598 
HIGHLY FINISHED DRAWINGS BY DR. CANTOR. 
There were several mineralogical speci- 
mens from New South Wales, also some birds 
collected by Mr. Cracroft ; among the latter 
was a beautiM specimen of the white haw^k . 
From Mr. Irwin a fine specimen of the ornitho - 
rynchus. Two boxes exhibiting numeroug 
kindsof timber collected at TavoybyT. Main- 
gy> Esq. Upon the same table were displayed 
some highly finished drawings of fishes pecu- 
liar to India, by Dr. Cantor. 
PROGRESS OF SCIENCE, 
AS APPLICABLE TO THE ARTS AND MANUFACTURES; TO COMMERCE 
AND TO AGRICULTURE. 
TO JOHN HEATHCOAT, OF TIVER- 
TON, IN THE COUNTY OF DEVON, 
ESQ., FOR HIS INVENTION OF 
CERTAIN NEW Ab}D IMPROVED 
METHODS OF DRAINING AND 
CULTIVATING LAND, AND NEW 
OR IMPROVED MACHINERY AND 
APPARATUS APPLICABLE THERE- 
TO ; WHICH MACHINERY AND 
APPARATUS MAY BE APPLIED TO 
DIVERS OTHER USEFUL PUR- 
POSES. 
Sealed 15th May, 1882. 
The subject of this patent is, in a nation- 
al point of view, particularly as regards Ire- 
land, one ofthe most important that has been 
introduced to the public. It is principally 
designed to afford the means of cultivat- 
ing such boggy waste lands as are of too 
spongy a character to sustain the feet of 
horses. 
The apparatus consists principally of a 
locomotive steam-engine sustained upon a 
platform, which moves very slowly over the 
surface of the bog, upon a very broad end- 
less band, which is nearly impervious to 
water, and presents such an extended sur- 
face as to prevent its sinking. From this 
machine ploughs and other implements 
of husbandry for cutting and turning 
over the surface of the moss are work- 
ed out and in, to the distance of a quarter 
of a mile on each side at right angles to the 
course in wdiich the engine is slowly advan- 
cing, and the power of the steam impels the 
ploughs in place of horse or other manual 
labour. 
Upon the merits of this invention and its 
important advantages volumes might be 
written, and no doubt will be ; but our limits 
at present only allow us to give the details 
of the contrivances as set out in the speci- 
fication, observing, however, that we have 
withheld our report under the expectation of 
being enabled to speak practically of the 
effect of its operation. 
We have several times within the last 
two years witnessed the action of the ma- 
chinery upon Red Moss, near Bolton-le- 
Moors, in Lancashire, under the super- 
intendence of a skilful engineer, Mr. 
Josiah Parks, and have now the satisfaction 
of communicating to our readers the fact of 
its most unqualified success. 
The new or improved methods of drain- 
ing and cultivating land, consists in the 
employment of certain machinery and ap- 
paratus to be worked by steam or other 
power, for the purpose of ploughing, cut- 
ting, rolling, harrowing, trenching, and 
draining lands, and for effecting other ope- 
rations of husbandry as are or may be per- 
formed by traction, which machinery and 
apparatus is particularly adapted for use on 
lands which cannot be so conveniently 
worked and tilled in the ordinary manner 
by the agency of horses or other cattle. 
This machinery or apparatus consists of 
a carriage with a steam-engine, or other 
motive engine mounted thereon ; and also 
of auxiliary machines or apparatus, sup- 
porting and conducting extended ropes, 
bands, or chains, at a distance from the 
motive engine. 
The power of the engine is designed to 
to draw ploughs and other agricultural im- 
plements to and fro, between the principal 
and auxiliary carriages at right angles, or 
any other convenient angles, and also to 
give locomotion to the principal carriage in 
w'hich the engine is mounted. 
In order to render my methods more 
evident, I shall proceed to describe the 
general features of my machinery or ap- 
paratus, wdth the objects they are intended 
to effect, and some of the variations and 
modifications of which they are susceptible. 
First, I employ a carriage of large dimen- 
sions, designed for the support of a steam- 
engine, or other machinery, capable of 
