diffector, can conceive the mischief done to such seeds, in thus tearing the chief vessels in the cone.

rent years

growth de

In the pines it is most easy to know the cone of the year Cones of the for several years back, as they are always found on the year's pine of diffe. shoot to which they belong. By tracing each shoot the tree has made a few years back, this will be found never to vary, scribed, The first year's cone is white and close; the second year's is green and close; the third brown; the fourth brown and open; and each falls back one year's shoot.

With respect to the larch, it is very different; in habit, Fructification nature, and appearance, no trees can differ more. The larch of the larch gives her fruit in an irregular manner, equally on the old as on the new wood. It has also its female catkin appearing before the male, and so much preceding it, that the seed is ready for impregnation, ere the powder of the stamen is ripe: this is easily known, by dissecting the cone of the last year, and comparing it with the present. The distended vessels, which are most observable at the back; the opening of the nourishing vessels, and above all the bubble, if watched for in April or May, prove this early impregnation.

1 doubt not it is also the case with the cedar of Lebanon, Cedar of Leba
though the cones of this tree hang afterwards till the fourth non.
or fifth season, as their appearance testifies. The quantity

of tannin (or of that juice which appears to contain it), is Tannin.
excessive, and seems nearly as much as is contained in the
bark; for the cone part (when the seeds are taken out), if
magnified, shows nothing but bladders of this juice.

As to the cypresses, and those I have ventured to rank Cypresses. with them, (like the pines), they are too late in the year for impregnation; beside that the seed is not formed, or the

cone opened, till late in the autumn,

rent trees.

Since I have turned my mind to remark the quantity of Quantity of tanniu found in trees, I have observed how much more is tannin in diffe found in many, than in the oak. In the betula alnus of this country there is certainly a very great quantity, though not so much as in the firs. The men's hands who bark it are always so stained, that they find it very difficult to obliterate it; which is not the case when they strip the oak. After studying the firs, my hands were so stained, I had great trouble to take it from them; and yet the guarding

wood

wood of the firs is of a beautiful yellow white, till exposed to the air, when it becomes a deep brick red.

I am, Sir,

Your obliged servant,

AGNES IBBETSON.

X.

Description of a Screw adjusting Plough, invented by Mr.
THOMAS BALLS, of Saxlingham, near Holt, Norfolk.

SIR,

Plough on I HUMBLY offer, for the inspection of the Society, the

a

new construction.

model of a plough, constructed upon a principle on which I have made several.

/ Sir Jacob Astley, Bart., has seen two at work on my farm, which I have constantly used, in different kinds of ploughing, for three years, and which, excepting in the share, have not cost me a shilling in repairs. Sir Jacob has ordered one to be made; and he being desirous, that the plough should be more generally known, expressed a wish that I would send a model to the Society. If its mechanical principle proves to be of real utility to agriculturists,, and superior to the ploughs in general use, I shall be highly gratified in my endeavours to promote the liberal views of the Society.

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient humble Servant,

Saxlingham, April 5, 1810.

THOMAS BALLS.

Testimony of its utility.

Certificate from Sir JACOB HENRY ASTLEY, Bart.

DEAR SIR,

I have seen Mr. Ball's plough worked against the common Norfolk plough, and find it much superior. It laid the farrow much better, more equal, and with much less draught

• Trans. of the Soc. of Arts, Vol. XXVIII, p. 45. The silver me dal was voted to Mr. Balls for this invention.

to

to the horses, and has not wanted the usual repairs, which the common ploughs are subject to. I make this observation from having had one in use for more than a year; and I find this plough much approved of by the farmers in this neighbourhood.

The enclosed certificates will, I hope, be satisfactory to Advantages of this plough. the Society respecting my plough. It is a material improvement over the wheel-plough in common use in Norfolk, as it works with greater ease to the horses, on account of the line of draught being on a line with the angle of the horse's shoulders. It lays the furrow-slice particularly level, and cuts an even bottom-furrow. It is less liable to wear, on account of having less friction on the ground irons. It is particularly well calculated for breaking up stiff old land, and less liable to be put out of order than any plough generally used. By the adjusting screw, the furrow may be set from one to nine inches in depth, and secured by a lock to any of those intermediate depths with the greatest exactness. It may be easily converted into a swing-plough, by disengaging the axle-tree and wheels. Its bearn may be made particularly light, on account of the line of draught lying so near the heel. I beg leave to inform the Society, that the Earl of Thanet, in the year 1807, ordered two of these ploughs, and in 1809 six more of them. Mr. Bur. Its use adopted by several. roughs, of Weasenham, intends to have all his ploughs on this plan; also Mr. Wall, of Bayfield-lodge; Mr. Cobon, of Leatheringsett, will have two ploughs; and the Rev. T. Munnings has given orders for some to be made.

If I had not been so limited in time, I could have sent you many more certificates.

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient humble Servant,

Saxlingham, May 6, 1810,

THOMAS BALLS.

Certificates

Farther testimonials.

Description of the plough.

Certificates were received from the following persons: viz. Mr. Robert Wright, of Great Snoring, stating, that he has three of Mr. Ball's ploughs, which he conceives to be much superior to the common plough, both in the execution of the work and easiness of draught.

Mr. Mark Barret, farming steward to Sir George Chad, stating that he has three of Mr. Ball's plonghs; that they are the best he has ever made use of, and answer every purpose, both as a swing and wheel-plough.

Mr. Thomas Hurrell, of Saxlingham, stating his opinion, that Mr. Bail's plough will come into extensive use, being an excellent plough for general purposes.

Mr. Henry May Waller, farming steward to Sir Jacob Henry Astley, Bart., stating, that he has two of Mr. Ball's ploughs in constant use; that he thinks them well calculated for strong work; and that they may be converted into a swing-plough, by disengaging the wheels.

Reference to the Drawing of Mr. BALL'S Plough, Fig. 1,
Pl. VIII.

A is the beam of the plough carrying the coulter B, share D, and handle E; F is the mould board; the draught of the plough is taken by two iron rods G, connected at one end with a hook a in the beam A; and at the other with an iron bridle H by a swivel-bolt; this iron bridle has several notches to receive the draught-chain I, by means of which the point of traction is adjusted sideways; the adjustment for height, and in which the improvement consists, is made by an iron frame K, at the top of which a nut is placed acting upon a screw d fixed into the beam A; the axletree e of the wheels ff is connected with the iron rods G, by a single bolt or pivot projecting from the end of them, which passes through the axletree; by these means the wheels always apply themselves to the inequalities of the ground without influencing the motion of the plough, The nut of the screw d, being turned, raises or lowers the iron rods G, and elevates or depresses the point of traction, so that the plough will cut a greater or less depth of furrow,

XI.

An improved Implement for extirpating Docks and Thistles; by Mr. J. BAKER, of West-Coker, near Yeovil, in Somersetshire*.

SIR,

destroying

I HAVE sent to the Society an implement of my inven- Implement for tion for destroying thistles and docks, which are two very in- thistles and jurious weeds to agriculturists.

The implement is so contrived, that, if the root breaks in the claw, in attempting to draw it, you may, by turning the instrument, cut the root so far below the turf as to prevent its growth.

docks.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

West-Croker, Oct. 31,

JOHN BAKER.

1809.

Certificate.

We do hereby testify, that the instrument made by Mr. Testimonies of John Baker for destroying docks and thistles has been used its utility. to great advantage, and is likely to come into general use.Edward Guppy, Nathaniel Bartlett, Thomas Sandford, Edward Penny.

Description of the Implement.

scribed.

Fig. 2 of Pl. VIII represents Mr. Baker's thistle-extir- The implepator. A is the handle; B the claws, between which the ment do thistle is received; the curved iron C is the fulcrum, over which the purchase to extract the weed is obtained; D is an iron rod, or bar, upon which the foot is placed to thrust the claws into the ground. In case the root of the weed breaks in endeavouring to extract it, the curved blade E, which has a sharp end like a chissel, is thrust into the ground to cut off the root of the thistle some inches below the surface, and prevent its vegetation.

* Trans. of Soc. of Arts, vol. XXVIII, p. 50. The gold medal was voted to Mr. Baker for this invention.

Description