206 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



By looking at the above figures, it will appear that 

 the numbers of makers of each description of machine 

 or implement do not materially vary, from one year to 

 another. The numbers of each kind of machine, how- 

 ever, are not shown in the table, and vary according to 

 the number shown by each maker. Thus, in the class 

 of drills, 23 manufacturers are represented ; but the 

 actual number of drills in the yard is no less than 107. 

 Of steam engines there were last year 84 ; this time we 

 have 78, portable or fixed. And the thrashing machines 

 include 2G for thrashing only, and 40 for thrashing, 

 shaking, and dressing, or G6 altogether. Of ploughs 

 there are 137, shown by 26 makers. 



We propose to notice first those implements for 

 which prizes are awarded, after examination and trial — 

 namely, such as are employed in the sowing, manuring, 

 tillage, cleansing, and harvesting of crops ; and then 

 allude to the more noticeable objects of interest distri- 

 buted throughout the different stands. 



STEAM-PLOUGHS AND STEAM-CULTI- 

 VATORS. 



It often happens that the most promising of all in- 

 ventions are heralded in the catalogue only to disappoint 

 118 by their absence from the showyard. Last year we 

 had an entry of a rotary cultivator, which has never yet 

 made its appearance. At Salisbury we were led to ex- 

 pect several steam-tillage inventions, which failed to 

 present themselves in the field. Perhaps these entries 

 are valuable, as showing that many minds are actively 

 engaged upon this great question, of whose labours we 

 should otherwise be ignorant. 



On proceeding to Stand No. 32, we were disappointed 



at not finding the sleam-digger of Mr. H. W. Ford, of 

 Gloucester, manufactured by Messrs. Barrett, Exall, 

 and Andrewes. The catalogue tells that the digging 

 implement " is attached to and worked by a locomotive 

 engine (a jiortable one being easily adapted). The 

 spades or forks are arranj^ed in long rows, held in a 

 revolving frame, and are used in a manner precisely 

 similar to that of manual digging. Under average 

 circumstance G acres a-day can be dug 12 inches deep ; 

 only two attendants are required. Price ^400." Here, 

 indeed, must be something like the machine we want ; 

 but sanguine people must restrain their curiosity for the 

 present. 



Nor was Messrs. Holmes and Sons' (of Norwich) 

 traction-engine present, which has ploughs attached, 

 ploughing two furrows on the flat or in stetches. Price, 

 with 4 ploughs .£155. 



Equally in vain did we look for the steam-cultivator 

 and traction-engine of Messrs. I. and R. Blackburn, of 

 Long Eaton, near Derby. We are told that " this loco- 

 motive consists of a drum 8 ft. G in. diameter, and 5 ft. 

 6 in. wide, made of plate and angle iron ; in the inside 

 of which is suspended a pair of horizontal high pressure 

 engines of 12-horse power, with a vertical multitubular 

 boiler. The engines are coupled, and upon the main 

 shaft is keyed a wrought-iron pinion, driving a spur 

 internal-geared wheel of 8 ft. diameter, which is bolted 

 to the inside of the drum. The machine is guided and 

 turned at pleasure. Price £4G0." It is adapted to 

 travel on common roads ; to roll land, grass, or arable, 

 and is an efficient clod- crusher. We much regret the 

 absence of this new version of an old idea. 



On Messrs. Burgess and Key's stand we had expected 

 to see the steam-ploughing machine or cultivator of 

 Messrs. H. II. Fulton and F. B. Etty, of 8, Great 

 Queen Street, Westminster. It is described as having 

 " a very strong and light boiler, with large heating sur- 

 face ; it has also broad driving-wheels. There is a 

 chain-wheel, over which a chain, anchored at each end 

 of the field, is passed once round ; this wheel being dri- 

 ven by the engine assists the traction. The ploughs are 

 attached to a frame at each end of the machine, thereby 

 obviating the necessity of turning at the headlands. It 

 is capable of being used for traction on common roads, 

 and for thrashing and other farm purposes. Price .£500." 

 The idea of causing a locomotive to haul itself along by 

 means of a fixed chain, after the fashion of a ferry-boat, 

 was patented some years ago by Sir J. Scott Lillie : we 

 suppose one of the chief merits of this machine would 

 consist iu the lightness of the boiler and engine. 



Mr. Romaine's steam-cultivator was to have appeared 

 upon Crosskill's stand, but we believe it could not be 

 completed before the time of the show. We suppose 

 it is a " new and revised ediiion" of the famous votary 

 cultivator, intro;luced from Canada by Mr. Mechi ; and 

 as the inventor has now had a long period for meditating 

 and trying improvements, we hope he will soon be in 

 the field with a practicable application of the correct 

 principle of " revolving tillers for steam-power." The 

 price stated is £600. 



Mr. Eddington, of Springfield, near Chelmsford, was 

 to have exhibited his pair of windlasses and ropes for 

 steam-cultivation, manufactured by Wood and Son, of 

 Chelmsford. The windlasses are so arranged that they 

 may be worked by a common portable engine, and both 

 the windlass and engine move together along the head- 

 land. Price £350. This seems very much such an 

 arrangement as would be economical of power, convenient 

 to work, and not ruinously expensive. 



Messrs. J. and L. Horsfield, of Bank Foundry, Leeds, 

 were to have exliibited their steam-cultivator, consisting 

 of " a 7 -horse power portable steam-engine, with windlass, 

 1,300 yards of wire-rope, 800 yards of wire-cord, 8 



