ment under similar conditions, nor are they of such a damaging 

 nature as to preclude the hope of success under more favourable 

 circumstances. The district is principally devoted to dairying, 

 the proportion of arable land is limited, the fields irregular, and 

 often very small. The land to be worked by steam is most 

 intractable, and the frequency of moves and the distances to be 

 travelled are sad hindrances to progress. The management has 

 been good, breakages not extravagant, yet during last year the 



