188 



THE PLAJ^TER'S GUIDE 



be found useful with long-stemmed, or verj lieavy subjects 

 of any sort, especially when they are to be brought from 

 the distance of half a mile or more, as must often happen. 

 I have, however, by bringing the third wheel closer to the 

 two others, endeayoured to render this less objectionable. 



In a system of transportation regulated by the aboye 

 principles, it will be perceived that the driver of the 

 horses cannot proceed too slowly. The rate of between 

 two and three miles an hour, on level gTound, implies the 

 quickest pace that should ever be attempted. By heights 

 and hollows, and narrow passes, by roughness or un- 

 evenness of ground, accidents enow will happen, without 

 aggravating them by carelessness or needless haste. In 

 going up an acclivity, how gradual soever it may be, it is 

 obvious that, with a load so nicely balanced, a proportional 

 depression of the top must take place, and in descending 

 a like depression of the root. But by the attention of the 

 steersman, and particularly of the two balancemen above, 

 or the efforts of both united, much undue pressm-e on 

 either roots or branches may be avoided. If the declivity 

 be steep, approaching to a fall of one foot in twenty, fore- 

 sight will suggest the expediency of taking off the horses, 

 so as to prevent the possibility of their being overrun by 

 the machine ; for in such a case it will be found to descend 

 with sufficient velocity, and little aid from the men, in 

 consequence of the impetus given to it by its own weight. 



There is, however, one species of accident, against which 

 it may be proper to caution the inexperienced planter, as 

 it has happened at this place. As it did happen, it was 

 productive only of merriment, instead of the loss of hfe or 

 limb ; although such an issue was far more " owing to 

 good luck than to good guiding,"^ (as the national proverb 

 has it,) or to any claim to vigilance or prudent manage- 

 ment. In proceeding with the machine down a gentle 



