432 
Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 
" It may lie stated that the system now described has been in operation for 
some years iu the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and also at other manufactories 
in tlie neighbourhood of Loudon. The application of caustic soda for this 
purpose was made at the suggestion of the undersigned, who is not at the 
present moment acquainted with any material which is at once so efficient and 
inexpensive. " John Spiller, F.C.S." 
On the vexed question of the formation of boilers, a gentleman well 
known to the Society writes to me as follows : — 
"It is a singular thing that though we have made great improvements of 
late in the construction of steam-engines, iozYer-engineering is very much what 
it was at the time of Watt ; by which I do not mean to suggest that im]irove- 
ments in boilers have not been made since that period, but that, compared witli 
the progress in the construction and management of steam-engines, that of 
boilers has made comparatively little advance." 
In several large towns, such as London and Manchester, there are 
societies for the prevention of steam-boiler explosions, and duly quaK- 
fied persons are sent once a month, or at stated periods, to examine the 
boilers belonging to members. According to the Report of the Man- 
chester Association, there were diu-ing the month of J anuary last no less 
than ninety accidents to boilers, in some shape or other, biit of these 
only eight appear to have been dangerous. The Association, neverthe- 
less, remark in their Report that " incrustation should not be regarded 
merely as a matter of inconvenience, but frequently of -positive danger." 
I do not suppose that in the rural districts we sliall ever have such an 
array of accidents as that reported by the Manchester Association, but 
we might, I think, as agriculturists, take a lesson out of their book, 
by forming associations in different districts for the periodical inspec- 
tion and supervision of om* machine boilers and engines. Mr. Fowler 
is understood to have determined on having an establishment for that 
pui'pose at Swindon — a central spot, around which, within a certain 
area, a great many steam-ploughs of his make are at work ; and he 
intends, for a moderate annual charge, to ascertain, by periodical 
visits, whether or not these steam-jiloughs and machines are in working 
order. As agriculturists we have not many accidents in the form of 
boiler explosions, but there are a great many minor accidents connected 
with steam machinery, which might be avoided by systematic inspec- 
tion and periodical supervision. A gentleman in Gloucestershire 
says in a letter to me : — " My brother-in-law, a Gloucester cloth- 
manufacturer, is guardian of a union, four-fifths of which is certainly 
manufactiu'ing ; but he finds on investigation that the cases which 
come before him requiring relief on accoimt of accidents are not only 
relatively, but absolutely, more numerous in the agricultui'al parishes." 
A large number of these accidents to individuals arise, I believe, from 
the valves of steam-engines getting out of order, from the gauges being 
defective, and from other causes, the remedy for which, if the matter 
were promptly looked into, would be simple and inexpensive. 
