Reports on Steam Cultivation. 
123 
are in full work ; and during that time one ton of coals will be 
consumed. 
2nd. The estimated annual expense being ascertained as nearly 
as possible, it became evident that such an outlay could not be 
borne out of the profits of an ordinary-sized farm, and that steam- 
cultivation V Duld have to be undertaken by either a number of 
farmers conibining to purchase the engines and apparatus, and 
agreeing upon a scheme for their general use ; or by an owner of 
a district sufficiently large, who Avould advance the required 
capital, and establish the apparatus for the use of the tenantry 
upon fair and equitable terms. Upon mentioning the probable 
difficulty of accomplishing an arrangement with your tenants for 
their establishing such costly machinery, and for working it 
amicably and advantageously, your Grace at once proposed to be 
at the entire expense of doing so, if a proper arrangement could 
be made with them for its use. I then selected a district upon 
which the apparatus could be generally applied with the best 
possible results, and where the tenantry would willingly co- 
operate in endeavouring to benefit by the great prospective 
advantages offered. The district of Acklington was selected, the 
land being principally a heavy loam upon a sound clay, and the 
farms containing from 300 to 500 acres, the araljle of which varies 
from 160 to 280 acres, and requires on an average from seven to 
eleven horses each farm for its cultivation. The farmers, at a 
meeting I held for the purpose of hearing their sentiments, on 
the 5th of September last, readily accepted your Grace's pro- 
position, and expressed their desire to have all the land coming 
in course for the following year's fallow, turnips, and potatoes, 
ploughed by it as speedily as possible, and to pay any propor- 
tionate charge it might bs necessary to make to meet the annual 
expenses of the establishment. 
ord. The tenantry having decided upon adopting the ma- 
chinery, the question of area which the engines and tackle were 
capable of ploughing and cultivating annually and in due season, 
was next considered ; and it was estimated that the fallow of about 
ten farms, averaging the quantity before stated, could be ploughed 
every autumn, and cultivated for turnips in the spring, or as bare 
fallow for wheat in the summer following. It was then arranged 
that those farmers occupying about the number of farms in the 
district mentioned should at once have the advantage of the boon 
offered. And it having been estimated that the annual charge 
against the engines and tackle, and of working them, would be 
494Z. 5s., it was necessary to ascertain, as far as possible, how 
that sum could be realised by fair and reasonable charges for the 
several works to be performed. With the advice of Mr. Greig 
