PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 45 



F.R.S., was published in the 'Transactions of the Institution of Civil 

 Engineers ' for 1863. 



(Signed) " W. J. Macquorn Rankine, 

 " Consulting Engineer to the Highland and Agricultural 

 " Society of Scotland. 

 " Glasgow, 17th December 1867." 



From Professor Rankine's " Civil Engineering." Addendum to article 424, 

 page 728. 



"Siphons for Tidal Drainage. — The waters of the middle level drainage 

 canal are discharged over the top of an embankment, through sixteen parallel 

 siphons, each of 3h feet bore and 1^ inch thick. The summits of the siphons 

 are 20 feet above, and their lower ends 1^ foot below low water of spring 

 tides. They have flap valves, opening down stream, at both ends ; the lower 

 valve can be made fast with a bridle when required. The air is exhausted 

 from their summits, when required, by an air-pump having three cylinders 

 of 15 inches diameter and 18 inches stroke, driven by a high-pressure steam- 

 engine of ten-horse power. The floor of the canal at the inlets and outlets is 

 protected by a wooden apron." — J. Hawlcshaw, C.E., F.B.S., in the Proceedings 

 of the Institution of Civil Engineers, April 1863. 



The Secretary was instructed to thank Mons. Cretin Borne for his com- 

 munication, and to send him a copy of the remarks by Professor Macquorn 

 Rankine. 



Farming in South Africa. — The following communication, addressed to 

 the Secretary, by Mr J. J. Pratt, Consul-General, South African Republic, 

 was submitted : — 



" Consulate, South African Republic, 



69 Fenchurch Street, E.C., 



London, 16th December 1867. 



" Sir, — From your general knowledge of the agricultural interest in your 

 locality, I have the honour to address you, not with the view of promoting 

 emigration so much as opening a medium through which information may be 

 disseminated relative to the South African Republic, which up to lately has 

 been very little known, but is daily attracting increased attention, few coun- 

 tries offering equal advantages in pasturage, water, or general fertility of soil 

 for sheep farming, cattle breeding, or general agriculture — the pursuits of the 

 greater part of its 25,000 white inhabitants. All who have had the oppor- 

 tunity of judging admit that no country enjoys a more healthy climate, 

 rendered cool by its altitude, and in every way well suited to the constitution 

 of Europeans. 



" Coffee, tobacco, sugar, and other tropical products, are grown in suitable 

 localities; while on the higher lying lands, similar to ' New Scotland' and 

 ' Industria,' the finest wheat, cereals, and fruit thrive ; indeed, farming 

 common to England is most successfully carried on. 



" Land at present being very cheap, will of itself be a safe and profitable 

 investment, from the fact that it is intended to construct either a cheap line of 

 railway, tramway, or road suitable for traction engines from the capital to the 

 new settlements, and such other main roads, that will reduce the distance and 

 decrease the cost of transport of produce. 



"With such increased facilities, the South African Republic, otherwise 

 known as the Transvaal, is destined to become the storehouse of South Africa, 

 supplying the neighbouring States with grain and other cereals at present 

 imported from foreign markets. 



" As Consul-General for the country, I have received commissions from 

 residents to find suitable purchasers for nine farms, of 6000 acres each, sever- 

 ally suited for sheep-runs, cattle, coffee, and general farming, diagrams of 

 which I am expecting. As there may be from time to time further commis- 



