ture, when husbandmen had inconsiderable capitals, and little work to do, it might be for their interest to use oxen, as they were cheaper to rear and to maintain, and would always fetch something. But the great farmers of modern times, who have large capitals to act upon, and constant occupation for their teams, will generally find it advisable, though they may employ oxen for some purposes, yet, on the whole, to make use of horses. At the same time, the population of a country may increase so much, that the ground must be cultivated, either by the hands of man, as in China, or by animals which man will eat; and the price of beef may become so high as to cast the balance in favour of oxen. On these grounds it is desirable, that the general breed of cattle in a country should be capable of working. Indeed, as stock ought to produce something, even when rising to their full growth, if oxen are not to be worked, cows ought to be more generally kept, as the produce of their milk is so profitable, unless where pasture is of little value, as in Wales, or the mountainous districts of Scotland and Ireland.

These short hints contain the substance of what has occurred to me on the principles of breeding cattle; and the result is, that cattle ought to be,

1. Of a moderate size, unless where the food is of a nature peculiarly forcing.

2. Of a shape the most likely to yield profit to the farmer.

ing converted into chile, or nourishment, is extracted from the food. But a horse's stomach is not fitted for this; so that a greater quantity of food is necessary to extract the same nourishment. See White, on the Natural History of the Cow; Manchester Memoirs, vol. I. P 442.

3. Of a docile disposition, without being deficient in spirit.

4. Hardy, and not liable to disease.

5. Easily maintained, and on food not of a costly nature.

6. Arriving soon at maturity.

1. Producing considerable quantities of milk, 8. Having flesh of an excellent quality,

9. Having a tendency to take on fat.

10. Having a valuable hide. And,

Lastly, calculated (should it be judged necessary) for working,

CONCLUSION.

I shall conclude with observing, how desirable it would be that, under the auspices of the Board of Agriculture, some person were appointed, perfectly competent to the task, and who had leisure to do justice to such an undertaking, to whose care and talents the important task might be committed of drawing up a detailed system on the subject of cattle. But in order to make such a work complete, more especially that part of it which relates to the diseases of cattle, it would be necessary to collect intelligence, not only from every district in these kingdoms, (which might easily be done, by circulating queries for that purpose, and granting premiums to those by whom the best answers were returned,) and also to extract useful information from the writings of Young, of Marshall, and of Anderson, and from the various publications of the Board of Agriculture, but to apply even to foreign countries for the knowledge they can furnish; and, with that view, it would be proper to carry on a regular correspondence with the most distinguished societies in foreign parts, who have directed their attention.

to

to rural improvements. By collecting the information and experience of the different countries in Europe upon that, and other subjects of a similar nature, there is every reason to hope that the art, not only of breeding and managing domestic animals, but also every other branch of agriculture might be brought to a degree of perfection, which otherwise must be unattainable.

[The Appendix to the foregoing Article in our next.]

On the Means of abolishing the horrid Practice of sweeping Chimneys by Children. Communicated by the Author, in a Letter to the Editor.

Mr. EDITOR,

With a Plate.

NOTWITHSTANDING the great and meritorious exertions which have been made during many years, by the humane part of the public, to abolish the barbarous prac tice of sweeping chimneys by children-notwithstanding many machines have been invented capable of performing the operation, in most cases, quite as well as children, and in many even better, yet no progress has been made towards accomplishing the salutary end at which all have aimed. The author of this paper, who is one amongst the number who have contributed their aid to this laudable design, and who has bestowed much consideration on the subject, is convinced, from the futility of every attempt yet made, that there is but one way of effectually eradicating this enormous evil, this disgrace to humanity. And when it appears that the means are as simple, and as easily executed, as the object is desirable, it is matter of amazement that this execrable practice has remained

H 2

remained so long unchecked in a civilized country. Of what avail are useful machines when they are to be put into the hands of those persons whose interest it is to destroy them, or, which is the same thing, of those who, from ignorance or prejudice, feel convinced that such machines if used would abolish the lucrative part of their trade. Such is the opinion and prejudice of master chim ney-sweepers against the use of any machine. And as all attempts to counteract this prejudice, and to induce them to adopt machinery, have failed, there remains but one remedy for the evil, and that remedy dwells in the powerful arm of the legislature. Nothing less than a positive law to prohibit the employment of children in this trade, with severe penalties both on employer, and master-sweeper, can effect the reform desired. By the help of such a law the object will be instantaneously accomplished. Master chimney-sweepers will immediately find the means of performing this operation by inanimate agents; or, should they be at a loss, the simple methods practised in most country places may be resorted to a bundle of furze, or other such material, tied to a cord, and pulled up and down the chimney, will ans swer the end in four cases out of five, even as chimneys are now constructed. But if the legislature would inter fere to stop the present evil, it probably would go farther, and lay down rules for future buildings, that should remove all difficulty in the application of machinery (if it is not a burlesque on the word) to the object in ques tion. Rules to this effect I apprehend would easily be formed by any intelligent architect, or by a committee of the most enlightened part of the profession.

But lest I should be suspected of recommending laws to restrain one evil without having discovered the means of preventing another taking place in its room, I beg

leave to shew the methods which have occurred to me of accomplishing this very desirable end, and although they may not be the best which can be devised, yet of this I am certain, they are so good that few objections can with justice be opposed to them. This opinion may appear presumptive; but when the reader is informed that all the merit the author of this paper claims is only recommending those rules to be established by law which a very ingenious architect (totally unknown to the author, and probably not now in being) has recommended to the. attention of his profession, the appearance of presump→ tion will cease.

The principal object of the architect to whom I allude was the prevention of smoky chimneys in all future buildings; and, in a publication on that subject, he introduces some remarks respecting the sweeping of chimneys, which I shall take the liberty of copying; as likewise a section of a stack of chimneys, so contrived as, in my opinion, would, if adopted, not only accomplish his first object, but mine also.

REFERENCE to PLATE III.

Fig. 1, is the section of a stack of chimneys, five stories high, for a first-rate house.

A, kitchen-chimney. B, parlour chimney. C, firstfloor. D, second-floor. E, garrets.

By this section it will be seen that there are only two easy angles in each chimney, consequently if chimneys are constructed of regular dimensions from top to bottom, either square, oblong, or circular; they may be swept with great facility by any soft elastic substance forced from top to bottom. The circular form will be

See an " Essay on the Construction and Building of Chimneys Btc." By Robert Clavering.

the