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We gave a special prize to Woofe's Paring Plough, a light and effective implement for such purpose. The revolving knife and vibrating or pushing share-blade prepare a sod of convenient size for drying and burning with great readiness and facility. A useful horse would work it well.

Reaping-Machines. Messrs. Burgess and Key, and R. Mathers, were the only competitors; but as the rye was green and unfit for harvesting, and the trial by no means likely to afford a true test of merit, we paid but little attention to it, and therefore decline to report upon it. We examined them especially in the Show-yard; and judging from the general plan and mechanical workmanship and details, the excellent reaper of Burgess and Key was not in danger of being superseded by that of Mather, and the report of those who attended more especially to these trials was, that it did admirably.

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STEAM-POWER APPLIED TO THE CULTIVATION OF THE LAND.

In this very interesting department of the Society's operations we had a good competition, Messrs. Fowler, Smith, Cambridge, and Coleman having their powerful implements in the field. Mr. Fowler's one-way or turnwrest ploughs, four bodies of which being appended to each end of his rather ponderous balance frame, made capital work at great depth. They were worked by his new improved and economical windlass, by which he saves about one-third in length of his strong and expensive wire rope, and the cost of the workman to see to the proper coiling. This admirable windlass has two large drums of 4 ft. diameter, around which the rope is so wound in grooves, that as it is winding up on to the one drum it is paying off on the other, and that without difficulty or slipping; other improvements were pointed out to us, but this is the main one since we last witnessed it in work. The work was as well done and as well laid with as even furrow-sole and in as good state for the harrows as need to be, and the work proceeded very satisfactorily and expeditiously, so as to merit our entire approval. The engine and windlass, as usual constituting one machine, was conveniently placed at one end of the work, and Worby's patent anchorage at the opposite end, each moving along the headland by attached apparatus for that purpose as the ploughing proceeds; thus requiring merely the presence of two men to work it, and one boy to move the friction barrows. Smith's complete set of implements for accomplishing every reasonable purpose of steam cultivation was also brought under our notice. The windlass and anchorages are not equal to Fowler's in some respects. The saving of rope is important, and these anchorages are moveable only by manual labour as the work proceeds, requiring two attendants for that purpose, and also a workman to see to the proper coiling of the rope on the windlass. The anchorages are provided with wheels or reels, around which the wire rope is drawn, and his implements are admirably turned at the end by means of his celebrated turn-bow, which is simply an elongated plough-hake with projecting points inside to catch the rope-loop. The work done by Smith's machinery is cultivating or grubbing, not ploughing. His trenching plough made admirable work, which, if requisite, would really be a substitute for the plough or the spade, as it does invert the soil and covers up the surface herbage by making a large closed ridge, which is split at a subsequent operation. The cultivating department was admirably done, and in such a way and at such a depth as but few teams of horses could so steadily and evenly accomplish, if they could be found to do it at all, particularly at the pace travelled, i. e. about

34 miles per hour. On crossing the work done by the first grubber with one of larger size, the work was left in such a thoroughly good state of rough fallowing as fully to satisfy us. Cambridge brought a locomotive engine, with Boydell's patent railway pattens: to this were attached three of Eddy's ploughs by chains, each worked by a competent ploughman. The engine was admirably driven, and the ploughs would have made excellent work had not the company incommoded the ploughmen; when a fair course was obtained the work was well done. We cannot, however, give our full approval to this mode of applying steam-power to cultivation; we were satisfied from what we witnessed in this trial that the stationary or shifting engine plan is yet the best and readiest application of that vast power. Coleman's powerful eightcoultered steam cultivator was also tried, being drawn by this tremendous iron steam-horse. It stalked away with it without difficulty, and tore up the grassy seeds at great depth, and broke it up most admirably.

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REPORT OF THE JUDGES OF THRESHING-MACHINES, CHAFF-CUTTERS, AND

PULSE-BRUISERS.

We do not consider it necessary to write a long report on the trials of implements which came under our notice, hoping the subjoined tables will be quite sufficient to justify our decisions and also to act as guides to farmers requiring such machines.

We spared no pains to discover their several good points, and by the number of those points we decided on their merits. That the competition in threshing-machines was not greater we much regret (especially when we saw so many machines sent by first-rate makers standing side by side with those that were tried, and shining with all the polish of well-finished workmanship), and sorry we were that we could not see them do the work which we were fully justified in expecting them to be capable of. We shall be glad, for the benefit of the farmer, if Humphries's machine is beaten at Chester by some machine making cleaner work and requiring no more power to work it. This remark has special reference to the shaking of the barley, which was most indifferently done by the machines of both Humphries and Cambridge. It also applies, but in a less degree, to the shaking of the wheat. This may, however, have been the result of rapid feeding, and may not be the case when threshing at an ordinary rate. It is only just towards the machines of the Messrs. Humphries to say that there was not the slightest tendency to choking in either their shakers or riddles, so that the evil would not be increased by continued working-a remark which does not apply to that of Mr. Cambridge. They also possess the great advantage of separating the seeds of weeds from the corn, chaff, and chavings. The chaff and chavings were also well divided, and the machines were exceedingly well made, very compact, and quickly set to work. We tested the dressed corn of Humphries and Cambridge by passing it through Mr. Boby's excellent screen, and also made comparison with corn dressed by the prize hand-power dressing-machine by subjecting that to the same test, and found them equal in all respects. It was a great triumph for the finishing threshing-machines. We think great care and caution are necessary with regard to their use, and, when worked in the field, farmers and their men ought to be very attentive as to the mixture of the corn from the, tops and bottoms of stacks with that threshed from the middle; added to which, good feeding of the machine and the regular speed of the steam-engine are most essential points to be attended to. We must still think the great weight of most of these machines is a serious objection.

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Cambridge,
St. 86, Art. 3
Brown & May,
St. 81, Art. 2
Humphries,
St. 88, Art. 1

85-657

13-94 78-85 10 8 9 10 8 45

un

good broken

8 Hummeller broke the corn, ultimately choked, and trial ceased. 36 6-914 11.97 82-76 10 8 10 9 10 47

un

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ver quite quite prize 93

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Next came the Threshing-machines not exceeding 8-horse power, which should make the best subdivisions of corn and refuse; and here again, as the tables will show, the Messrs. Humphries were the winners. For general use and on most farms these are good and serviceable machines.

PORTABLE COMBINED STEAM THRESHING-MACHINES not requiring more than 8-horse power, which shall make the best subdivisions of Corn and Refuse.

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Humphries, 25 6-914
Stumphries25

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un-
11-4 79-819 10 8 10 10 10 48
broken
General bad work, and the workmanship of the machine most indifferent.

18.40 and general bad work.

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clear clear prize

60

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THRESHING-MACHINES FOR HORSE-POWER.

These machines, which are introduced for the use of small occupiers, can scarcely be recommended as economical. They are so constructed that the spaces allotted for the corn, chaff, and chavings are each so limited and so awkwardly placed that they require constant attention to keep them clear. The labour required, therefore, in proportion to the work done, must be much greater than in the better description of machines. The shakers, too, except in Beare's machine (in which they were greatly elevated and answered very well), are on too small a scale to be effective, and the corn passed away with the straw in a most wasteful manner. This may not, however, be so much the case when fed at a rate commensurate with the draught of 4 horses, by which they are intended to be worked. They were driven during their trial by steam-power and fed much too fast. However, Mr. Beare's machine did good work and was by far the best made, so we gave it the prize.

PORTABLE THRESHING-MACHINE with Riddle and Straw Shaker, not requiring more than 3 Horse-Power when worked independent of its Horse-gear.

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.1, Art. 1 Hart and Gibbons,

L. 79, Art. 2

34.4

4-584 20-169 10

0 Shaking so bad that it was not considered worthy

35-028 4-772 23-993 10 10

8 10

9 47

of further trial.
broken..

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3 4-714 6-136 28-935 8 0 10 10 533 rather.
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£.

40

clear clear prize 32

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CHAFF-CUTTERS.

The Chaff-Cutters in general made good work, but none could cut the same quantity as Messrs. Carson and Cornes. The workmanship of their machines and the work done by them was most satisfactory, and difficult was the task (until the dynamometer's notes were examined) for the Judges to decide on their respective merits. It will be long before such machines can. be surpassed. We gave the prize to Mr. Carson, highly commending Mr. Cornes, and and commending those of Richmond and Chandler and Messrs. Smith and Ashby. Each machine was made to cut for three minutes, and the results were as follows:

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Messrs. Carson's, Cornes's, and Smith and Ashby's machines had reverse as well as stopping motions. The other machines had no reverse motions.

Price.

The Corn and Pulse-bruiser of Messrs. Turner worked as well as ever; the machine tried was also fitted up for splitting beans, and the price was 151. 12s.

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Mr. Bentall was again successful with his machine for pulping roots; in fact, there was no competition.

For Portable Four-Horse Gear, adapted for driving threshing-machines, we gave the prize to Mr. Beare; and for Single-Horse Gear for driving chaffcutters, &c., Messrs. Fry of Bristol were the successful exhibitors.

While thus drawing our report to a conclusion, we trust that more attention will for the future be paid to the altering of the wind-boards, and the slides for reducing or increasing the blast of the respective combined threshingmachines, which alteration ought not to necessitate the stopping of the machine. If we remember right, Messrs. Hornsby's machines are particularly well arranged in this respect.

A pleasant duty now devolves upon us, which is to tender our most sincere thanks to Mr. John Gray for his invaluable assistance in the Show-Yard, and to all others connected with the Bath and West of England Society for their unbounded kindness and attention.

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REPORT OF THE JUDGES ON THE MISCELLANEOUS CLASSES OF IMPLEMENTS.

CLASS 33. The best Winnowing Machine, which shall be readily converted into a simple Blower. -None of the machines for trial carried out this condition. The workmanship, with two or three exceptions, was very indifferent; one was quite discreditable to maker and exhibitor. The prize was given to Messrs. Burrow and Page, and a commendation to Mr. Boby's combined dressing-machine and corn-screen. In this class we also gave an especial award to Mr. Boby for improvements in his corn-screen, by which the wires can be set fine or coarse: a riddle is also added by which the grain is divested of all rough substances, such as beans, short straws, &c.

CLASS 34. The best One-Horse Cart for general purposes. - GEORGE MILFORD, Thorverton, Devon. Stand 20, Art. 2. 4 One-Horse Cart.-Half the prize is awarded to this well-made cart, which deserves great praise; but the height of the wheels is a matter on which the judges will further on express an opinion. At present they merely observe that this is the chief defect in this cart.

T. MILFORD and Sons, Thorverton, Devon. Stand 37, Art. 2. A OneHorse Cart.-Half the prize is awarded to this cart, which is well made, and deserves its share of the prize. The height of the wheels is also the chief defect in this cart. In both these prize-carts the soles project too far, and thus interfere with tipping: these projections should be sawn off.

MUNRO and Co., Bristol. Stand 18, Art. 2. Hannam's Harvest-Cart.The body of this cart is very good. There is a defect in the wheels, the bushes being far too short.

Art. 6. A Two-Wheeled Family Coburg, with fulcrum Shafts and cranked Axle. This is a very useful carriage.

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