ON IMPLEI^IENTS SELECTED FOIl TFJAL. 333 



It cannot be questioned that those whose duty it is to encour- 

 age any branch of scientific or practical research cannot at the 

 present day afford to remain passive or inactive. iSTew views, 

 followed by new results, are yearly brought forward in every 

 department of study, and whether such views be sound or false, 

 they claim, and should receive full consideration. To this agri- 

 culture is no exception. The wide range of subjects embraced 

 in its now acknowledged proper study includes, in those who 

 seek the Society's diplomas and certificates, some popular know- 

 ledge of chemistry, natural history, veterinary surgery, botany, 

 and engineering, and thus the Society acknowledges the general 

 onward movement for inquiry, and while it may be a subject for 

 difference of opinion in what may and to what extent the Society 

 can best promote the dissemination of knowledge in some of 

 those branches of study, it appears to the Committee that, as 

 regards the construction and utility of new agricultural imple- 

 ments, no such difficulty exists. The appeal to a properly con- 

 ducted trial is available, and the Committee regard it as a highly 

 important function of the Highland Society to procure and supply 

 to its members the best possible information on the merits of the 

 different implements annually brought forward as new inventions, 

 many of which have undoubtedly no good qualities to commend 

 them. 



The application of steam-power to the tillage of the soil is 

 pre-eminently one of those subjects which, from its importance, 

 the Committee think should be fully investigated, in order that 

 agriculturists may be provided with authoritative data for their 

 guidance in selecting the implemects they employ; and following 

 out this view, they are of opinion that every inventor who claims 

 superiority for his system of steam tillage should be encouraged 

 by the Society to submit it to a trial similar to that afibrded by 

 Messrs Fisken, who, the Committee think, deserve the special 

 thanks of the Society for the personal trouble they have taken 

 Id submitting their invention so fully and unreservedly for exa- 

 mination by the Society's Conmiittee. 



The Board approved of the report. 



II. — llOBEY & CO.'S TllKASIIING MACHINE. 



This machine (fig. 3) was exhibited by Messrs Itobey & Co., 

 Lincohi, and was trietl with barley on the 15lh, IGth, and 

 17th November at ^Ir ^luutuith's farm, Liberton Tower 

 Mains. It is said to be of new design, and to embrace many 

 improvements, chielly the reduction of the weights of the shoes 

 and riddle.s, and having enhirged bearings for the spindles. The 

 lower part of the framework is also left open, so a.s to show the 

 working parts, which is an advantage in regard to attention. The 



