240 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



rior are vast plains with natural grass herbage, and lightly wooded. 

 The best of pasturage for stock of all sorts; temperature genial; 

 no necessity for any artificial protection for them ; air pure, dry 

 and bracing. The best breed of sheep liave been introduced. 



In 1828, the wool of the United Kingdom was 11') million lbs. 

 In 1818, the value of woolen goods of England was 140 millions 

 of dollars. 



The attempt to establish the Spanish breed in England is a 

 failure. 



Mr. Southey estimates in 1846, the number of sheep in the 

 United Kingdom, at forty millions, of which fifteen millions are 

 slaughtered annually. That the fleeces of all amounted then 



to, 275,000,000 



Add our imports, 77,000,000 



And we have annually brought to sale, 352,000,000 lbs. 



By the census of 1850, the United States showed 22 millions of 

 sheep (nearly,) and 52i millions of wool. 



[Journal of the Society of Arts. London, April 18th. 1856.1 

 Extracts by H. Meigs, 



TPtACTIO^[ STKAM ENGINE. 



^'Boydell's traction steam engine for agricultural purposes is 

 a great success. It is a horizontal machine on wheels, with a 

 man to steer in front, and an engineer behind. Two cylinders, 

 6i by 10, are worked at 60 pounds pressure per inch, with a quick 

 movement, and is estimated at 16 horse power. Twenty pounds 

 of steam were required to keep the machine moving, the other 

 40 pounds for traction. The machine can turn as easily as a 

 common wagon and not mind a deep furrow or a side hill. The 

 success of this machine is owing to an endless and wide railway 

 attached to the circumference of the wheels, which gives' a ful- 

 crum for the lever and a bearing sufficiently wide to carry a great 

 weight on soft ground without imbedding in the soil. B;)ydell's 

 engine although it weighed nine tons made scarcely a perceptible 

 impression upon the soil, where a horse's foot left a deep indenta- 

 tion. 



This engine walked from Camdentown to Acton, taking in tow 

 its four wheel wagon with coals, and four heavy iron ploughs, 

 and water enough for four hours' work. When on the soft turnip 

 field (after a night's rain,) it drew after it ploughs, scarifier, etc., 

 with perfect ease — it then walked home to Camdentown. 



