396 Agricultural Meeting at Paris of 1856. 



with three, and some with four lambs. It might be worth while 

 to ascertain by experiment whether the remarkable fecundity of 

 this race could be turned by us to good account. 



We regretted very much that horses were not included in the 

 show ; the more so, as the draught horses of France are excellent, 

 and would have obtained ready purchasers from the successful 

 exhibitors of English cattle and sheep. In this way commerce 

 would have sprung up, and reciprocal interchange, which it is 

 most desirable to promote, would have been established between 

 us. I trust the French Minister of Agriculture is satisfied that 

 this deficiency ought to be supplied, and that prizes will be given 

 for draught horses in the show of next year. 



In connection with draught horses mention should be made of 

 the carts of France. We have something to learn on this head. 

 The French transport immense loads on a pair of high wheels. 

 I was assured, that in the conveyance of stone to Paris along a 

 paved road, three horses have moved as much as nine tons. It is 

 impossible to observe the every-day traffic of the streets and the 

 roads, and not to see that three horses on a pair of high wheels 

 are conveying loads exceeding the load we convey with four 

 horses on waggons with four wheels. It is true these high 

 wheels on straight axles elevate the loads to an inconvenient 

 height ; but it would seem possible to unite the advantage of 

 high wheels with low loads by the use of crank axles. The 

 power of welding iron by the steam-hammer gives increased 

 facility for the construction of crank axles. 



I beg leave to invite the special attention of the Council of the 

 Society to this point, as one in which they may lead the way to 

 an important improvement. 



I invite the attention of our spirited machine-makers and con- 

 structors to the same object. They will, I doubt not, run before 

 the suggestions of the Council, and not delay thus to add to the 

 long list of services already performed by them to the cause of 

 agriculture. 



Machinery. 



In the class of machinery Mr. Amos regrets that after a close 

 examination he can discover but few novelties which are likely 

 to be useful to the English farmers. He points out one novelty, 

 in the formation of the boiler of a portable steam-engine, ex- 

 hibited by Mr. E. Perignon of Pau (art. 1667). The fire-tubes 

 of this boiler are constructed in such a manner that they can be 

 easily removed and cleaned. Tliis is effected by a main fire- 

 tube being connected at one end to the front plate of the boiler, 

 and at the other end to a Avrought-iron box. The smaller tubes 

 are fastened in a similar manner. The heat passes through the 

 main fire-tube, and returns through the ten small tubes, and the 



