Sutherland Reclamation. 
421 
engines to the headland ; it is there tilted over and emptied by 
the action of the other engine which, in coiling up its rope, raises 
the shaft A until it catches the top of the frame at B, and so 
inverts the sledge. In addition to its convenience for trans- 
porting stones on soft and boggy land, the action of the sledge 
upon the surface of the recently broken land is often very bene- 
ficial in summer. While it is desirable that the furrow of peat 
or moss should be partially dried before it is broken up, it will 
Fig. 4. — Elevation of Sledge for Stones. 
Fig. 5. — Plan of Sledge for Stones. 
not do to let the drying be continued long enough to pro- 
duce a dry turf fit for burning ; for if once thoroughly dried, 
it will resist the action of the atmosphere and remain hard 
peat for several seasons. The sledge not only consolidates the 
rough surface, but by its rubbing action greatly assists in dis- 
integrating it. The sledges are usually worked in pairs, one 
returning empty as the other goes down full ; they are not pro- 
vided with any means of steering them, and some difficulty is 
experienced in getting them to pass each other. When working 
all day without interruption, as much as 200 tons of stones may 
be cleared in the day by one pair of engines and a pair of 
sledges, where the stones are numerous. 
