100 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



which it should be carefully placed. This sort of tile is still 

 used in many parts of the country ; and it is universally advised, 

 as the result of the best experience, wherever this horseshoe 

 tile is used, that it should always be placed upon a sole or bot 

 tom. For this purpose, the sole might be formed and baked like 

 the tile itself. Where slates are plenty and easy to be had, they 

 answer well as a substitute for the clay tile. The next step in 

 the improvement of the form of a drain tile was to bend it in 

 the form of a pipe, bringing the edges almost together, but leav 

 ing a seam at the under part for the admission of the water, as 

 it was then deemed indispensable for this object that it should 

 be done. The last improvement is that of making a complete 

 pipe, of such a diameter in the bore as is deemed necessary ; and 

 these are now made by machines, of which there are several of 

 very ingenious construction, and some of which produce eight 

 or eleven pipes at a single operation, of a uniform thickness and 

 bore, and all cut to the same length. Different materials have 

 been used for the formation of draining tiles ; some have been a 

 mixture of various substances, principally lime and sand, and 

 called concrete ; but perhaps no better material can be found 

 than the best of brick clay j and this, when properly prepared 

 and well baked, will be found to endure for a length of time as 

 yet unascertained. The proper preparation of the clay requires 

 that the stones should be picked out of it, and that it should be 

 finely ground and pulverized. Some persons insist that it should 

 be washed ; but the best machines are so made as to avoid this 

 necessity. The speed with which some of these machines are 

 operated, is quite remarkable ; it being asserted, on authority which 

 may be relied upon, that Hatcher s machine, when worked by a 

 man and three boys, will turn out nearly 11,000 pipe tiles, of 

 one inch bore, in a day of ten hours, and so in proportion for 

 pipes of a larger diameter. A machine invented by Mr. Scragg, 

 of Calveley, Cheshire, &quot; is equivalent,&quot; says Mr. Parkes, the 

 engineer of the Royal Agricultural Society, &quot; to the easy man 

 ufacture of more than 20,000 pipes of an inch bore per day of 

 ten hours, and so on in proportion for other sizes. It is also 

 worked,&quot; he adds, a at a less cost of labor, and with greater 

 ease to the workmen, than any other machine with which I am 

 acquainted.&quot; Tt must be admitted that this is a great advance 

 in mechanical invention and improvement. 



