AGEICULTUEAL SOCIETY HELD AT STIRLING IX ISSl. 259 



The Turnip Lifters were tried 1st November 1881. The 

 judges — Messrs. Mylne, Xiddrie Mains ; Mnnro, Fairnington ; 

 8winton, Holyn Bank ; Paterson, Plean ; and Buchanan, White- 

 house — tried the machines on a crop of swedes ; but, in conse- 

 quence of a snowstorm liaving prevailed during the trial, it was 

 resolved to. allow the exhibitors to ask the directors to hold 

 another trial in the neidibourhood of Edinburoh. The directors 

 having agreed to the request of the exhibitors, the adjourned 

 trial was held on 22nd November on Mr. Hope's farm of East 

 Duddingston. The judges present were Messrs. Mylne, Xiddrie 

 Mains; Swinton, Holyn Bank; and Hope, Duddingston. All 

 the machines (five in number) were first tried on an excellent 

 crop of swedes, the land being light loam and dry and in good 

 condition. On this crop the machines made very creditable 

 work, leaving the turnips in a fair state for storing. They were 

 then tried on a field of yellow or hybrid turnips, when the 

 topping was in some places deficient and some extra labour 

 would be required before storing, the machines being more liable 

 to choke among the yellow turnips. The draught of the machines 

 was remarkably light, any of them being light work for one 

 horse. The work of the whole was such that the machine would 

 1)6 a valuable adjunct on a farm where labour was scarce; and 

 the price was moderate, being £4, 10s. for a single machine and 

 £9, 9s. for a double machine. Without drawing any distinction 

 between the single and double machines, the one being adapted 

 for a small and the other for a large farm. The judges, after 

 full consideration and exhaustive trial, found that the machines 

 of Thomas Hunter, Maybole, and G. W. Murray & Co., Banff, 

 were so nearly equal that they recommended to the directors 

 that the first and second prizes (£15 and £10) should be divided 

 equally between them, and that the third prize (£5) should not 

 be awarded. A considerable advance has been made on these 

 implements during the last few years, but the judges considered 

 there was room for further improvement. 



IMPLEMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE SOCIETY. 



On the occasion of the General Show at Berth in 1879 it was 

 arranged that the Society should ofler three premiums of tlie 

 value of £20, £10, and £5 foi approved reports on the best 

 method of arranging the irn])lemi'nt department. 



Five reports were lodged in response to the Society'o adver- 

 tisement ; and at a meeting of committee held on 21st .iult IS80, 

 it was decided to award the whole ])rizos, althotigli the leporls 

 did not contain muf.U that had not i)revionf?ly been often con- 

 siderei bv the committee. 



