400 New Machine for Constructing Tiles. 



Your reference to tlie new mode of draining with concrete, like 

 the equally new mode by peat, is a good and valuable discovery 

 as applicable to particular localities, but inapplicable for general 

 use, inasmuch as the material is not to be obtained in the great 

 majority of cases, but at too great cost for lime, gravel, and cart- 

 age, as compared with, in my opinion, the better and more per- 

 manent system of tiles with soles. I have seldom seen or heard 

 of effective stone-draining that did not cost more than tiles, 

 although the stone be within an average distance of half a mile of 

 the field to be drained. I will refer you to the very able article 

 on draining, communicated by the Hon. Robert Clive, in the 

 Royal Agricultural Journal, vol. i. Part iii. p. 248 ; the cost, in 

 that instance, for draining with stone from the adjoining held, 

 ■without any charge for stone beyond the labour and cartage, was 

 6/. lO^". per acre: now, had that land, 7a. 1r., been drained with 

 tiles and soles — tiles at 256-. and soles at ]5s. — it would have cost 

 less than the stone. But of such importance to the country has 

 the operation of draining proved, it is of great consequence that 

 the most permanent, as well as the cheapest, mode should be 

 ascertained ; to arrive at which it will be necessary to arrange 

 the descriptions of land requiring draining, from the bog and peat 

 to the pure clay, with the best known practice of draining each, 

 and material for doing it. 



I am. Sir, 



Yours most respectfully, 



W. Ford. 



Richmond Wharf, Nine Elms* 



XXXIII. — Agriculttircd Tour in Denmark, Sweden, and Russia. 

 By James F. W. Johnston, F.R.S. 



I. Denmark. 

 There is confessedly much to be done still for British Agricul- 

 ture. Many good practices may still be introduced from other 

 countries, and many already in use among us may be more widely 

 spread. Many sound precepts also remain still to be generally 

 diffused — by the application of which we may reasonably antici- 

 pate that the land will be rendered not only more productive on 

 the whole, but more remunerative also both to the landlord and 

 to the tenant. 



And yet a person moderately skilled in agricultural affairs, who 

 has had the opportunity of previously becoming acquainted with 

 some of our best cultivated districts, will soon satisfy himself, when 



