278 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Mr. Ihulson (of C»8tleaci-e) suggested that the general 

 question of the Society's purchasing a suitable pavilion, 

 to be retained as its own property, for the purpose of 

 the great dinner of the Society at its successive country 

 meetings, should be referred to the special committee 

 on show-yard works. 



Additional Special Prizes offered by the Chester 

 Local Committee were accepted, and ordered to be 

 included in the Prize-sheets of the Society. 



On the motion of Mr. Jonas, seconded by Lord 

 Feversbam, Mr. Milward, of Thurgarton Priory, was 

 unanimously elected one of the stewards of the cattle- 

 yard at the country meetings of the Society, 



On the motion of Lord Portman, seconded by Lord 

 Feversham, it was decided that the Stewards of the 

 Stock-yard be requested to report to the Council, at 

 a Special Council to be held as soon as possible after 

 the entry of stock, the number of Judges required for 

 stock. 



Metropolitan Meeting. — On the motion of Mr. 

 Brandreth Gibbs, secondtd by Mr. Fisher Hobbs, the 

 Council decided that it was desirable that the Society 

 should hold a Metropolitan Show, provided a suitable 

 site could be obtained ; and on the motion of Lord 

 Portman, seconded by Lord Feversham, that the Show 

 should not be held until after the year 1860, when the 

 circuit of districts for the country meetings of the 

 Society will have been completed, but in the first year 

 afterwards that might be found practicable. The ar- 

 rangements connected with this subject were referred to 

 the Metropolitan Show Committee. 



Dates of Entry. — Lord Feversham adverted to a 

 misprint in the last part of the Journal, which might 

 mislead persons who were not aware of the standing 

 dates at which entries had for many years been made 

 for the shows at the country meetings. It occurred in 

 the last page of the appendix, where, under the head of 

 " Dates of Entry," Live Stock had been misprinted for 

 Implements. 



Card of Meetings, and Admission of Re- 

 porters. — The Council did not adopt Mr. Frere's 

 suggestion for a " Card of Meetings/' and they de- 

 clined to grant Mr. Morton's application, on the behalf 

 of the Proprietors of the Garde7ier's Chronicle, for 

 the admission of Reporters. 



Steam Cultivator.— A lithographed circular ad- 

 dressed to the Council, and requiring special informa- 

 tion on the subject of the Society's prize for a Steam 

 Cultivator, was laid on the table ; and the Council 

 ordered that Mr. Collinson Hall, Mr. Fowler, Mr. 

 Burrell, and Mr. Williams, by whom it was signed, 

 should be referred to the printed rules for trial, to 

 which the Council would adhere. 



The Council adjourned to their weekly meeting, on 

 March 10. 



A Weekly Council was held on Wednesday, the 

 10th of March ; present : Mr. Raymond Barker, 

 V. P. (in the chair), Mr. Dod, M.P., Mr. Gatty, Mr. 

 Brandreth Gibbs, Rev. L. "Vernon Harcoutt, Mr. 

 Fisher Hobbs, Mr. Allen Ransome, Mr. Thomas Scott, 

 Mr. P. Simpson, Professor Simonds, and Mr. George 

 Wood. 



Mr. Bailey Denton made an application in reference 

 to his intended draining operations abroad. — Mr. 

 Eddleston alleged his discovery of a cure for Pleuro- 

 pneumonia and Potato disease, and his willingness to 

 communicate it to the Council under certain terms of 

 remuneration.— Mr. Spencer Trower, of Stansteadbury, 

 presented a foetal foal, 46 days in embryo, taken from a 

 mare 21 years old (a specimen v?hich Professor Simonds 



considered to be interesting as showing the early de- 

 velopment of the foetus). — The Committee of Council 

 on Education presented copies of an Almanac prepared 

 by the Science and Art department. The Rt. Hon. T. 

 F. Kennedy presented a copy of Mr. Spence's work ou 

 the practical consideration of the Coal, Smoke, and 

 Sewage questions. 



Adjourned to March 17. 



A Weekly Council was held on the 17th of March ; 

 present, Lord Berners (President) in the chair; Mr. 

 Alcock, M.P.,Mr. Fuller Baines, Mr. Raymond Barker, 

 Mr. Body, Mr. Caird, M.P., Mr. Fisher Hobbs, Mr. 

 Holland, M.P., Mr. Langston, M.P., Mr. Majendie, 

 Mr. T. Scott, Mr. Vyner, Mr. Burch Western, and Mr. 

 Sutton Western, M.P. 



Communications were received — 1. From Mr. Stal- 

 lard, of Redmarley, Gloucestershire, suggesting a prize 

 to be offered by the Society, for the best-constructed 

 moveable shade for sheep during the hot months of the 

 year, especially on the red warm sandy soils, for the 

 purpose not only of comfort to the animals themselves, 

 but of preventing their damaging the under part of 

 fences, and their losing flesh during the period of hot 

 weather. The President had fou nd simple awnings con- 

 structed of four upright poles, open at the sides, but 

 covered at the toj) with faggots or brushwood, answer 

 the purpose very well. 2. From Mr. Alcock, M P., 

 suggesting that the Society should offer a prize of £100 

 for the largest amount in value of agricultural produce 

 (serving as food for man or beast), in one year, from a 

 single acre of land, provided a fair profit be shown by 

 the cultivator ; the application for the prize to be ac- 

 companied by a detailed account of the cost, value of the 

 crop, and mode of cultivation, and notice given to the 

 Secretary by any person intending to compete. — These 

 communications were referred to the Journal Committee. 



Adjourned to March 24. 



NOVEL APPLICATION OF HORSE-POWER.— 



The Montrose Standard directs attention to the " perform- 

 ance of a new method of applying horse-power to drive 

 machinery, which Major Rennie Tailyour, of Borrowfield, 

 has introduced at his steading at Newmanswalls. The 

 apparatus, which is very simple in its design, differs en- 

 tirely from the mode hitherto in use. Instead of moving 

 round in a circle, and drawing the end of a lever attached 

 to an upright shaft, the horse remains stationary, fastened 

 in a stall, and the flooring on which he stands passes back- 

 wards under him, as he appears to step forward. The 

 flooring consists of a series of stout boards, lying across the 

 stall, and resting on and made fast to two endless chains 

 stretched round a couple of drums, one at the head and the 

 other at the foot of the stall, thus forming, as it were, a 

 firm but flexible belt, on the upper surface of which, as on 

 a moveable floor, the horse stands. The. drum at the head 

 of the stall being somewhat more elevated than at the foot, 

 this moveable floor is slightly inclined ; and the weight of 

 the horse causes it to descend towards the lower drum, 

 carrying the horse backward along with it. As, however, 

 the halter by which he is tied in the stall obliges the horse 

 to maintain his position, he is compelled to step forward 

 continuously as the floor recedes under him ; and the revo- 

 lution of the drums thus produced drives whatever ma- 

 chinery it is intended to propel. At Newmanswalls it is 

 successfully applied to driving a thrashing machine, a 

 chatty-cutter, and a machine for bruising oats. No driving 

 or watching is required ; and we were informed that a 

 horse might work at this species of treadmill without dis- 

 tress or latigue for eight hours." [The practice is common 

 throughout the United States and Canada. In fact, the 

 wood at every minor railway station is sawn in thig 

 manner.] 



