54 Report on Messrs. Front and MiddleditcKs 
longer furrows, and wherever the fall is inconsiderable, 4-inch 
pipes are used. 
The mains have G, 9, 12, and even 15-inch pipes. A proportion 
of these larger pipes for the mains are made with 4-inch inlets, 
into which the furrow-pipes are securely fixed. Approaching 
the outfall a few glazed socket-pipes are used, to diminish risk 
of injury from frost ; and every outlet is neatly and securely built 
up, and the opening protected with a stout iron grating. In 
striking contrast to the 12-inch outfall pipes five feet down, Mr. 
Middleditch has also built in one of the 2-inch pipes, which his 
predecessors used for their main exits, and buried only two feet 
from the surface. Several of the mains empty into convenient 
pools, supplying water used chiefly for the steam-tackle. This 
draining is certainly costly, but it is unusually effective. During 
the first week of 1875 it was subjected to a severe test. The 
heavy snow which had come down during the previous ten days, 
and represented probably two inches of water, suddenly melted, 
with the additional fall of about an inch of rain ; the 12-inch 
mains ran three-quarters full ; four days later, on January 8th, I 
walked over Mr. Middleditch's fields and was surprised to find the 
land dry and firm, no evidence of flood or washing remained ; the 
surface of the heavy land was not caked or run together, not a 
blade of wheat or a bean-plant was injured. Over the hedge, 
in fields drained at shallower depths with smaller pipes, the 
mains being of insufficient capacity, and the ground puddled 
with horses' feet, walking was heavy, water was not fully removed 
from the furrows, and the surface was run together in a manner 
likely to interfere with the future growth of the wheat. 
Mr. Middleditch began farming with horses, but finding that 
his work was not sufficiently rapidly and seasonably performed, 
he shortly hired steam ; and in 1871 he purchased two of Messrs. 
John Fowler and Co.'s 20-horse engines, with ploughs, scari- 
fiers, &c. Strictly and intelligently looked after by the master 
and his stalT, this powerful set has done an immense amount 
of capital work. Of superior manufacture, and largely made ol 
steel, they can safely work up to 100 horse-power. Mr. Middle- 
ditch furnishes me with tlie subjoined statement (p. 55), setting 
forth the work performed for himself and his neighbours for 
the past four years. In 1873 and 1874 about 200 acres have 
besides been drilled by steam. 
Mr. Middleditch's thoroughly and deeply cultivated clean fal- 
lows amply testify to the efficiency of his steam-tackle. It is 
impossible to have work better done ; the 90 acres fallowed in 
1874 have mostly been cultivated five or six times to a depth 
of 12 or 15 inches, and 20 acres of one heavy clay piece, on the 
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