12 



AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING, ic. 



[1853. 



is withdrawn, the water rises through the powdered quartz, and 

 fills the tube ; and, by syphonic action, the Water is drawn do\Yn 

 by its superior gravity. The lower the tube the greater the 

 pressure, for the weight of water flowing do-\vi\ operates on the 

 filtering surface as directiy as if the same column of fluid were 

 placed "above it. The amount of pressure is, however, limited to 

 that of the pressure of the atmosphere ; for were the tube length- 

 ened beyond 30 feet, the column of water would separate and 

 leave a vacum. This filter rendeis the muddiest water beautifully 

 clear when acting with the pressure of not more than two feet, 

 at the rate of four gallons an hour. — Report on the Great 

 Exhibition. 



Rodd's Registered Filter-tap. 



Fig. 1 is an outside view of Mr. Rodd's filter, and fig. 2 is a 

 section, about quarter size. It is of brass, tinned inside, to pre- 

 vent the shghtest contamination of the water ; and is composed 

 of three cylindei-s, the second one having a series of small holes, 

 dj-iUed laterally near the bottom, through which the water enters 

 „„i the filter, which 



flllil|,JSllili,illliiiiii:i. may be attached 



directly to the cis- 

 tern or butt. The 

 course of the water 

 is shown by the 

 arrows. The filter 

 is fiUed with peat 

 charcoal, or other 

 approved material. 

 When the filthy 

 stufi' supplied by 

 the water compa- 

 nies is passed thro' 

 one of these filters, 

 it will pass out not 

 only me- 

 chanical Ij', 

 but chemi- 

 cally purifi- 

 ed, from the 

 4\^ cr-p deodoriz ing 

 -^'' '-^— ^^^ and purify- 

 — -'^ — S^i incfi: 



Fig. 1. 



Agricultural Engineering. 



The farm of Harold Littledale, Esq., of the County of 

 Chester, Eno'land, furnishes an illustration of the very artificial 

 practice now becoming by no means uncommon among the 

 scientific AgricultuTists of the day. The experiment so thoroughly 

 and successfully carried out by Mr. Littledale, deiives additional 

 interest and importance when contemplated with regard to the 

 proposed distribution of the sewage water of London and some 

 of the large provincial towns, over the farms in the vicinity of 

 those great centres of popidation. Canadian Farmers are not in 

 a position to avail themselves of the expensive artifices described 

 below. Such examples, however, serve well to encourage the 

 enterprising in this country, to seize upon every rational means 

 of raising the standard of Ilusbandjy, and to ari'ive at that 

 practice which secures the greatest amount of permanent remu- 

 neration with comparatively, the least expenditure of capital. 

 The details subjoined we extracted from the report to the 

 Board of Health on Liscard Farm near Birkenhead, by W. Leej 

 Esq., Superintending Inspector. 



Mr. Littledale has drained all the land on this farm capable 

 of being drained. Both pipes and tiles have been used. Some 

 of the drains are laid only 2-^ feet deep, others 4 feet, and latterly, 

 increased as the result of experience. The average width between 

 the chains is about 2 1 feet. The cost was £4 to £5 sterlmg jjer ax;re . 



Liquid manure is preserved for distribution in a tank capable 

 of containing 58,.300 gaUons. It is forced by means of steam 

 power through iron pipes thi'ough a distance of 2 miles, serving 

 for 150 acres. There is a hydrant for every 300 yards of main. 

 The hydrants are so fixed that with 150 yards of hose the distri- 

 butor and boy can irrigate 10 acres per day. The quantity 

 distributed to each acre being about 4,118 gallons. 



The hose pipe is of gutta percha, and consists of 75 yards, 2 

 inches in diameter, costing 2s. 6d. per yard, and 75 yards 1-^ inch. 



Mr. Littledale's capital account for irrigation stand thus : — 

 Tank . - - - £210 



Steam Engine - - - 60 



Two Pumps - - - 70 



Iron Pipes - - - 315 4 



75 yards of 2-inch gutta percha hose 9 18 



75 vards of li do do 7 10 6 



St. Rottox Chemical Works. — The chimney of the St. Rollox 

 Chemical Works is the highest buikhng in the city, and the 

 hifdiest of its kind in the world. Its height is 455 feet from the 

 foundation, 435 feet fi'om the surface of the earth, and, from the 

 position, it must be nearly 600 feet above the level of the sea. 

 Its diameter at the surface of the earth is 40 feet ; but it tapers 

 upwards until, at the top, the breadth is reduced to 13^ feet. 

 This is the measurement within the walls ; but, for nearly 200 

 feet upwards, the building is double. One chimney is built round 

 another until the fabric reaches nearly the height mentioned. 

 The erection occupied the greater pai-t of two summers, andwas 

 completed at a cost of £12,000. The St. Rollox works form a 

 vast chemical laboratory, covering twenty acres of land. — 

 Alhenexiw. 



Tot;d 



£672 1 10 



From the data already ascertained the following will be the 

 annual account for interest and working ex]5en.ses. 



Interest upon £672 and wear and tear 



@ 7^ per cent. - - - £ 50 8 



Fuel due to irrigation - - 4 6 8 



Wages - - - 13 4 4 



£67 19 



Divided by 150, the number of acres irrigated, the account is 

 equal to an average of 9s. 0|-d, per acre. 



The present live stock yielding manure consists of 81 milk 

 cows, 2 bulls, ii.'Mrly 100 pigs, and 12 horses. Ah the liquid 

 IVoiii tlic ^-l:llill -, r.iw-houses, piggeries, yards, cottages, and the 

 liailitf 's liriiisc, ilr.-iius underground to the tank. 



As the general result of draining, liquid manures, and other 

 improvements eft'oeted by Mr. Littledale, I (Mr. Lee) was infomied 

 tliat the yield of the whole farm is double what it was 10 years ago. 



