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33

Implements of Hujhandry. Carts.

In fact the Cumberland farmers, and thofe of fome other counties, are fullyconvinced that very great advantages are derived from ufing carts of the fingle-horfe kind. This fort of cart has likewife been compared in many different pointsof view by an accurate obferver, and found in almoft every inftance to be greatlyfuperior to waggons, or tumbrils, for almoft all the various purpofes of the farm *.

Where fmall carts are employed, it is frequently the cuftom to have different fortsfor different purpofes ; thofe of the clofe kind being principally employed in carry-ing out dung, compoft, and fuch-like compact heavy materials; while others made ofa kind of frame-work are occafionally placed on the fame wheels, and ufed forconveying bulky loads, fuch as corn in the ftraw, hay, and other fimilar fubftances,and which are in confequence denominated corn and hay carts. But the fmallcart, which is termed farmer's-cart, as well as molt of the fmall-fized carts, andall thofe of the larger kinds, by having ladders attached to them at the ends andTides , may be conveniently employed for all the purpofes of the farmer, withoutthe trouble, inconvenience, and expence, of fuch a number of different forts of carts.

A very convenient and ufeful form of cart for almoft all farming purpofes, efpe-cially in hilly diftrifts, is in ufe in fome parts of Wales , as about Llandillo; it iscommonly drawn by three horfes, one in the fhafts, and two abreaft before. Thewheels are fo made and placed, that the weight principally lies on the perpendi-cular fpoke; the body of the carriage is fhort and rather broad, but made withfuch a curve as to give the load an inclination towards the axle-tree. This cartferves different ufes 5 the body conveying dung, coals, &c. while by the additionoffhelvings in the way juft noticed the different crops can be carried with great facility.

When carts are intended for the quarry, and confequently carrying very heavyweights of folid materials, fuch as broad flat ftones, flates, &c. they fliould bemade low and without ledges, in order that they may be loaded and unloaded withcare and convenience, and be fufficiently ftrong to prevent their giving way underthe preffure of fuch loads.

Some ingenious improvements have lately been made In carts, in order to preventthe too great rapidity of their motion in going down fteep hills, and for adjuftingthe pofnions of the centre of gravity of the load, fo as to have a fuitable bearingon the horfe, or other animal, which draws them in fuch cafes. The firft hasbeen effe&ed by means of friftion on the Tides of the wheel, by the application ofwhat is termed a fri&ion-drag, inftead of the ufual inconvenient and dangerousmethod of locking the wheels : and the latter by a kind of toothed rack faftened to

* Youngs Annals of Agriculture, vol. XVIII.