Steam Cultivation. 685 



unsuccessful or being given up. He mentioned this because in the 

 vicinity of Worcester, which was not many miles off, two or three 

 landlords had started implements which were always under repair. 

 Success, he believed, greatly depended on the skill ef the people by 

 whom the machines were worked. Those in the neighbourhood of 

 Evesham, with the exception of Mr. Holland's and one other, were in 

 the hands of the farmers, and worked by their labourers. At first he 

 hesitated whether he should adopt the direct-action, or the round- 

 about system. His farm consisting partly of light land and partly of 

 strong clay, altogether GOO acres in extent, was large enough to have 

 employed the direct-action ; and he could get on it at all times ; but 

 he adopted the cheaper plan, and was perfectly satisfied with the 

 results. The original cost of the steam-engine and tackle, including 

 thrashing apparatus, was 700/. 



Sir W. Stirling wished to know whether any one present, with a 

 small holding, say of 300, 400, or 500 acres, had pm-chascd a steam- 

 engine himself, and could state the benefit derived from its use. At 

 that moment they were all, as it were, in conflict with the labourers, 

 who were constantly being withdrawn from the land for many and 

 various purposes. Therefore it was, that agriculturists turned to 

 machinery with an anxious eye. He farmed many hundred acres of 

 light land, but had not yet been induced by anything he had heard 

 to lay out a large sum of money in the purchase of a steam-plough ; 

 nor did he find that his neighbours were inclined to do so either. 

 He considered that a discussion like the present would be much more 

 valuable to the farmer than any report that might, be published on 

 the subject, however admirably got up. 



The President said that Mr. Stephenson, for one, who had given his 

 testimony, was one of the early patrons of steam-machinery, and spoke 

 well of it after eleven years' experience on a farm of about 390 acres. 

 Mr. Robert Helmsley also farmed a small holding by steam. 



Mr. Webb observed that one of his neighbours purchased an engine 

 last autumn for a farm of less than 400 acres, and had employed it 

 very successfully. 



Mr. Helmsley said that before introducing the steam-engine on his 

 farm, he looked round to see to what purposes he could apply it 

 besides cultivation, and he had turned it to account in grinding, 

 thrashing, and carrying on a variety of other operations. In his 

 opinion a man ought to have at least 300 acres of arable land if he 

 would use the steam-engine ; he certainly should not have procured 

 one himself had he not held pretty nearly to that extent. The system 

 he adopted was the round-about, which he considered the simplest 

 and best. 



The President then moved, and the Earl of Powys seconded a 

 vote of thanks to the Committee of Inspection, and especially to the 

 gentlemen who had acted as reporters. The motion having been 

 carried by acclamation — - 



Mr. Algernon Clarke, one of the reporters, briefly acknowledged 

 the compliment. Speaking for himself and his colleagues, he said 

 they were not prepared to assume the responsibility of recommending 



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