270 Journal of Agriculture. [8 .May, 1908. 



even a greater area may be covered. The pulling is preferable as no 

 snags and but few stumps are left behind. 



A waggon contrived from the wheels of a discarded engine, carries eight 

 400-gallon tanks or over 3.000 gallons of water, and is pulled by an 

 engine to the seat of operations, the water being obtained from the bore 

 at the railway station. This is sufficient for three days' work in mallee and 

 six days in gum country. Firewood is supplied by a man and dray 

 working about three hours per day, one ton measurement being burnt in 

 gum and two in mallee country. 



That the work descril:)ed is possible upon such loose sandv soil is due 

 to the invention of Mr. J. Bottrill, in charge of the works. The Dread- 

 nought Patent, as it is called, consists of the attachment of eight or more 

 bearers in two rows around the circumference of all the wheels. They are 

 attached by steel cables to the rims of the Avheels, and are screwed up 

 tight by U bolts. The tread or face of the wheel is fitted with two 

 grooves formed by angle iron flan;_;es in which the bearers oscillate. The 

 bearers are made of channel steel and are, in ordinary cases, between 4 

 and 5 feet long, and i foot wide with cross bars or grips for those on the 

 driving wheels. These can be renewed as required. Inside the Iiearer are 

 fitted two pieces of steel rail to take the wear on the rim. The contri\ance 

 can be better understood, perhaps, by reference to the illustration. The 

 practical effect of the contrivance is that the wheel has a l:)earing surface 

 on the ground of at least 4 square feet, rendering it possible to work 

 on loose sand and ])robably on soft ground, though in marshy ground 

 with much growth, clogging mav take place. For hard roads the con- 

 trivance is not suitable, nor would it be any advantage ; but on ordinary 

 countrv roads or for farm work, it will greatly increase the efficiency of a 

 traction engine. It does not, of course, add to the power but increases 

 the proportion available for hauling bv reducing the work done in shifting 

 the engine. The best evidence of its usefulness is afforded by its work 

 at Tintinara ; where, before the addition of the bearers the engine under a 

 full head of steam merelv buried itself in the loose sand, it now goes along 

 pulling down large trees without a sign of slip. Those who have had 

 experience of engine work on sand will appreciate such an invention. 





