56 Report on Messrs. Prout and Middleditcli s 
of cost being taken for the more common 12 or 14-horse-power 
tackle. 
Approximate Cost of Steam Cultivation with Fowler's 
12 OR 14-H.p. Tackle. 
£ s. d. 
Interest on 2000Z. at 5 per cent, for 1 year, 100?., or working) q j^q 0 
200 days per annum, per diem ) 
Depreciation on 2000Z. at 15 per cent, for 1 year, 300?., or work-) j^q g 
ing 200 days per annum, per diem ) 
Wear and tear, duplicates and repairs, 100?. per annum, per) q 10 0 
diem j 
Eopes, 100?. every 2 years, or per diem 0 50 
^ Oil, 25?. per annum, or per diem 0 2 G ' 
I Coal, two tons per diem at 25s. per ton, average 2 10 0 
£ s. d. 
Manual latour — Head driver per diem 0 3 4 
Second do. do 0 2 6 
Ploughman do 0 2 2 
Boy do 0 18 
0 9 8 
' Water and coal carting, per diem 0 10 0 
£6 7 2 
Plus piece-work wages as under : — 
Cost of ploughing — 
12 acres per diem — cost as above— per acre .. 0 10 7 
Extra for piece-work — per acre 0 0 9 
Total 23er acre Oil 4 
Cost^of cultivating — 
20 acres per diem — cost as above — per acre ..0 6 4 
Extra for piece-work 00 6 
Total per acre 0 6 10 
Cost^of dragging — 
70 acres per diem — cost as above — per acre ..0 1 10 
Extra for piece-work 003 
Total per acre £0 2 1 » 
This is not much over half the cost at which similar work on 
heavy land is clone by horses. But even these moderate rates 
may be further reduced where the tackle, when it can be spared, 
is hired out. In many localities 300/. to 400/. may thus be 
earned annually, rrducin<r, probably to the extent of 20 per cent., 
the cost of the work done at home. It is those extra earnings 
particularized above which enable Mr. Middleditch to perforin 
his steam-work at the very low rates of 8s. per acre for I) to 8 
inch ploughing, Gs. lOr/. for cultivating, and Lv. (Sd. for dragging. 
The principle of paying by results is introduced as far as possible, 
i 
