42 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



English authority. Wc havo all, of course, our lean- 

 ings and likings, and what might tell very well at Strat- 

 hord might not be found to answer at Warwick, Chelms- 

 ford, or Canterbury. A Perthshire Farmer, whose 

 letter follows the Report, is much more inclined to the 

 English than the Judges themselves. But, somewhat 

 severe and poitited as he is in his criticism, and an eye 

 witness, moreover, as he was of the trials, it is much to 

 be regretted that he did not put his name to his com- 

 munication. He may be assured that he will not have 

 half the effect without it. 



At Strathord, as our readers have previously heard, 

 the English houses, witlt the one grand exception of 

 the H6rnsbys, were beaten. The Judges thus signi- 

 ficantly comment upon so unexpected a result : " The 

 Duke of Athole and the members of committee 

 have successfully carried out now for three years, at 

 great expense and personal trouble, these national 

 competitions in ploughs and ploughing, at a season 

 of the year lohen j^^oughs are most in use. We 

 attach far more importance to them than to those 

 attempted under the auspices of the national Agri- 

 cultural Societies of England and Scotland ; for 

 these are made in summer when the plough is very 

 little in use in Scotland, and the competition takes 

 place necessarily either on hay stubble, with a tender 

 sward, or on loose fallow land, and in weather usually 

 dry. These are circumstances peculiarly favourable 

 for rectangular furrows and wheel-ploughs, and we are 

 not surprised that, for some years, such ploughs have 

 been placed among the first of the competing ploughs." 

 Mr. M'Lagan wrote something like this, although not 

 put so strongly, in his report of the Edinburgh Meeting, 

 as jiublished in the Highland Society's Journal. If we 

 make this remark a general one, then the match at 

 Marden in May may be worth far more as a guide 

 and a test than another at Canterbury in July. But 

 if it should be so, there follows the rather awkward 

 question as to the value of all the previous trials that 

 have taken place in the heart of summer ? 



We have very reluctantly touched again on this 

 matter, as a duty, and, as we hope, without either 

 prejudice or favour. The present conduct of the great 

 implement houses is to the world at large altogether 

 incomprehensible ; and we believe that by persisting 

 in it they will be doing alike an injustice to themselves 

 and their customers. We should be the last to say that 

 the management of the Royal Agricultural Society is 

 free from all fault or blame. On the contrary, we have 

 never hesitated to declare how susceptible it is of im- 

 provement. But this is not to be attained by sulking 

 awuy from and indirectly ignoring an institution that 

 has done so much good, and may do so much more — 

 even to the implement-makers themselves. There 

 should be a warmer feeling of mutual appreciation 

 between the Agricultural Engineers and the Society in 

 Hanover Square, and that wo trust soon to see brought 

 about. But we are inclined to look a little even be- 

 yond this, and to put them together for the especial 

 advantage of agriculture. What have open compe- 

 tition and public exhibition done for the cause in the 



last twenty years ? There can be but one answer, and 

 that is — More than ever tvas done before. 



THE STRATHORD PLOUGHING MATCH, 



REPORT OF THE JUDGES ON THE TRIAL OP 

 SWING AND WHEEL PLOUGHS. 



Having consented to act aa Judges at the Trial of Swing 

 and Wheel Ploughs held on Shielhill Farm, Strathord, ou the 

 7th aud 8th of March, 1860, at the request of the Committee, 

 composed of the following gentlemen — His Grace the Duke of 

 Athole, President ; Captain M'Duff, New Mill ; Robert 

 Elliot, Laighwood; Duncan M'Donald, The Hatton ; Henry 

 Anderson, BurnsiJe ; Robert Smith, Tophead, Secretary — we 

 received the following " Inatructioas to Judges," drawn up by 

 the Committee : — 



PLOUGHING MATCH, SHIELHILL FARM, 

 STRATHORD. 

 Instructions to Judges. 

 The objects of this ploughing-match are chiefly— 

 1st. To test the general merits of the competing ploughs. 

 2ud. To test the comparative efficiency of the swing and 

 wheel ploughs. 



3rd. To ascertain which of the competing ploughs is best 

 adapted for all kinds of work in which that implement is 

 usually employed on the farm. 



To enable the Judges to decide and to arbitrate in regard 

 to these matters, the Committee of Management beg to direct 

 their attention to the foilowiug points :—- 



For Ploughs. 



1. Ease of draught. 



2. Easiest for holder. 



3. Cleanest " goer" through loose soil. 



4. Simplicity of construction, united with efficiency and 

 facility for fixiug and adjusting coulter, wheels, bridle, &c., &c. 



5. Form of mould-board best adapted for turning the most 

 perfect furrow on different descriptions of land. 



Ploughing. 



1. Best and cleanest tut, land-side and bottom. 



2. Best laid furrow, having regard to compactness and form. 



3. Grass or stubble best turned in and buried. 



4. Most uniform ridge. 



5. Best feering. 



6. Best finish. 



The first day the ploughs will all be engaged on lea-ground, 

 but on the following day, the whole, or any portion of them 

 which the Judges may select, will be required to work on any 

 kind of ground, or in any way the Judges may direct. 



The Committee have only further to request that the Judges 

 will append to their award a Report, stating why they consider 

 the succesiful ploughs superior to the others, having regard 

 to the different points detailed above, or to any others which 

 their enlarged experience may suggest, or conceive to be of 

 importance, so as to enable the Committee to lay before the 

 public the reasons which have guided the Judges in their de- 

 cisions ; as anythicg emanating from gentlemen of their 

 stinding and experience must carry with it great weight and 

 consideration, and perhaps tend to solve some of the difficult 

 questions on the merits of the different kinds of ploughs 

 which have long been disputed points among farmers. 



Athole, President. 



The following are the conditions of the trial as advertised by 

 the Committee:— 



A Ploughing Match will take place on the farm of Shielhill, 

 on Wednesday and Thursday, the 7th and 8th of March next, 

 cornmeucing each day at Ten o'clock. 



Tha Match is open to Makers of Ploughs only ; and as its 

 object is chiefly to teat the comparative merits of Swing and 

 Wheel Ploughs, each competitor will be allowed to enter two 

 of both kinds. 



O i tlie Second Day, only those Plous^hs will be required to 



