THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



29 



material be used along with the straw, to show the 

 length, i.e., a piece of soft wood, or slip of pine. This 

 would be serviceable. The break or dynamometer will 

 prove the power absorbed, and the measure the quantity. 

 Dressing Machines. — These, if possible, are more 

 varied in pattern and uses than chaff-engines. These 

 machines should be made capable of performing all kinds 

 of dressing, from the foulest corn to fine seeds. The 

 dynamometer readily shows the power used. The 

 judges decide the work. 



Adjudication by Points. — The last thing T shall notice 

 in this short paper is the novel mode suggested by several 

 manufacturers for arriving at a satisfactory adjudication, 

 viz., by the representation of a given number of points. 

 Take Messrs. Ransomes and Sims' suggestion as to points. 



1. Durability, 



2. Simplicity, „ 



3. Material and work- 



manship, „ 



Duty done on 4. Consumption of coa!, „ 



5. Portability, „ 



6. Price per horse-power, „ 



Points, 

 to count 20^ 



20 



20 UOO points. 

 20 ' 



iSj 



What work for judges, even with this defined for their 

 guidance ! What is to rule them ? If one machine is 

 somewhat better finished than another, is it to count 20 

 points ; and the other, of which the judges have a 

 wavering opinion as to what is best, to count nothing ? 

 Again, the latter may be the most simple in construc- 

 tion by some slight difTerence, then it counts 20 ; the 

 first nothing, and so on. Then what are the tests of 

 durability but material and workmanship ? and so both 

 get the 20 points. Then again, what is portability : a 

 light frame on light carriages ? That would never do ; 



yet it gets 10 points. Again, price per horse-power? 

 Why it seems the lowest-priced or the least costly make 

 would win here, when generally the best-made engines 

 are the most costly ; yet it has the 10 points. Con- 

 sumption of coal has something definite. Here a test 

 can be applied ; so we will give the 10 or 20 points as 

 these gentlemen suggest. In many machines similar re- 

 sults may be obtained. Thrashing-machines, dressing- 

 machines, chaff-engines and mills might possibly be so 

 determined, because they each have many "duties" 

 to perform, and a given number of points might indi- 

 cate grades of merit, but it would be very indefinite. 

 If points are to be adopted as an index of merit, the 

 division must be free and open ; it must be left to 

 the discretion of the judges to place such a number 

 of points to the merit as it is entitled to, and not 

 have it defined for them. What bones of contention ! 

 Points — defined points — will never do ; they would fre- 

 quently bring inferior machines and implements first. I 

 have often seen splendidly-made machinery which was 

 of no practical use. The mill I have named was pre- 

 cisely of that class : it appeared of beautiful manufac- 

 ture, but the hreali proved it worthless. I see no true 

 way of solving these difficulties better than to trust to 

 the free unprejudiced judgment of really good practical 

 men, aided, as they now are, by so many true mechanical 

 and scientific powers. The power used can be de- 

 tected to the greatest nicety by the dynamometer. The 

 quantity and evaporation of water can be ascertained by 

 the water-meter. The coals can readily be weighed, 

 and other matters can be proved, so that, in fact, the 

 judge of implements and machinery is vastly aided in 

 coming to a decision ; and he has, for the most part, 

 mainly to exercise his judgment as to the quality of the 

 work performed. 



THE BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND COUNTIES FAT CATTLE 



AND POULTRY SHOW. 



As an agricultural exhibition, that at Birmingham, 

 even as a commercial speculation, should be eminently 

 successful. It enjoys, in a word, just double the at- 

 tractions of any other such gathering. Quite as many^ 

 or more, people go to see the Poultry than there do to 

 see the Stock. Whereas at other meetings the cocks 

 and hens are of little consideration, and half the visitors 

 most likely never look at them. Birmingham, from 

 the very first, has had a long lead in this respect that 

 has never been approached. We have had Poultry 

 Shows in Baker-street and at the Crystal Palace. The 

 Royal Agricultural Society itself has ventured on a i&'N 

 mild accessories of the kind. Even exhibitors, however, 

 think comparatively very little of them ; while on the 

 other hand, taking the prize for the best pen at Bingley 

 Hall is something equivalent to winning the Derby, 

 or the Gold Medal at Smithfield. Still, in the very face 

 of this, with everything as well done as it could be, 

 the funds of the Midland Counties Show have 

 not been in too flourishing a condition. The fact 

 is, or was, the Society, like many an individual 

 ere now, liad over-housed itself. Bingley-hall is, 

 by this, proverbially well known as the best show- 

 yard in the three kingdoms; but then, unfortunately, 

 it is nothing more. For fifty-one weeks in the year 

 the Hall is little better than a dead letter. The Bound- 

 ing Brothers may occasionally, for a day or so, display 

 their athletic forms, or Madame Robinsino pirouette 

 from the back of a piebald steed. But beyond this the 



Society has so far had little to aid them in paying so 

 large a rent ; and consequently, although they have 

 done everything to ensure the attendance of visitors, 

 they have still iiad serious difficulties to contend with. 

 There may be something of a lesson or a moral in this. 

 There is scarcely a spectator or an exhibitor enters 

 Bingley-hall but says at once, " Ah ! we ought to 

 have such a place as this for our London shows !" We 

 were told as much, over and over again, during this 

 past week. But yet a little reflection, ere we proceed 

 to such a step, may be not altogether unadvisable. 

 Whose money is to build ? What shall we do with our 

 hall when we have no fat cattle to put in It ? And would 

 it be sure to be a safe speculation in other ways ? The 

 Birmingham Show has, we repeat, the best place for 

 its meeting of any we ever entered ; and the one great 

 drag on the Society is this self-same capital place ! 



It must not be supposed, however, that " the Mid- 

 land Counties" is in a desponding or declining con- 

 dition. The reverse of this is the case. The Council 

 last year boldly faced their rent-difficulty, and, by a 

 little exertion amongst themselves, have, we believe, 

 nearly conquered it. As for the Meeting, it is now 

 better supported in every way than it hitherto has been. 

 The Society gives more money in premiums, the ex- 

 hibitors enter in greater numbers, and the character of 

 the Meeting is manifestly improving. The Poultry 

 Show no longer depends on monstrosities or " rages," 

 but is really what it should be— a collection of useful 



