106 Domestic Notices : — England. 



the water up, in the form of a cone, into a basin on the summit of a column 

 of sheliwork; through the bottom of that basin the water runs into the buckets 

 of an overshot wheel, which, being disguised by sheliwork, turns the shells 

 continually, and for that kind of beauty is very effective. 



The view from the Swiss Cottage is to rockwork and a waterfall ; the 

 rockwork is an imitation of a broken stratified precipice, and is admirably 

 done. A part of this rockwork was superintended by Mr. Paris, the emi- 

 nent artist, and the remainder by Mr. Gray, also an excellent artist both in 

 architecture and landscape, who designed and executed the sheliwork of 

 the fountain, and a great variety of other improvements within and around 

 the Colosseum. Mr. Gray is one of those variously talented men, who are 

 sometimes produced by accident. He can chaw every description of subject, 

 and that accurately and beautifully ; engrave both on copper and stone, 

 model, measure, calculate ; he is a turner, was brought up a cabinet-maker, 

 and has been in business as an upholsterer ; he understands something of 

 gardening and laying out grounds, and in every thing he undertakes evinces 

 a ready and fertile invention. Such a man, about a great nobleman's house, 

 would be invaluable, particularly where theatricals were to be got up, pic- 

 tures to be hung and kept in repair, or where there was much valuable furni- 

 ture to keep in order, or new buildings or alterations going forward. — Cond. 



Sabots. — Sir, I feel obliged by your hint respecting the French sabots. 

 I have generally eight or nine young men, and a large share of winter nail- 

 ing, and I have often thought of having the kind of clogs used by coachmen in 

 washing their carriages ; but these are not to be had here. I have now ordered 

 twenty pair of the sabots of Mr. Smith, nurseryman, Worcester, which, I 

 hope, will be the means of introducing them into that district, as well as into 

 this neighbourhood. I do not notice this with the view of your reward, but 

 to encourage emulation. I am, Sir, &c. — John JVLearns. Oct. 10. 1829. 



The Ploughing Match of the West Kent Agricultural Associatio?i, the founder 

 of which was Mr. Dickson, the very intelligent and active occupier of the farm 

 of Kidbrook, near Deptford, took place Nov. 3. The great object of the 

 association is to introduce two-horse swing ploughs ; seven of these started, 

 " on a piece of pure clay," but we are told that this clay was in such a state 

 that the teams could only get through their work " by snatches." We 

 notice the statement chiefly for the sake of hinting at the great disadvantage 

 to the landlord, the farmer, the community of England, and we may say to 

 the whole world, of that monopoly which forces such land into cultivation. 

 If the trade in corn were free, no such soils in a moist climate would ever 

 be ploughed at all ; they would be employed in the production of cheese, 

 butter, and butchers' meat, or they would be planted. In either case the 

 public would gain. It is now perfectly clear to us that land may be ploughed 

 incomparably cheaper by steam than by horses, the engines being stationed 

 from point to point, in the manner of the fixed machine employed in drawing 

 Lumbert's mole plough ; and whenever this shall take place generally in the 

 corn countries of Europe, the price of corn must inevitably fall so low, that 

 only the best corn soils will for a while be cultivated. Then will be found 

 the advantage of having grass-lands and woodlands, and the parks and lawns 

 of England will be found doubly useful and ornamental. — Cond. 



The Invention of a Steam Plough. — Henry Handley, Esq., of Culver- 

 thorpe, near Sleaford, in Lincolnshire, has, in the 'Farmer's Journal of 

 December 14., offered a reward of one hundred guineas for the invention 

 of a steam plough. We cannot but highly applaud such a spirited pro- 

 posal, and we are convinced that a very few hundreds more would produce 

 the invention. A very little reflection will convince both landlord and 

 tenant that they would be great gainers by the substitution of steam for 

 horses in ploughing, harrowing, and thrashing, if not in reaping and other 

 operations. Less capital would be required of the farmers, who would, at 

 the same time,, have more disposable produce. — Cond. 



