Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-11-18

Ploughing by Locomotive Engine, more
cheaply and rapidly than by horses, ought, in
the opinion of English judges, to he considered as
proven. Eight steam ploughs, or cultivators
entered at the late exhibition of the Royal Ag.
ricul:ural Society at Salisbury. One of them
was Boyselrs traction engine, or steam-horse
which consists of a portable engine, with tubu'
lar ten-horse boiler, two seven-inch cylinders,
each of one-foot stroke, reversing motion, four
feet hy-wheel, water tanks, steerage and gear
work for driving, with two speeds-one of the
hind cqrying wheels weighing, with water, g.
bout ten tons +; and being nearly thirty feet long
from end 10 end. The hind wheels are of sir
feet diameter; the fore wheels smaller all fit
ted with endless railS-and the steerage is effec-
ted by altering the lock of the front wheels with
short coach hole, worked by chains and q
wheel, like the rud(ler of ship There is also
screw for further adjusting the level of the
boiler to different gradients. The rails are not
only laid down before each wheel and taken up
behind it. but, being loose and Disconnected
with each other, allow the wheel to alter its d.
rection with facility; and being jointed so as tc
admit of angular motion, side ways, can accom-
momodate themselves to traverse as we'll as
longitudinal inclination of ground.
This engine ascended an incline of one foot
in seven, drawing up water tank weighing
many tons. 1t pulled three two-turrow ploughs
at the pace of two miles an hour, working six
inches deep in difficult stony ground ut dragged
with still greater ease cgtiyator eight feet siz
inches wide. with eleven lines, making deep and
effective work, and passed over SOFT stirred land
scarcely sinking in it at all, and not unduly
pressing it.
LApLAND MARRIAGES. Every Laplander, how
ever poor, has his dozen or two dozen deer, and
the fiocks of a Lapp Creesus amount sometimes
to two thousand head. As soon as young Ia.
DIV is born-after having been duly rolled in the
snow-she is lowered by her father with u GER.
tain number of deer, which are Immediately
branded with her initials, and thenceforth kept
apart as her especial property. In proportion
as they increase and multiply does her chance
improve of making good match. Lapp court
ships are conducted pretty much in the same
fashion as in other parts of the world. The as
pirant. as soon as he discovers that he has lost
his heart. goes off in search of O friend and q
bottle of brandy. The friend opens simultane-
ously the brandy and his business; while the
lover remains outside, engaged in hewing wood,
or some other menial employment. IT, after the
brandy and the proposal have been duly discuss
ed, the eloquepce Of his friend prevails, he is
himself called into the conclave, and the Young
people are allowed to rub noses. The bride
then accepts from her suitor a present Of
a reindeers tongue, and the espousals are
considered concluded. The marriage does not
take place for two or three years afterwards,
and during the interval the intended is obliged
to labor in the service of his father-in.law.-
Lord Du6srin's Letters from High Latitudes.