thp: farmkr's magazine. 



253 



per day. The daily working expenses of lliis machine 

 are — 



£ H. (h 



Kiii,aneer . . .. . . .. ..051) 



Four men in Held . . . . . . U) 



Boy . .. 1 (I 



Wiitei-cart f. 



Removal 10 



Coals, lOcwt 1(1 



Oils, &c » I <• 



Interest 5 i)er cent , wear and tear 20 

 per cent, on first cost, .€430; taking 

 "200 as the number of working days 



per year 10 9 



£2 6 9 



This shows that the work was done at a cost of 14s. 

 per acre, while to effect a similar result with the ordi- 

 nary implements and horse-power three distinct opera- 

 tions would be required, which could not be performed 

 at less than 18s. 6d. per acre. 



These money results, satisfactory though they be, are 

 not, we consider, the only points of advantage which the 

 introduction of these machines confers upon agriculture. 

 By their aid we can carry out a complete system of 

 autumnal cultivation now so generally admitted to be 

 desirable, but which it is extremely difficult to effect 

 with the ordinary force of a farm, in ordinary seasons, 

 and under ordinary circumstances. We can continue 

 our cultivation by ploughing or otherwise, well nigh 

 regardless of weather, and upon land which would not 

 submit to the pressure of horse labour. We have per- 

 fect control over the work we wish Id have done ; and 

 when it is done, it is found to be more regular through- 

 out, and to be in a more open and desirable condition 

 than could be obtained by the best and most judicious 

 application of the ordinary implements of a farm. These 

 are points which we cannot too strongly recommend to 

 the attention of those interested in the advancement of 

 agriculture. 



We wish it to be distinctly understood that through- 

 out the trials we have charged the machines with the 

 maximum of working expenses, and have credited them 

 with the minimum value for the work performed. We 

 feel confident that when in constant operation on a farm, 

 the work done would be at a lower rate of cost than 

 that now given, and their great advantages then more 

 clearly and directly shown. At the same time, too, it 

 must not be forgotten that the engines themselves are 

 equally applicable to all the other power purposes of the 

 farm. 



From the foregoing results of the trials intrusted to 

 our decision by the Council of the Royal Agricultural 

 Society, and conducted throughout under our immediate 

 supervision, it is beyond question that Mr. Fowler's 

 machine is able to turn over the soil in an efficient 

 manner at a saving, as compared with horse labour, of 

 on light land 2| to 25 per cent. ; on heavy land, 25 to 

 30 per cent. ; and in trenching, 80 to 83 per cent. ; 

 while the soil in all cases is left in a far more desirable 

 condition, and better adapted for all the purposes of 

 husbandry. We are therefore unanimously of opinion 

 that he is fully entitled to the prize of ,£500, and we 

 now give our award accordingly. 



The results of the trials of Messrs. Howard's machine 

 also prove that the soil can be inverted in an efficient 

 manner, and at a less cost than by horse or manual 

 labour. We think therefore that some acknowledgment 

 of the merits of their machine is due from the Society, 

 and we beg to recommend for the consideration of the 

 Council that a large gold medal of honour be presented 

 to Messrs. Howard, "for the practical introduction of 

 Smith's application of steam power to facilitate autumnal 



culiivalion, now generally admitted to be desirable on 

 all des(Tii)tions of soils." 



The Council will be gratified to learn that already 23 

 of these machines have liave been sent out by the manu- 

 facturers, and that 20 of them are being successfully 

 worked liy tenant farmers. 



J NO. Clarke, Long Sutton. 



JosEi'ii Drui;:k, Eynsham, Oxon. 



GnoiiGE Shackei,, Earlsley Court, Reading. 



John Wilson, Edinburgh. 



Professor Wilson favoured the Council with his at- 

 tendance, and replied to the various inquiries made of 

 him by the members present on the several points of 

 detail connected with the trials in question ; for which, 

 on the motion of Sir Archibald Macdonald, he received 

 the best thanks of the Council. 



On the motion of Sir Archibald Macdonald, seconded 

 by Mr. Barnett, the report was then unanimously 

 adopted and confirmed, and the Secretary instructed 

 to communicate that result to Mr. Fowler and Mr. 

 Howard. 



Cattle. — Mr. Milward gave notice that at the 

 November meeting he should be prepared to propose the 

 adoption of alterations on some points connected with 

 the show of next year. 



Prize Essays. — Mr. Thompson, Chairman of the 

 Journal Committee, transmitted the following schedule 

 of prizes for essays and reports to be sent to the Secre- 

 tary at 12, Hanover Square, London, on or before the 

 1st (if March in next year. 



Results of microscopic observation applied to the £. 

 vegetable physiology of agriculture 50 



Agriculture of the Islaada of Jersey, Guernsey, Al- 

 derney, and Sark 25 



Steam Cultivation 25 



Extent to which tillage operations act as a substitute 

 for manure 20 



Modifications of font-course rotation consequent 

 upon modern improvements 20 



Varieties of Wheat, Barley, and Oats best adapted 

 for high farming 20 



Causes of the increasing difficulties of Turnip cultiva- 

 tion, and the remedies 20 



Coniparative cost of high condition of land pro- 

 duced by purchased cattle food, or by purchased 

 manure 20 



Any other agricultural subject 10 



Piracy. — The Council received from Mr. W, Jack- 

 son, Veterinary Surgeon, Doncaster, an apology for 

 having reprinted and published as his own work, without 

 authority, and without the slightest acknowledgment, an 

 article from the Society's journal on Pleuro-pneumonia 

 by Professor Simonds. 



Warwick Meeting. — A Ittter having been read 

 from Lord Berners, the Council decided that the Gene- 

 ral Warwick Committee should be appointed in Novem- 

 ber next, and that in the meantime Mr. Brandreth Gibbs 

 and the Stewards of Implements should be requested to 

 inspect the land for the trial of implements next year, 

 and direct its being placed under suitable management 

 for that purpose. 



Miscellaneous Communications. — From the 

 Royal Academy of Sciences at Lisbon, requesting to 

 enter into relations with the Society. — From Mr. Elli- 

 son, Vice-President of the Sheffield, South Yorkshire, 

 and North Derbyshire Agricultural Association, con- 

 veyin;,^ the wishes of numerous parties in Sheffield that 

 the Country Jlceting of the Society should be held in 

 that town.— From Mr. Kernaghan, on the price of 

 guano.— From Mr. Wilson, on artificial manures. — 

 Complaints from exhibitors at the Chester Meeting, in 

 reference to charges levied on them by some of the 



