THE FxVRMER'S MAGAZINE. 



545 



THE TRIALS OF THE STEAM-ENGINE. 



Suggestions sent by Implement-makers and Judges in Answer to the Circular Letter 



OF the Royal Agricultural Society. 



SUGGESTIONS 



RESPECTING TRIAL OP ENGINES, &C., AT THE ROYAL AGRI- 

 CUI.TiniAL society's MEETINGfS. 



That the trials of each particular class of implements be 

 triennial, as at present adopted by the Society. 



That the present prize system be abolished, and, instead, 

 a series of class nr orders of merit be substituted. 



That certiticates containing the judges' award, as well as 

 a full report of the trials, be handed to each competitor on 

 the moruing of the first public show-day. 



That no engine or other implement be allowed to com- 

 pete that is got up for a trial and for that only. 



That in making the awards the judges shall pay as much 

 attention to the price, proportions, simplicity of design, and 

 excellency of workmanship and material as to the duty per- 

 formed. 



That competitors in the steam-engine class be allowed to 

 bring any engine not exceeding eight horses' power, and 

 that the standard of power be 33,000 lbs. lifted one foot 

 high per minute. 



The engines to be tested by the most improved self-acting 

 friction break that can be obtained, the judges takin;^ care 

 that the one selected is one that has been previously well 

 tried and proved by competent parties to be correct. 



That such testing apparatus necessary for all the trials 

 be on the ground, and in perfect working order, the day be- 

 fore the commencement of such trials. 



That competitors be not limited to the size of steam- 

 cylinder for a given horse-powei', or in their boiler dimen- 

 sions. 



That no flue-tubes in the boiler of a competing engine be 

 inserted with less than one clear inch space between them, 

 or less than two inches diameter. 



That the water spaces round the fire-box, if a locomo- 

 tive one, shall not be less than two inches wide. 



That no expansion gear be used other than what is ob- 

 tained by lap on the common slide, or some equally simple 

 arrangement. 



No hot- water apparatus requiring more attention than 

 the ordinar}' pump. 



That it be at the option of the judges to have any engine 

 taken apart for examination after the trial. 



That the working pressure in steam-engines be increased to 

 SOlbs. instead of 451bs., as heretofore, and that the judges 

 may have the power of proving each boiler up to 1501bs. per 

 square inch by hydraulic pressure, if they see fit. 



North Wills Foundry, Devizes. Brown and May. 



TO THE editor OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS. 



Dear Sir, — Herewith is copy of our letter to the Secretary 

 of the Royal Agricultural Society, on the subject of trials of 

 steam enginrs aud thrashing machines. 



We remain, dear Sir, yours truly, 



Clayton, Shuttleworth, & Co. 

 Stamp End Works, Lincoln, Nov. 17, 1857. 



[Copy.] 

 James Hudson, Esq., Secretary to the Royal 

 Agricultural Society, London. 

 Dear Sir, — In adjudicating upon steam engines, it is well 

 known that for some years paat, '■ racing " or high duties have 

 been considered the standard of excellence, aud that the at- 

 tention of the judges has not been directed to any other point. 

 The cousequeuce has been that boilers have been made with an 

 enormous number of tubes and very small water spaces, 

 thus rendering them totally useless for all practical purposes 

 (the committee may satisfy themselves on this point by re- 



ferring to the drawings of the Carlisle boilersj ; this has been 

 doue to such au extent that first-class makers have in many 

 cases (before selling the engine) put in a fresh 6re-box with a 

 less number of tubes, as they dare not risk their reputation 

 by sending out such boiler?, which cannot be hsliug aud 

 durable. 



Now, we tliiuk it desirable that the Society should have a 

 conditio3 to preveut such boilers being made ; and while on 

 no account desiring to recommend anything wliich would 

 fetter the skill and ingenuity of manufacturers, we contend 

 that such a condition would not have that tendency ; it re- 

 quires no greater amount of skill to construct a boiler with 

 90 tubes than one with only 45. We would suggest that the 

 engine should be made in accordance with each manufacturer's 

 own views ; and would further suggest that the tabular form 

 of points adopted in the trial of thrashing machines be also 

 used for steam engines — say, let excellence of material and 

 workmanship be one point ; economy in the consumption of 

 uel another; simplicity of construction with due regard to 

 the making of the vital or principal parts accessible for clean- 

 ing aud repairs another ; portability another ; and price the 

 last : making in all five points for consideration, perfection in 

 each point being represented by a number. 



The conditions to prevent boilers being made with an un- 

 necessaiy amouiit of healing surface, should be thus — say 

 that no boiler sliould have more than 20 ft. of heating surface 

 to the horse power, measuring the whole surface of the tube, 

 and that each tube should not be less in thickness than No. 

 12 gauge, or any other number or amount which the com- 

 mittee may deem best. 



Engines should be tried under a covered shed, and coals 

 should be broken aud made as uuiform in quality as possible, 

 throwing out all the bad pieces. 



We remain, dear Sir, yours truly, 

 (Signed) CLAYroN, Shuttleworth, and Co, 



Stamp End Works. 

 Lincoln, Oct. 31, 1857. 



GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS 



For conducting the Trials of the Machinery, 

 for which Prizes are to be offered by the 

 Royal Agricultural Society op England, at the 

 Show at Chester, to be held in July, 1858. 



Ist. The list of prizes should ba accompanied by definite 

 conditions as to the terms of competition, aud the principle 

 of adjudication fully explained. Exhibitors should be fur- 

 nished with full particulars of the diameters and speed of 

 the various driving drums attached to the Society's dynamo- 

 meters, by which the different machines wi 1 be tested, and 

 also informed the quality of coals to be used in the trials of 

 steam engines. 



2ud. That the system adopted in the trials of combined ma- 

 chines of classifying the various qualifications of the competing 

 machmes under different heads in a tabular form, be extended 

 to the trials of steam engines, aud all machines for which 

 prizes are offered, it would answer a good purpose if these 

 tabular forms, showing the amount of credit that would be 

 accorded to competitors for comparative perfection attained 

 under the several heads, were forwarded to exhibitors as soon 

 as the entries are received by the society, so that in preparing 

 machinery for competition they may be aware of those parti- 

 cular qualifications most desired by the society, and for which 

 they would receive the largiat amount of credit at ihe trial. 



."^rd. That after the trials copies of these tabular forms should 

 be furnished to each competitor. 



4th. We recommend the different qualificatioDS, the com- 

 peting machines, and the amount of credit accorded for com' 



