GEODÆSIA Improved.

82

CHAP. III.

Containing the Nature of long and superficial Measure ,the Chain described; with ujejul Directions andCautions to young Practitioners in the Fields, &c.

SECTION I.

Of MEASURE.

A ND first of Long-Measure, which is eiiher Inches, Feet,Yards, Perches, or Chains, csY. A J able of what is ne-ccllary you have in the Introduction. But as Land is generallymeasured by Chains, I shall chitfly insist upon, and recommendthat Instrument, it being not only most in Use among Surveyors,but also the very best tor luch like Purposes; though there arelevers 1 Sorts ot Wheels, or Machines, lately constructed tomvastire J.and, as well as Distances : However correct thoseWheels may seem to the Grntlemen that encourage them (withregard to Surveying) I will not pretend to fay, but shall appealfirst to any Farmer in Great-Britain, whether it is possible forsuch Wheels, in measuring plow’d Land wherein the Ridges arevery high, and Furrows deep, (such as I have often met with inlow and wet Lands) to ascertain the true Length and Breadththereof,,exclusive of the Errors tnat will unavoidably occur■when the Bounds are irregular. I dare assirm, that any suchMachine, in some uneven Ground, would measure a Field to 13or 14 Acres, th«t is no more than 10. I’ll grant you, that themeasuring'A heel is exceeding ready, and indifferently exact inmeasuring Roads hat are horizontal (though such ate not oftenmet with) to which Purpose alone it is puperly adapted ; whereinif it should (as most certainly it does) make some Lines longer(by reason ut the Earth’s uneven Surface) than others, the Con-sequence