The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-24 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL MACIILNERY.

In former notices of agricultural implements in the
Exhibition, we adverted to such classes of implements
and machinery as may be considered to be in practi-
cal use amongst our roremost cultivators. But it has
been observed with truth, that many, perhaps most
of the kinds of implements found on ordinary farms
are not to be met with in the present Exliihition.
For instance, the ploughs and harrows are compara-
tively few, while the wooden roller and other every-
day and very useful articles are not to be found at
sIL Most implements shown may bo desig-
nated as " improved," and such implements
are every day coining more and more into
ordinary use. We now purpose to refer to
times which are closely connected with the
improvement of land, and farm buildings; and
to such as may, as yet, be termed experimental, in-
dicating farther progress, but not at present com-
plete. And first amongst the machines which have
promoted the improvement are to be ranked the
draining tile machines.
To understand the importance of machines for
making draining tiles, we should bo aware of the
wide extent of land throughout the United Kingdom
requiring to be drained before it can be farmed with
advantage, and the enormous cost at which all drain-
age works were necessarily accomplished whilst
draining tiles were solely hand-made. That, when
the soil is surcharged with water, it cannot be so
worked and mechanically divided as to produce per-
fect crops—it is comparatively unimproved by manure
—its temperature is so much lowered as to retard
and often prevent healthy vegetation, and the en-
trance of atmospheric air is precluded—are all
matters well understood even to those unacquainted
with practical husbandry. But it is not so generally
known that the lands habitually surcharged with
moisture aro not confined to those absorbent and
tenacious soils designated clays. Mr. Parkes, the
eminent draining engineer, tells us " that fully as
large an area [of the soils of Britain], consisting of
learns, and of earths still more silicious need drainage
quite as much as the stiff and compact clays. Water
is permanently maintained too near the surface pf
many soils, whose natural texture for • few
feet deep would allow to it a free pas age
downwards, were it not for the existence
of a clay, or of some other impassable medium,
at depths more or less great, Which uphold the
water.-" Perhaps more than one-third of the
land of this country demands artificial d • s and
a considerable portion of it when drained
completely changed in character, the surface soil
having been naturally light and friable, but was kept
wet by en impervious band, or sub-soil. On mach
land draining effects a complete revolution, and adds
immensely to its value. On the heavy and clay-
lands also, though no such alteration can be effected
in the nature of the soil, by draining, as we meet
with on lighter land relieved by topping the sub-
soil, the results are most important, and add
greatly to the amount of produce, the certainty
of cropping, and the range of crops to be grown
thereupon. Draining, however, is no new prao-
tice in England; not to go further back then the
time of the Commonwealth, we have recorded his-
tory of its use from that time in the eastern counties
of England, but the materials used were perishable,
such as bushes, wood, or straw, so land required to be
re-drained at least once in eight or ten years. Tile
drains have been occasionally found about perks and
mansions, but the cost of them which amounted to
9114. he 1,000 feet of tiles-60s. and soles 30s. per
Lase—gras absolutely prohibitory :of their use in
samba drainage works.
The Stag ratehine for making drain tiles was that,
a b Midst, invented by the Marquis of Tweed-
sielas vim obtained a patent for his invention, and a
=for working it was established. This
was exhibited at the meeting of the Royal
Agricultural Society, and it appeared that worked by
a sea and a stout lad, with two boys to carry the
tiles to the drying sheds, about 600,000 tiles were
made in a season, The price at which these tiles
then sold was Nub 235. 6d. to 40s. per thousand.
The tiles were borsomhoe shaped, and soles, ceding
half the price of the the, had to be used. This still'
left the price of the the and sole together at about
433. per thousand.
Mr. Etheridge, at the same mooting, Foamed a
tile machine, worked by horse power, which made
about 8,000 or 10,000 a day.
Mr. John Read at the same Bans exhibited a.eylin-
idrit, calwhioerhpwipeas tilofe,vaneryd the hand
oonstruomachintian,e for mgong
aking