124 
Rcj)orts on Steam Cultivation. 
and Mr. Cockburn, Messrs. Fowler's .agents, the following prices 
were named and agreed to bj the tenantry ; — For ploughing or 
digging, IO5. an acre ; for cultivating once, bs. ; and as often 
after as necessary, 2s. Gd. per acre ; and for harrowing, Is. Qd. 
per acre. Upon these charges the following estimate was made, 
the tenants undertaking to supply coals and water for the engines 
free of charge, as before mentioned : — 
£ .s. d. 
For plouf^hinn; in autumn 400 acres at 10s. .. 200 0 0 
Cultivating the following spring 400 acres at 5s. 100 0 0 
Cultivating second time 400 acres at 2s. Gd. .. 50 0 0 
Harrowing 3 times 400 acres at Is. Qd. = 4s. Gd. 90 0 0 
The use of the engines to be employed in winter 
in cutting timber in the parks and elsewhere 
was estimated to be worth at least the difference 
of 
41)4 5 0 
Your Grace having placed the capital for the benefit of the 
tenantry at the ordinary rate of interest, the above prices were 
only determined upon as a basis of charge, it being understood 
that the tenantry should have every advantage to be gained by 
the fullest employment possi])le of the engines and apparatus and 
men engaged in working them. It being almost certain that the 
above calculation would be borne out, no further time was lost, 
and within five weeks from the time the meeting was held at 
Wark worth, the engines (which are named the Acklington and 
Warkworth) and tackle were steadily doing their work, and 
before the end of Decemljer had thrown up about 300 acres 
of land, to be mellowed by the action of the weather in winter, 
to the depth of from seven to eleven inches from the surface 
before ploughing, and after ploughing of from twelve to eighteen 
inches, without a single accident or impediment of any impor- 
tance, doing, when the weather permitted, from six to eight acres 
per day. 
4th. Independent of the saving of expense by the cultivation of 
land by steam-power to a greater depth than could, at a reason- 
able cost, be accomplished by horse-power, much greater scope 
will be given to the growth of every description of crops, to the 
retention of moisture for their sustenance and development, 
and for the gradual improvement in the productiveness of the 
soil ; and although the present temporary arrangement with the 
tenantry, which I have given in detail, is to some extent an 
experiment and encouragement to them, I am sanguine in 
thinking it will lead to a permanent use of steam for the culti- 
vation of the soil of that and other districts belonging to your 
54 5 0 
