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Steam Culture, 
Those who intend to hire will welcome any degree of light that 
can be thrown upon the subject, whilst those who let out culti- 
vators as a trade will probably stand better with their customers 
the more thoroughly the subject is gone into. 
Before, however, proceeding to examine the question in detail, 
it may be well to point out certain misconceptions, and un- 
practical and inaccurate methods of calculation, which, if admitted, 
cannot but impair the value nf the results arrived at. 
1st. — We must base our estimate of cost per acre, not on the 
amount of work done during a short "spurt" at a trial, but that 
accomplished on the average by competent workmen without 
overtaxing the engine. 
2nd]y. — -In comparing steam and horse power, we must put to 
the credit of steam, not the force generated by the engine, but 
that directly applied to the plough or cultivator : the difference 
between the two being wasted by the uneconomical and com- 
plicated means employed in steam cultivation for the application 
of the power. In short, we must look not so much to the horse 
power exerted, as to the number of ploughs kept going, and the 
work done. 
3rdly. — As we only credit the horse with what an average 
animal can do imthout overdriving, we must deal with the steam 
engine in the same way. 
4thly. — When horses are disposed of, the capital saved must 
be estimated on their average value, not that of the horse in its 
prime ; and in the case of bullocks, the capital saved is their 
value in working trim, not when made fat. 
5thly.— We may, in the problem before us, fairly combine 
with the cost of the horses that of those implements used by 
them, for which the steam apparatus offers substitutes, but not 
the cost of all farm implements used by horses, such as drills, 
waggons, carts, horse hoes, &c., &c. ; and still less, the total 
dead stock on the farm. If an entry be made on one side of the 
account of the saving of keep caused by the sale of horses, credit 
must be given on the other side for the amount of work which 
they would have done for their keep. 
6thly. — In estimating the amount of work that will be cut out 
for the steam power at home, on a farm of a given size, we must 
not forget that by early and more thorough cultivation by this 
means we hope to make a good fallow with fewer operations 
than either valuers or writers calculate on, or farmers execute by 
horse power. 
7thly. — On calculating the cost of a horse's keep, his food has 
been generally valued at the consuming price, with the exception 
of corn ; for our purpose the corn must be likewise reduced to 
