OP ROADS. 67 



road ; and as the broad wheels are seldom used but upon 

 soft ground, these old rings last a long time, and they are 

 attended with no trouble or inconvenience, as they are 

 made to fit the axle-tree of the common wheels. 



But if it be possible, by any means, to impress the public 

 mind with a deep conviction of the advantage of broad 

 wheels, the following observations, from an intelligent and 

 respectable country gentleman; William Cunningham, Esq. 

 of Lainshaw, will probably have that effect. He states his 

 full conviction, that no person whose mind is open to con- 

 viction, can make a trial of these wheels, for farming pur- 

 poses, without at once perceiving their very great superiority 

 over the old wheels. He is satisfied, that his farm roads 

 will, in time coming, be maintained at one-fourth of the ex- 

 pence hitherto incurred for that purpose; and, as he is 

 draining his own farm to an extent not yet practised in this 

 part of the kingdom, which necessarily requires a propor- 

 tionate carriage of materials, he expects very soon to be 

 repaid the cost of his new wheels. 



He informs me, that he got one pair of broad wheels in 

 the month of May, 1811 ; and that after a very short ex- 

 perience of their effects upon the roads of his farm, he or- 

 dered three pair more to complete the regular establish- 

 ment of his farm, which consists of four single-horse carts. 

 His wheels are five inches broad, and four feet six inches 

 in height. They cost, at Morton's manufacture, Leith 

 Walk, near Edinburgh, about L. 11, 18s. cash price. 

 Common wheels of the same height, and about two inches 

 and a half broad, cost, in Ayrshire, about L.8, 10s. Cylin- 

 drical wheels, he affirms, are equally well adapted to every 

 purpose, whether of road, carriage, or agriculture. In 

 farming operations, their superiority is so great, that he 

 thinks it would be for the interest of every extensive farmer 

 to adopt them immediately, even if he should be obliged to 



