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PART III.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

ART. I. General Notices.

STEAM PLOUGH.-We noticed, some time ago (p. 160.), the spirited offer of Mr. Handley, of 100 gs. for the best steam plough. We hope the time is not far distant when a sufficient number of subscribers may be found, at all manner of sums, from 17. upwards, to produce 1000l. for the laudable and patriotic object proposed by Mr. Handley. In the mean time, this gentleman's offer has stimulated two very ingenious mechanics, Messrs. Wykes and Phillips, Market Street, Edgware Road, to produce the model of a ploughing, or, more properly, a digging or grubbing machine, to be impelled by steam. The model is well worth examining. It is arranged on the principle of rendering the action of grubbing the fulcrum for moving forward the machine; so that, a certain power of steam being applied, the machine would move along a ridge, or a breadth of such a number of feet as might be determined on (say 6, 10, 12, or 15 ft.), at a greater or less rate, according to the tenacity of the soil. Such a machine would, no doubt, be applicable to many of the purposes of field culture, and more especially to the working of fallows. But it would not answer for ploughing up leys, or recent or tender grass-lands to be sown after once ploughing; neither would it plough in manure, nor form lands into drills for turnips or potatoes; nor would it harrow, hoe, or mow, or reap, all which might be done by steam, as before observed (Vol. III. p. 242.). To apply steam successfully to agriculture, it has always appeared to us that the engineer ought not to seek for a new implement, but simply for a convenient locomotive power for impelling the implements already in use, modified so as to suit the new impelling power. The power for dragging forward Lumbert's mole-plough (Encyc. of Agr., § 2523.) supplies the germ of this idea. There would be no difficulty in inventing a locomotive engine that would move itself any where, either on rough or smooth, level or sloping surfaces. There would be no difficulty of stopping this machine at any one point, throwing out or down long levers, with claws at the extremities, to serve as grappling-irons to retain it firmly in its position. There might then be a vertical gin-wheel, with a chain, say of 100 yards. Supposing the locomotive machine taken to the first ridge of a field, the chain wound up, and the end of it attached either to one or many ploughs, harrows, or other implements. Then let the machine be put in motion, and advance 90 yds., unwinding the chain, which will now lie on the ground in a line between the steam-machine and the plough or harrow machine. Now, reverse the turning of the gin-wheel, and the plough will be dragged up to the engine. Change the wheel, lift or draw in (all, of course, by the machine itself) the grappling-levers, and proceed as before. To some this may seem, at first sight, a slow and awkward mode; but, if a ridge of 12 ft. were ploughed, or the width of three ridges harrowed, every time the machine advanced, a 20-acre field would soon be got over. Nothing could be easier than to adapt ploughs and all implements, even Bell's reaping-machine (p. 295.), the thrashing-machine, &c., to such a locomotive power. Whenever an ample

reward is offered, the thing will be done. Or whoever thinks fit to employ such an engineer as Brunell, will have the locomotive power invented and executed in a month, as a matter of course. If this mode is not adopted, stationary engines, at the ends of the ridges, must be resorted to; or fixed points, found or placed there, to which an engine and plough, attached by a chain, might plough itself forward. We recommend the subject to the Mechanics Magazine. It must never be forgotten that, independently of the saving of horses and their food, the farmer would never be obliged to work his soil but when it was in a proper condition for that purpose. This, in our opinion, is one of the principal arguments in favour of the application of steam to agriculture. Cond. Dick's Railways. An elevated railway, and a suspension railway, on an entirely new construction, have lately been invented by Mr. Maxwell Dick. For details, we must necessarily refer to other publications, to the Scotsman, Mechanics' Magazine, No. 358. and 360., and to a pamphlet, Description of the Suspension Railway, &c., with engravings; sold at Mr. Dick's office at Charing Cross, London, where large models of the different kinds of rails are exhibited and explained by Mr. Dick. The contemplated results, if obtained (and there seems no reason why they should not), will give a conveyance of goods and passengers at any rate which may be fixed on, between 20 and 60 miles an hour; and of the mail or light packages, at between 60 and 100 miles an hour. The means by which this celerity is obtained are, the diminution of friction to the greatest practicable extent, and the nearest practicable approximation to a level and straight line. Another advantage is, that the ground which it passes over may be used, with the exception of the spaces occupied by the props or pillars, for agricultural purposes. The total expense of purchasing the ground, and erecting this rail complete, is estimated at about 14004. a mile. A common ground railroad, complete, averages about 4500l. per mile. We hope Mr. Dick will endeavour to erect a specimen somewhere in the neighbourhood of London; say a circle, or a straight line of a mile or two miles (government permitting), in Hyde Park. This will do more for establishing the transcendent merit of this invention than any thing which we could write respecting it. Cond.

A Suspension Railway, of a different description, has recently been erected in the Panharmonicon Gardens, Liverpool Street, Gray's Inn Road. It consists of a single rail, about 12 ft. from the ground, from which a carriage is suspended, somewhat in Palmer's manner; and the rail being on a level, a considerable weight (say that of the carriage and 24 persons) is moved along it by a locomotive power worked by two men, at the rate of 12 or 15 miles an hour. These gardens occupy about 2 acres, and are now forming at a very great expense; but we regret to say that, both in point of planting and architecture, they are much behind contemporary taste. The pedestals to the statues of the cabinets, and the landscapes on the walls, are execrable; but the idea of the railway, the subterraneous passage, grotto, suspension-bridge, waterfall of 50 ft., and green-house that, when finished, will be nearly half a mile in length, are suitable to the locality and probable visitors, and only require to be well executed. What is wanted is, the occasional assistance of an architect of taste; of Mr. Fowler, for example; or, in what concerns vases and sculpture, of Mr. Allason. Cond.

Locomotive Steam Engines. - We think so highly of the capabilities of these new inventions, that, in our opinion, an Edinburgh man of thirty, with fair prospects of life, may expect, before he dies, to enjoy the felicity of passing from his own home to the metropolis during the daylight of one long summer's day! (Scotsman, Oct. 10. 1829.) By Dick's railway, he might go, stop two hours, and return in the same time.- Cond.

Some very interesting Experiments with Canal Boats have lately been made, by the suggestion of Mr. William Houston of Johnstone, on the Ardrossan and Paisley canal. The result is, that, by using boats of a particular description,

long, narrow, and flatbottomed, dragged by horses, a speed of 8 or 10 miles an hour is obtained; and, what is most remarkable and most advantageous as a result, scarcely any surge, which is known to be so destructive to canal banks, produced. Travelling by canal may thus be rendered as rapid as travelling by coach. We cannot spare room for details, but they will be found in that excellent newspaper the Scotsman, vol. xiv. No. 1089, June 16. It is a remarkable feature of this paper, that it anticipated the employment and the speed of locomotive steam-engines lately obtained between Manchester and Liverpool, so long ago as December 1824, when the editor was derided as a dreamer and an enthusiast. So did the editor of the Country Times in the Kaleidoscope of March 1. 1825, as quoted in the Country Times of July 12.- Cond.

Braithwaite's Steam Fire-extinguishing Engine is a machine of recent invention, and most extraordinary power. Its boiler, which is the same as that used in Braithwaite's and Ericsson's locomotive engine, occupies four fifths less space than any boiler upon any other construction yet made. The saving of fuel is more than one half; and the flue of the fire being too small to allow of what is commonly called atmosphere in draught, a blowing apparatus or bellows supplies the requisite quantity of air. The machine will deliver from 40 to 50 tons of water per hour to an elevation of from 60 to 90 ft., according to the adjutage and the wind. On a calm day, the distance of 140 ft. has been accomplished. The editor of the Literary Gazette (No. 698. p. 370.), who saw the engine in action, expresses his belief in its being equal to subdue the fiercest conflagration in a very short time. This is the machine that, properly applied, will, at some future time, plough and sow 1000 acres in a week, and reap the crop in a day. — Cond.

The object of Cooperative Societies is to give the producers the full value of their labour. For instance, a market-gardener has a certain quantity of land, and ten men employed; he also has 2007. in live and dead stock : now, as soon as the ten men are able to invest one-half of the capital required, the master and the men should come to this agreement, that each party is to receive interest for capital, and the reward of labour to be measured in proportion to the value of the skill and industry exercised by each.

If the master's time is worth more than any of the men's, let him receive an adequate proportion of profit; if not more valuable, he should not receive more: but, as long as the men leave all the risk for the master, so long must they be content to allow him to give them what portion he pleases. When they take part of the risk, they can make better terms. This instance must be applied to the working people of all trades: they have no right to receive the full value of their labour, until they work on their capital instead of the capital of others.

The means which are now in operation in almost every county in England, to give the workmen a capital, are by a number of men and women becoming members of a cooperative society, each depositing an equal sum, as 3d., 6d., or Is. weekly, the amount being laid out in the wholesale purchase of the commodities which their families buy at other people's shops: it is, indeed, by the people having shops of their own, instead of dealing at other people's shops. Those commodities are sold at the usual retail prices, and the profits added to the common capital; which capital is to be used in giving employment to that number of their members which will be most advantageous to the society, and in the purchase or rental of land, in the building of houses, and in allowing such as like to escape from the cares and troubles of competition to reside there, rearing their own food, producing their own clothing, furniture, &c., and exchanging the surplus for such commodities as they cannot produce on these lands; and, as soon as possible, annihilating individual interests. The object is, indeed, to give to every industrious family the means of easily surrounding themselves with all the essentials to a comfortable existence.

The Secretaries of the "London Society for the Diffusion of Cooperative Knowledge," No. 2. Jerusalem Passage, Clerkenwell, will give further information when desired to do so. I am, Sir, &c.-J. C. Penn, London, August 20. 1829.

From the insulated situation of gardeners in comparison of mechanics and manufacturers, they are less likely to benefit from cooperation; but we have no doubt that, in different situations, by joining with their neighbours, they might benefit to some extent; for instance, in the price of provisions. At the same time, we are not fully satisfied in our own mind that the cooperative system, as described in the above letter, is truly founded in nature, and likely to maintain a permanent footing in communities. We have not been able to bring ourselves to the belief that the annihilation of individual interests is in the order of nature; but we are not sure that we understand what is meant by it. It seems to us that cooperation is at least an excellent discipline to the cooperators; and that, if they continue to cooperate for a length of time, they must in the end acquire capital. We confess we doubt the continuance; but we most sincerely wish, as we have already observed (Vol. V. p. 388.), a fair trial to the system. We therefore again recommend to all our readers the penny tracts on cooperation before named. - Cond.

Cooperation in Education and Travel in Foreign Countries." Several months ago it was announced in the French papers that Count Alexander de Laborde had issued proposals for educating a certain number of pupils, under competent masters; the distinguishing feature being, that the pupils should acquire the living languages in the different countries; of which, at the same time, they could attain a competent knowledge of the laws, customs, institutions, arts, sciences, &c. We now find that the young persons who had been got together on this travelling scheme have already visited Turin, Genoa, Florence, and Rome, and they are said to have made great progress in the different branches of education. As they travel on an economical scale, parents, who are anxious for their sons to see the world, have thus an opportunity of sending them out without the exclusive expense of a travelling tutor." (Literary Gazette, March 6.)

This is an excellent idea, and we have no doubt it will in time be generally adopted in every civilised country. Travelling, as a means of education, was formerly only within the power of the wealthy; by applying to it the cooperative principle, it is brought within the reach of the middling classes, tradesmen and farmers. By Dick's raised railroads and locomotive engines it may in a few years become as easy to make the tour of Europe as it is now to make the tour of Britain, and as easy to visit all the principal cities of the world as it is now to visit the principal cities of Europe. Such a state of things could not exist long without one language prevailing over every other. When Britain and France shall be selfgoverned for the good of the whole, as in America, the inhabitants of the three countries will know each other better, and will cooperate for the establishment of the same weights, measures, monies, and language throughout the world. But why suppose that travelling will be limited to the independent classes, or to children supported by their parents? By Mr. Dick's railway, and manual locomotive power, half a dozen gardeners or mechanics might move themselves all over Europe, working now and then when they chose, as the gardeners and mechanics now walk on foot through Germany, and recruit their finances by a few weeks' work every now and then. Thus, with the spread of knowledge and its application, all, even the most refined enjoyments of the highest classes, may be brought within the reach of the lowest, viz. those who live by the commonest descriptions of manual labour.- Cond.

A Stove with an open Fire Place, the object of which is to cure smoky chimneys, has been patented in France by M. Fonzi, an Italian dentist, and

is now exhibiting in Percy Street, London. There is nothing new in the principle, and the only difference between this cast-iron stove and those in common use for warming workshops, halls, &c. is, that the front, and the door or opening for the fuel, instead of being perpendicular, are inclined at an angle of probably 30°. By this means, when the fire is lighted, a draft created, and the door removed, the fire is seen somewhat in the same manner as in a common fireplace. Instead of a hinged door, M. Fonzi employs a lid, which when the fire is lighted he removes for the day. For particular cases, and especially where a chimney smokes, these stoves may be substituted for the common open fireplace, with the advantage of showing the fire, so gratifying to popular English feeling; but as, whenever the fire becomes low, the draft must cease, and the smoke and dust rise into the apartment, they are never likely to come into general use.

A Domestic Improvement, of a different nature, is about to be commenced by M. Fonzi, which we shall hail with more satisfaction than his stove, and in which we do not doubt that he will be much more successful. M. Fonzi is the original inventor of the terro-metallic teeth lately introduced to London from Paris, and, for every quality required in artificial teeth, found greatly superior to any of the kind hitherto in use. These teeth are now sold, even by the cheapest dentists, at two and three guineas each. It is M. Fonzi's intention to reduce the price to 5s. or 7s., by which means they may come into universal use, and the humblest female may thus mend her charms in this department as readily as she now does in the article of hair. This we think will be a very great improvement, and M. Fonzi will deserve immortal honour for the attempt to bring it about. We do not believe there is a class of men in the country who so soon make fortunes as dentists in full employment; and the reason is, because there are so few in the trade that it is held as a mystery. It is supposed to be something too high for a mechanic, and yet too low for a regularly educated medical man. As society advances all mysteries will be revealed, the principle of the division of labour will be applied in this case as in every other, and the business of the dentist will resolve itself into that of the surgeon dentist, the mechanic dentist, and the tooth manufacturer. The latter requires no more skill than a china manufacturer; nor the mechanic dentist than a barber, certainly not a tithe of the science of a carpenter and joiner. The raw material of the terro-metallic teeth is the same as that which is burnt into china, with the addition of a metallic oxide, so that its cost and its manufacture into teeth can be no great object, and the wages of the operator or mechanic dentist in fitting in the teeth when once there is such a general demand as we contemplate, will not exceed those of a journeyman peruke-maker. In the mean time, before this business is brought to its lowest level, there will be money to be made by it, and we would point it out to parents as a very desirable business for their sons. In Paris, ladies sometimes exercise the profession, and very properly so when they confine their practice to their own sex. The inhabitants of Australia very soon lose their teeth, and a mechanical dentist must be a good business with a view to emigration thither. M. Fonzi styles himself" surgeon-dentist to the Imperial Court of Russia, and his Majesty the King of Spain." He will render no small service to the cause of civilisation and refinement, if he brings one more of those enjoyments, hitherto attainable exclusively by the rich, within the means of the poor. We hope a few knowing gardeners and mechanics will

See Rapport fait à l'Athenée des Arts, &c., sur l'Examen des divers Procédés employés par M. Dubois-Foucon, et par M. Fonzi, pour la fabrication des dents artificielles, lu et adopté dans l'assemblée générale du 13 Novembre, 1809.