630 



Rejm^t to H.R.H. the President 



steam-threshing we require additional hands, 16 instead of 10, 

 but we get over three times the work, passing the rick in one da}-, 

 not three, through the machine. The figures on steam -threshing 

 will be then as follows : — 



£. s. d. 



1 engineer (head carter) ..026 



10 men, at Is. Ad 0 13 4 



5 women, at Sd 0 3 4 



Coals, 3^ cwts 0 3 6 



£ 1 2 8 



If we make up this sum to 305. for the use of the engine, the 

 cost of steam-threshing will be 9t/. ; the saving, as compared with 

 hand-threshing, 2^. Sd., or with horse-threshing \s. 3d. — an average 

 of 25. per quarter of wheat — a large saving certainly to be effected 

 in one only of five main departments, but not larger, I believe^ 

 than may be shown to arise from the use of improved machinery 

 in most, if not all, of the four other departments as well. It 

 may be objected that credit is given for the value of the horses' 

 labour ; and though in valuations horse-work is often charged 

 high, we are apt, I know, as farmers, to regard each particular 

 use of horses as costing us nothing. This view may be even cor- 

 rect on small matters occurring at leisure seasons, but it would 

 be false if applied to a demand like the present, large in itself, 

 distressing also for the horses, and liable to occur at all times 

 of the year. It can have no truth in it at all, when we endea- 

 vour, and by reformed implements in all other departments are 

 enabled, to reduce the permanent staff of horses kept on the 

 farm : for this plain reason, that, if we do not carry the reduction 

 throughout, we either press the horses unduly at one time, or 

 require horses to be kept which are useless at other seasons. 



Since the trial for the Commission a fresh trial has been made 

 at Beverley. There the prize was awarded to a machine by 

 Messrs. Clayton and Shuttle worth, which not only threshes out 

 50 quarters in a day's work, but dresses the corn also to a great 

 extent at the same time, yet requires, as the makers state, only 

 14 hands for both purposes — not more hands therefore than we 

 have employed to get out with horse-machines, and fifterwards 

 dress, 13 quarters only: — 



£. s. d. 



Engineer 0 2 6 



Feeder 0 2 6 



6 men at Is. 4d. . . .080 

 6 women or boys .. .040 

 Coals 5 cwts. ... 0 5 0 



£12 0 



