On the Reduction of Horse Labour by single Carts. 79 



I have now shown how in my situation all inconvenience from 

 pressure is obviated. And for myself I should not fear in any situ- 

 ation the success of this cart with a single horse's draught, and that 

 only by suiting the form and size of the load to circumstances. 

 For it is an almost unanswerable argument that practice sanctions 

 the use of an implement of much greater pressure (see Fig. 2) 

 in mountainous counties in England and Scotland; and again 

 in many midland counties farmers do not scruple to put the 

 pressure of a two and three-horse cart load on the back of one 

 shaft horse. Nevertheless, I will offer to those who farm on ex- 

 cessively steep slopes (as well as for the purpose of farther eluci- 

 dating the principle advocated), two hints, by which I think 

 pressure may be completely remedied; but at the same time 

 undertaking to vouch for nothing more in other respects than their 

 mere feasibility. 



The first is by a cart of sufficient length to afford room for the 

 load towards the two extremities^ leaving the middle empty, so 

 that at the greatest descent it has to meet with, no portion of the 

 bulk shall pass the plumb-line, consequently, according to what 

 has been before shown^, no overbalance can take place — no weight 

 can be thrown forward. This will be best explained by Fig. 4, 

 where the skeleton cart is so loaded as to leave the middle clear, 

 showing that, at the inclination given, the space at the triangle 

 E C D, that would otherwise be occupied by the weight of 

 pressure, being void, no weight can be thrown upon the horse till 

 the load meets with a greater slope, and a portion of it passes 

 the plumb-line E. But as it would be difficult for labourers so 

 to lay the load as to prevent its slipping out of its place going 

 down hill, I would suggest a framework of very light materials 

 made in the form and fixed in the position of this triangle ; and 

 made to expand to suit any descent. 



My second hint is a carriage built below the axle^ as near as 

 possible to the ground, as in Fig 5. The object of this is, first, 

 the inversion of the pressure, i. e. as all beyond a certain over- 

 balance of load placed above the axle-tree acts injuriously on the 

 horse, the same bulk placed below it might be found beneficial 

 in inverse proportion. The diagram, Fig. 6, (NNNN) will 

 show that the pressure will then be upon the horse's back going 

 up hill, which is generally considered desirable, and, in the same 

 degree, that it hangs on the breast-bone in descending ; but 

 whether this would tend to " keep him up" I have not proved. 

 But the principal advantage of the carriage in Fig. 5 is, that if 



compass. It may be used with either tongue-tree or shafts, as designed for 

 oxen or horses, and can be made with either two wheels or four. The load 

 is secured by two ropes tightened by a winch or roller, fixed behind ; and 

 the waggon carries 300 sheaves with ease,— J. French Burke. 



