98 [AsSEMBL'f 



rented as many and as yaried obstacles to farm machinery and 

 labor, as wil3 occar probably on any property where machinery 

 can be profitably employed. The wheat crop on the ground was 

 of the Mediterranean and Soules varieties, injured in some deg^ree 

 by the wheat fly ; small portions of the field w^re lodged ; and 

 Tfith the exception of low moist placets the grain was in proper 

 condition for harvesting. The soil of this field is a clay loam, a 

 specimen of which is deposited in the Society's museum for refer- 

 ence when desired. 



The barley field containexl about 30 acres, was more uneven 

 M to its snriace ; deep irregulai- water courses traversed its length ; 

 tbe water standino^ in some portions ; many boulders and stumps 

 were in the track of the machines ; the srain was much lodged 

 and tangled ; the straw soft and tough. The soil of this field is 

 a olay loam, though more sandy in its proportions than the wheat 

 fidld ; a specimen of this soil is also deposited in the Society'^'s mu- 

 seum. The committee believe that a combination of difficulties 

 equal to the many presented on thi^^ field to the machines on trial, 

 ean rarely occur. 



Both the wheat field and barley fi e'id were accurately surveyed 

 and laid out in lots containing areas of two ^cres each, marked 

 by numbered stakes in consecutive order from 1 to 12. A track 

 for the teams t<;) enter was opened by cradles between each lot. 



The s^vei'al areas of the wheat and of the barley field were ap- 

 propriated to the exhibitors by lot ; the numbers drawn by tnem 

 respectively, designating the number of the lot on which to ope- 

 rate ; the numbers prefixed to the exhibitors names in the several 

 tables in this report indicate the position of each. 



An adjacent field, plowed during the second day of the trial, 

 afforded ample space for the trial of Grain Drills and Cultivators; 

 the long continued dry weather during the month of July acting 

 upon a clay soil, caused the furrows to be roogh and baked in 

 lai*ge masses, presenting a surface not to be easily pulverised ? 

 consequently tasking the merits or powers of each Cultivator to 

 reduce the soil to a prober tilth, and everv Grain Drij] to distribute 

 seed at equal distauces and at uniform depths. 



