348 Repo)t on the Exliib'tion of Toiphnnenh 



to be worthy of reward. Mention must also be made of an im- 

 provement in his well-known and valuable clod-crusher. In the 

 orig-inal implement the axle was square, and revolved with the 

 bruising^ rims. Mr. Crosskill has since substituted a cylindric 

 axle, upon which each rim turns freely. This chan2:e has im- 

 proved its effect, particularly for rolling growing- wheat in the 

 spring of the year, for which purpose it is much used on light soils. 

 The injurious screwing or lw;isting action on the soil and plants in 

 turning the machine round is prevented by this new arrangement. 



Mr. Joseph Hall, of Cambridge, drew the attention of the 

 judges to an implement also designed for clod-crushing. It may 

 bo described as a large spiral, with jagged peripheries, wound 

 round a shaft or axis, and resembling a screw. The practical 

 effect of this arrangement could not be ascertained, as the imple- 

 ment was in an unfinished state ; but its principle of action seemed 

 not unlikely to produce the desired result, and merits trial. 



Furrow-presser. — A two-furrow pressor, by Mr. Crosskill, with 

 drill attached, is much used in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and 

 found to be a very advantageous implement for depositing wheat 

 and manures. It folloM's two ploughs. 



Threshincj -machinery. — A premium of 5/. was awarded to Mr. 

 S. J. Knight, of INIaidstone, for a new method of communicating 

 rotary motion to threshing-machines by hand labour, the invention 

 of Mr. Joseph Barling, of Maidstone. The means used may be 

 described as resembling the lever power adopted in fire-engines, 

 only placed at a greater height, so that the weight of a man's body 

 combines with his muscular force to produce the effect. This ar- 

 rangement was ingeniously managed, and the machine was worked 

 with more apparent ease than with the winch. It remains steady 

 during work. It is proper, however, to observe that the judges had 

 not the opportunity of ascertaining its effect when actually thresh- 

 ing. Mr. Crosskill's method of adjusting the concave to the drum 

 of threshing-machines deserves commendation. By its means the 

 concave cannot be approached too near the drum, so as to break 

 the grain ; and the employer has the advantage of observing the 

 position of the concave, and of altering it without the trouble of 

 stopping the machine. A prize of 5/. was given to Mr. Edward 

 Plenty, of Newbury, for a substantial and durable arrangement of 

 tlie horse -machinery for driving portable threshing-machines. 

 The whole is of iron, very compactly put together, and readily 

 fixed for work. The horse-machinery of threshing-machines, 

 constructed by Messrs. Garrett and Son, of Saxmundham, wms 

 also of an improved order, particularly the large iron segmental 

 wheel, which is so contrived that any one segment can be renewed 

 by the attendant in the event of a tooth being broken. The 

 bolting-machine of the same makers, for threshing wheat without 



