614 
Report  on  Implements  at  York. 
type,  with  a hot-water  feed-tank  below.  A portion  of  the 
exhaust  steam  is  passed  into  this  tank,  and  the  water  is  taken 
from  it  by  means  of  a force-pump  worked  direct  from  the 
engine-shaft,  and  is  put  into  the  boiler  at  a high  temperature. 
The  grab  or  bucket,  of  which  the  following  is  an  excellent 
illustration  (Fig.  14),  is  capable  of  holding  3 to  4 cwt.  of  deposit ; 
it  is  faced  on  the  cutting 
edges  with  interlocking  steel 
plates,  and  is  a most  efficient 
as  well  as  a very  quaint- 
looking  implement,  which, 
as  it  descends  into  the  water 
with  its  formidable  steel-teeth 
in  an  open  position,  has  been 
well  likened  to  the  jaws  of 
some  gigantic  animal  taking 
a huge  bite  out  of  the  soil,  a 
resemblance  which  is  cer- 
tainly strengthened  when  it 
is  seen  with  what  rapidity 
and  ease  the  sides  of  the  grab 
close  on  its  prey.  When  the 
soil  is  secured  by  the  closing 
of  the  jaws,  the  grab  is  raised 
out  of  the  water  and  rapidly 
swung  round  to  its  destina- 
tion, when  the  unloading  is 
even  more  speedily  performed. 
From  a trial  made  by  the  Judges,  it  appears  that  this  machine 
can  make  two  complete  lifts  per  minute,  travelling  round  half 
the  circle,  filling  and  discharging  its  load  each  time.  This  gives 
an  average  work  equal  to  fifteen  cubic  yards  of  soil  or  mud  per 
hour.  The  working  expenses  of  labour  and  coals  are  estimated 
at  If/,  a cubic  yard,  as  one  man  can  work  the  machine.  The 
whole  cost,  including  interest  on  outlay,  depreciation,  and  reason- 
able profit,  would  not  bring  the  cost  of  removing  the  mud  and 
placing  it  on  the  bank  at  more  than  3d.  a cubic  yard.  And  this 
is  possible  in  a drain  full  of  water,  which  is  a point  of  great 
practical  importance  ; by  no  other  machine  of  this  description 
can  we  take  the  liquid  mud  from  the  bottom  of  the  river  and 
place  it  on  the  bank  at  one  operation.  It  should  be  mentioned 
that,  by  the  addition  of  a pulley,  this  machine  can  be  used  as  an 
ordinary  engine  with  great  advantage. 
Maynard’s  Straw  Yealming  Machine. — Mr.  Robert  Maynard, 
of  Whittlesford  Works,  near  Cambridge,  exhibited  a complete 
novelty  in  the  form  of  a straw  yealming  or  straightening  machine, 
