388 
Gorse. 
This is set up in a perpendicular position, A strong wooden 
hoop is firmly fixed as a rim around two-thirds of the circum- 
ference of its top above the surface of the block, to prevent the 
gorse as it is chopped from falling off. The part not protected 
by the hoop is left open in order to facilitate tGe removal of the 
gorse when it has been rendered fit for use. 
The mallets are composed of round pieces of wood about 8 or 
9 inches long and about 4^ inches in diameter. They have 
wooden handles of suitable lengths to work them with. One end 
/"^v of these mallets is secured by an iron hoop and armed 
with two strong knives intersecting each other. These 
\^ ^ \ knives are firmly fixed in the mallet with a shank, 
) and the knife or cutting part rises about 3 inches 
\ — ^ above the wood. 
The gorse when it is intended for cows is again, after being 
chopped with these knives, put on the block and bruised with 
another heavy mallet, which has its ends thicklv studded with 
nails such as are employed to secure the tires of cart- 
wheels. This renders the surface of the mallet 
knobbed and uneven, and well calculated by bruising 
the chopped gorse entirely to destroy its prickly 
quality. 
The method, as before obsened, now in general use for pre- 
panng the gorse and rendering it fit to be given as provender is 
by means of an engine or machine well known to all who are in 
the habit of reducing hav and straw into chaff. 
If this machine be worked by manual labour, two men and a 
boy will, in twenty minutes, grind a sufficient quantity to keep 
four horses for 24 hours {App. 5). If it be worked by a 
single horse, one man in 1 1 hour, or at furthest in 2 hours, 
will prepare a sufficient quantity to keep 10 horses for 24 hours 
{App. 7). 
Of course, when these engines are worked by a water power, a 
great saving is effected. 
An ingenious Anglesey blacksmith has constructed a small 
steam power, the cost of which is under 20/. It requires on|y 4 
bushels a day of Berw coal-slack to work it. The cost, therefore, 
of the fuel consumed does not exceed 9d. a day. One of these 
engines, the property of Mr. John Williams, of Fron goch, 
is now undergoing an alteration in its arrangements, at an expense 
of from 8/. to 10/. Hereafter it is to work a threshing-mill, as 
well as a gor.se and straw-cutling machine, a churn, &c. 
Before engines came into general use the price paid for 
chopping gorse was '2d. a quarter, or one farthing a bushel 
{App. 6;. 
A bushel of gorse when prepared with a cutting-machine 
