Reports m Steam Cultivation. 
121 
rollers to the height of 9 feet ; it then comes down an inclined 
plane. Three men get in the straw and hand it to the chaff- 
cutter ; it is then cut and carried into the chaff-barn, and well 
trodden down, mixing about a bushel of salt to every ton, and 
also a certain quantity of green stuff. Tares or rye cut green 
into chaff are sown by hand as the chaff is brought in. This 
causes it to heat, and adding the amount of green stuff required 
to give it a proper heat is the secret of the successful operation of 
storing chaff 
Respecting the quantity of green chaff to be mixed with straw- 
chaff to cause a proper fermentation — I use about 1 cwt. to 
the ton of straw-chafl, and 1 bushel of salt to the ton of chaff. 
But some judgment is required as to the state of the green stuff. 
If it is green rye on the ear, a full cwt. is required, if very green 
tares, a rather less quantity will do, as the degree of fermentation 
depends upon the quantity of sap contained in it. This is done 
in spring and summer ; the chaff is not used till October and the 
winter months. I can thus thresh and dress the corn-crops, and 
cut the straw into chaff in one process ; the expense of cutting 
and storing the same being about 1*. per acre ; the principal 
additional expense is for about 4 cwt. of coal per day, and we 
thresh and cut from 8 to 10 acres per day. 
I am not stating that straw-chaff can be rendered as valuable 
as hay-chaff for feeding purposes, but that it may, by judicious 
management, be made a very important auxiliary to the production 
of meat food for our fast increasing population. I agree with Pro- 
fessor Voelcker, that the straw used for chaff should be wheat and 
oat, for these may be cut without loss in a far greener state than 
is generally done ; but barley, to be of good quality, cannot 
fairly be cut too ripe. 
Yours faithfully, 
Samuel Jonas, 
Chrisliall Grange, Saffron Walden, 
November 6th. 
IV. — Reports on Steam Cultivation by Machinery let by the Land- 
lord, as practised on the Northumberland Estate of His Grace 
the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND. By JoS. SnOWBALL, ChiEF 
Agent.* 
Estates Offices, Alnwick Castle, 
January, 18G9. 
My Lord Duke, — In accordance with your wish, I now give 
in detail the arrangements made for carrying out your scheme for 
* Communicated by Hi» Grace the Duke of Jvorthumberlaud. 
