TFcst Riding of Yorhshire. 
305 
of tlie greatest benefit, have emanated from inen whose knowledge 
of the mere practical routine of fanning operations has been 
comparatively limited ; but who, nevertheless, from observation 
and subsequent experiments, have been enabled to throw much 
true light on the subject generally, and to perfect many of the very 
best .ippliances which the agriculturist of this day possesses. 
Although it may be said to be but of recent date that any very 
marked advance has been made in the application of mechanical 
means to the general purposes of agriculture, yet unquestionably 
the gradual development of these means has tended very ma- 
terially towards the improved culture, by affording a more suitable 
class of implements, and consequently securing greater economy 
in the preparation of the land, as well as in many of the subse- 
quent operations. In a district, indeed, like the West Riding, 
where so much mechanical skill proverbially exists, it is a matter 
of some surprise that its application has not been earlier directed 
to the requirements of agriculture. No sooner, however, did the 
stimulating influence of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society's 
annual exhibition come into action, than a host of mechanical 
competitors entered the field, and with them an equally numerous 
selection of implements, that have ever since been increasing both 
in numbers and effectiveness. The improved plough, the scarifier 
and grubber, the drill, the turnip and straw-cutter, and the im- 
proved roller, were amongst the earliest productions ; whilst the 
more recent exhibitions have brought out the portable and fixed 
steam-engine, with its improved threshing-machines, the corn 
and seed-mills, and the tile and pipe-making machines. And 
since the increase of these latter may be taken as a fair index of 
the progress which the essential operation of draining has made 
within the few past years, not only in this Riding, but throughout 
the county, it may not be uninteresting briefly to revert to their 
first appearance. I believe I am correct in saying that no tile- 
machine was exhibited at the Yorkshire Society until the meeting 
at Richmond, in August, 1814 ; at which period it is equally true 
to say, that no such thing as a machine-made tile or draining- 
pipe was to be found in the North of England. Such, however, 
was the stimulus created at Richmond, that, to my knowledge, 
one engineering firm alone in the West Riding has, since April, 
1845, made no less than 130 tile-machines, about one-third of 
which are working in the county of York. If, then, within the 
short space of three years such a change for the better — not 
only as regards the economy, but as affecting also the efficiency 
of the operation — has been secured, what may we not hope to 
attain now that the mechanical energy and talent of the district 
have been thus successfully aroused ? 
We have now arrived at the last, and certainly not the least. 
