DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1312#0035
20 THE GREAT EXHIBITION
exhibited were also of a character to sustain the well-known reputation of this eminent
firm, many of which had obtained premiums at the meetings of the Royal Agricultural
Society in various parts of the country. The same firm also exhibited a corn and seed-
dropping machine, for the purpose of depositing seed-corn similar to hand-dibbling, at
equal distances, which it accomplishes with unerring precision, in seams made by coulters,
which precede the depositors. A portable steam-engine, for thrashing, and other agri-
cultural purposes, was deserving of commendation; as were also a cane-top cutting-
machine, much employed in the West Indies, a patent straw-cutter, and a chicory-cutter;
which latter machine excited considerable attention—consequent, perhaps, on the late
excitement in the coffee trade. Croskill's patent clod-crushing roller elicited attention
among the admiring Palemons, whom the fame of the Great Exhibition drew from their
rural retreats, as did also various turnip-cutters, oat-mills, crushing-mills, oil-cake breakers,
grass-plat cutters, hay-making machines, ploughs, harrows, rakes, hoes, &c, " Quce nunc
describere [longum est," which this very interesting collection contained. Suffice it that
they were each excellent in their several capacities. A one-horse harvest-cart was quite
classical in form, and appeared well adapted for carrying large loads from the harvest-
fields. It was made very light in weight, and, from the best materials being used,
and good workmanship, was strong, and could be more readily loaded than the wagons
in ordinary use. The contributions of Messrs. Ransomes and May were honoured by the
jury with their special approval, and several medals were awarded to the firm.
CHAPTER IV.
FOUNTAINS.
ANCIENT FOUNTAINS—FOUNTAINS IB" FOREIGN CITIES—PARIS—ROME—THE CRYSTAL FOUNTAIN"----
IRON" FOUNTAIN, BY THE COLE BROOK-DALE COMPANY—FOUNTAIN IN" IRON, BY ANDRE—FOUNTAIN
IN TERRA-COTTA—FOUNTAIN BY THOMAS; ACIS AND GALATEA—FOUNTAIN" FOR A MARKET-
PLACE—EA-LLIDE'S FOUNTAIN ; BOY AND SWAN—BRONZE FOUNTAIN, BY JABEZ JAMES, ETC.
Pew objects in nature are more delightful than fountains; charming the eye, soothing the
ear, and offering ready refreshment to the weary traveller. No wonder that they were
early sanctified by religion, and eulogised by the poet, as in that sweetest of the odes
of Horace—
O fons Blandusife, splendidior vitro,
Dulce digne mero, non sine noribus," &e.
Most of the ancient Greek cities, Corinth in particular, were adorned with artificial
fountains; and, at Pompeii, many are still remaining nearly perfect—they there appear
to have been as much used for ornament and luxury in private houses, as for utility
in the streets and public roads; and it is easy to trace in them how well the property
of water to rise to its level, and the law by which fluids may be made to ascend in a
vertical jet to a height proportionate to the pressure which acts upon them, was under-
stood at the time "of their erection. Perhaps no city in the world is at this time so
lavishly supplied with fountains as modern Rome, though, probably, even her present
abundance is not a tithe of what she had to boast of in her more " high and palmy state "
under the first emperors. Throughout Italy, indeed, the passion for fountains has
called forth the utmost elegance and ingenuity of fancy in their construction and their
exhibited were also of a character to sustain the well-known reputation of this eminent
firm, many of which had obtained premiums at the meetings of the Royal Agricultural
Society in various parts of the country. The same firm also exhibited a corn and seed-
dropping machine, for the purpose of depositing seed-corn similar to hand-dibbling, at
equal distances, which it accomplishes with unerring precision, in seams made by coulters,
which precede the depositors. A portable steam-engine, for thrashing, and other agri-
cultural purposes, was deserving of commendation; as were also a cane-top cutting-
machine, much employed in the West Indies, a patent straw-cutter, and a chicory-cutter;
which latter machine excited considerable attention—consequent, perhaps, on the late
excitement in the coffee trade. Croskill's patent clod-crushing roller elicited attention
among the admiring Palemons, whom the fame of the Great Exhibition drew from their
rural retreats, as did also various turnip-cutters, oat-mills, crushing-mills, oil-cake breakers,
grass-plat cutters, hay-making machines, ploughs, harrows, rakes, hoes, &c, " Quce nunc
describere [longum est," which this very interesting collection contained. Suffice it that
they were each excellent in their several capacities. A one-horse harvest-cart was quite
classical in form, and appeared well adapted for carrying large loads from the harvest-
fields. It was made very light in weight, and, from the best materials being used,
and good workmanship, was strong, and could be more readily loaded than the wagons
in ordinary use. The contributions of Messrs. Ransomes and May were honoured by the
jury with their special approval, and several medals were awarded to the firm.
CHAPTER IV.
FOUNTAINS.
ANCIENT FOUNTAINS—FOUNTAINS IB" FOREIGN CITIES—PARIS—ROME—THE CRYSTAL FOUNTAIN"----
IRON" FOUNTAIN, BY THE COLE BROOK-DALE COMPANY—FOUNTAIN IN" IRON, BY ANDRE—FOUNTAIN
IN TERRA-COTTA—FOUNTAIN BY THOMAS; ACIS AND GALATEA—FOUNTAIN" FOR A MARKET-
PLACE—EA-LLIDE'S FOUNTAIN ; BOY AND SWAN—BRONZE FOUNTAIN, BY JABEZ JAMES, ETC.
Pew objects in nature are more delightful than fountains; charming the eye, soothing the
ear, and offering ready refreshment to the weary traveller. No wonder that they were
early sanctified by religion, and eulogised by the poet, as in that sweetest of the odes
of Horace—
O fons Blandusife, splendidior vitro,
Dulce digne mero, non sine noribus," &e.
Most of the ancient Greek cities, Corinth in particular, were adorned with artificial
fountains; and, at Pompeii, many are still remaining nearly perfect—they there appear
to have been as much used for ornament and luxury in private houses, as for utility
in the streets and public roads; and it is easy to trace in them how well the property
of water to rise to its level, and the law by which fluids may be made to ascend in a
vertical jet to a height proportionate to the pressure which acts upon them, was under-
stood at the time "of their erection. Perhaps no city in the world is at this time so
lavishly supplied with fountains as modern Rome, though, probably, even her present
abundance is not a tithe of what she had to boast of in her more " high and palmy state "
under the first emperors. Throughout Italy, indeed, the passion for fountains has
called forth the utmost elegance and ingenuity of fancy in their construction and their