THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



49 



turnip-cutters, churns, &c., &c., all had to undergo 

 close inspection, and some were tested ; but we cannot, 

 without encroaching upon too much of our space, refer 

 further to them, except to say that every care was taken 

 by these gentlemen, and their decisions were marked by 

 Bound judgment and experience. 



The Field Trials. — These trials always give a cha- 

 racter to the meeting, be held where it may, and the 

 Cardiff one will long stand pre-eminent in this respect, 

 from the number and variety of the trials insti- 

 tuted, including all the chief points of interest sought 

 to be solved by modern agriculturists. We will endea- 

 vour to go through them in succession, as the trials took 

 place. They were conducted by Messrs. Read and 

 Clarke, greatly aided by the field steward, Mr. J. E. 

 Knollys, on land occupied by Mr. Richard Thomas, called 

 the Crwys Farm, about one and a-half miles from the 

 show-yard. Mr. Thomas did all in his power to facilitate 

 the progress of the judges, as did also the subordinates 

 engaged, so that no confusion or the slightest hindrance 

 occurred. The field selected for the trial of the culti- 

 vators, drags, &c., &c., was in the best possible state 

 for that purpose, having been long ploughed, and upon 

 it was a great abundance of strong well-grown twitch 

 to be torn up and worked out — a severe test for broad- 

 shares, parers, and tlie like, against scarifiers and drags, 

 as the result proved. Only three implements were 

 duly entered for trial in Class 5 — Bentall's, Carson's, 

 and Coleman's, and they were first put to the work 

 with their usual shares, or as for broadsharing. Bentall's 

 took 4 ft, 6 in. width, Carson's 5 ft, 2 in., Coleman's 

 5 ft., each 6 in. depth. Carson's was with difficulty kept 

 clean, and was hard to take up ; Bentall's worked 

 evenly and quietly, with occasional clogging, and left 

 the work but slightly broken, and was scarcely taken out 

 of the ground at all ; Coleman's worked well, and left 

 the work more ready for the drag-harrow — the side and 

 lifting movement excellent. This was, however, not 

 proper work in this state for either of the implements, 

 therefore their shares were taken off, and points substi- 

 tuted. In this trial Carson had 7 points, 3^ in. each ; 

 Bentall had 5 points, took 4 ft., 6 in. ; Coleman 7 points 

 4 in. each, took 4 ft. 4 in. The work of the latter was 

 best adapted for subsequent harrowing. The dynamo- 

 meter was ajiplied at equal depths ; the variation 

 was not great, Bentall's having a slight advantage, 

 the other two about equal ; but in this instance and 

 circumstance of the work to be done, Coleman's 

 cultivator certainly made the best work, and con- 

 sequently took favour with the judges, Bentall receiving 

 the high commendation, Carson the commendation. 

 They were subsequently put through another phase of 

 their peculiar adaptations as parers, but the judges did 

 not alter their decision. Mr. Comins brought 

 forward a drag, or grubber, in competition, but made a 

 most laughable exploit of it. These respective culti- 

 vators — or rather, modifications of them — were brought 

 forward in Class 6 (" Narrow Cultivators, &c."). The 

 result confirmed the prize in both cases to Coleman. 

 Carson, with 5 shares, took 3 ft. 5 in. ; Bentall, with 3 

 shares, took 3 ft. 3 in. ; Coleman, with 5 shares, 3 ft. 



10 in. Bentall and Coleman were equal, Ciiiiou a Utile 

 heavier draught. Bentall's received the commendation. 



Single or Double U raff s.—Mesars. Fry, Eddy, 

 Comins, Coleman, Lyne, Wright, and Bentall were 

 competitors. The trial was a good test of merit ; but 

 they were all large harrows, not drags, and partook of 

 Howard's well-known form. Fry's took 7 ft. with 15 

 teeth in each harrow ; Eddy, 7 ft. G in. with 20 teeth in 

 each harrow. These worked well ; but the tines, or 

 teeth, appeared a little too much in line. They were 

 commended. Comins took 8 ft. 9 in., having three 

 harrows, each 15 teeth, Ihe last row a little bent, for 

 more effective working. Coleman took 10 ft. 6 in. with 

 his well-known expanding harrows, but, as theyaremore 

 adapted for stetch-work, they did not show well here. 

 Lyne (an amateur mechanic) took G ft. 9 in. with 31 

 teeth, set in a peculiar way in seven serpentine bars, 

 which are independent of each other, but connected in 

 front, and are drawn from a rod which runs through 

 loops in each bar, which are kept separate at proper 

 distance by ferrules ; and at the other end they are con- 

 nected by short, jointed rods, so as to permit their rising 

 and falling at pleasure, somewhat after the old gingle- 

 harrow fashion. In the rough work appointed them 

 they proved exceedingly well, and could not be clogged. 

 The Judges awarded them a certificate of merit. J. and 

 R. Wright took 7 ft. G in. Each of the harrows had 20 

 teeth. The teeth did not track quite to our satisfaction ; 

 but they are strong and cheap drag-harrows, and very 

 properly received the commendation. Bentall took 8 ft. 

 with 20 teeth in each of his double-angle iron drag- 

 harrows. The fastenings and couplings are very good. 

 These harrows made the best work, and showed evi- 

 dence of the greatest utility, with permanence and 

 cheapness. They were awarded the prize. 



In the General-jmrpose Harrow class the same 

 parties competed. Fry's are a set of three harrows, of 

 24 teeth each, taking 9 ft. 6 in. The teeth are squared 

 into the bottom-bar, and then fastened by screw. They 

 did exceedingly well, and were justly awarded the prize. 

 Bentall's is a set of four harrows with 15 teeth each, 

 and are as well made and well fastened as usual. They 

 received a commendation. Eddy's is a set of three 

 harrows, each 24 teeth, taking 9 ft. We thought them 

 too light for the class. Lyne showed two sets of three 

 harrows— or rather, 13 bars each set, of 5 teeth each, 

 fastened as named above. One set has a straight 

 strengthening bar, which adds greatly to its stability. 

 These worked admirably, and received a special prize 

 for the originality and usefulness of the invention. J. 

 and R. Wright's are a set of three 20-teethed harrows, 

 taking 10 ft., with square bars, and a peculiar setting of 

 the teeth for fine or coarse work. Coleman's is a set 

 of his expanding harrows, well manufactured, and 

 highly useful in their more especial departments. Both 

 sets worked well. 



Sets of Seed Harrows.— The same Firms were once 

 more competitors. The style and character of their 

 respective implements were kept up on a reduced scale, 

 some differing from the others in the extent ot the 

 reduction. Bentall's were too light, but worked to 



