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Many intelligent farmers think, that the wheels of carts,for the various purposes of husbandry, should not be of toolarge diameter, because low wheels are not only cheapest, butalso strongest and most lasting. But whatever may be theopinion of different people in regard to the most properheight of wheels, it is unquestionably evident, that, for thepreservation of the roads, and the grass lands on which theyare to roll, their rims should not be less than five inches inbreadth, even for single-horse carts, and broader in propor-tion to the load or weight they are intended to carry, and thenumber of cattle requisite for the draught; the rims oughtalso to be nearly cylindrical?
Though a single-horse cart carries less at once than a doubleone, yet it is probable, that more work may be performed,in any given period of time, with the same number of menand horses, by the one than the other, in the general processof husbandry business, especially when the distance is smallbetween the loading and unloading. It has also generallybeen found, that small loads are the most convenient, andare seldom attended by any misfortunes in the load, shoot-ing or tumbling out; besides, they are less injurious to theroads and ground over which they pass. Some very usefulimprovements have lately been made on carts, in order toprevent the great rapidity of motion when going down hill;also for adjusting the centre of gravity of the load, so as topreserve an equal bearing oft the animal in the shafts. Thpfirst has been effected by friction upon the rims, or felloes ofthe wheels, by the application of a lever, commonly called afriction-drag, one end of which is placed on a bolt, fixed inthe cart or waggon, and upon this bolt it has liberty to move;its middle part rests or bears on the rim of the wheel, andcither a screw or toothed rod or pinion, may be applied to itsether end, by means of which the friction can either be in-creased or diminished at pleasure, according to the declivity°f the road.
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