at the Bristol Meeting in 1842. 349 



breaking the straw, is a valuable implement for the suppliers of 

 straight straw for the London and other markets. 



Flour-mills. — Domestic flour-mills have, perhaps, not yet re- 

 ceived that encouragement from agriculturists which thej merit. 

 Two good machines were exhibited by Mr. Alexander Dean, 

 and Mr. Zachariah Parkes, both of Birmingham. A premium 

 of 5/. was adjudged to Mr. Dean for his grinding and dressing 

 mill, which was applicable to hand, steam, or animal power. 

 These improved metallic mills are now made cheap and durable, 

 and will form an economical appendage to the farmer's stock of 

 domestic machinery. They are, also, well adapted to the cir- 

 cumstances of colonists and emigrants. 



Dytiamometcr — Netting for Sheep-folds — Hatching- appara- 

 tus. — To Messrs. Cotiam and Hallen, of London, a reward of 5/. 

 was considered to be well deserved for their dynamometer, or 

 draught-gauge. This is an instrument of great value for ascer- 

 taining the resistance of ploughs and other implements of culture ; 

 and experience has sanctioned its sufficiency to measure, with a 

 near approach to accuracy, the amount of force derived from the 

 peculiar action of the draught-horse. With careful management 

 it is little subject to derangement. The same makers exhibited 

 a specimen of netting for folding sheep, spun from the fibre of 

 the cocoa-nut, a material known to possess very great durability 

 when exposed to alternations of weather. A premium of 3/. was ad- 

 judged to Messrs. Wildcy and Co., the manufacturers, of Holland 

 Street, Blackfriars, London, in the hope of encouraging the intro- 

 duction of a more lasting article than hemp for this purpose. 

 An elegant apparatus for hatching and rearing game and poultry, 

 the invention of Mr. Appleyard, also appeared in the collection 

 of Messrs. Cottam and Hallen, which recommends itself by its 

 simplicity, moderate dimensions, and apparently easy regulation 

 of the requisite heat, supplied by a small oil-lamp. This inven- 

 tion is well worthy the attention of poultry rearers, as well as of 

 the proprietor of game-preserves. 



Carts and Waggons. — The show-yard was rich in an assort- 

 ment of carts and waggons. To Mr. Richard Stratton, of Bristol, 

 a premium of 10/. was assigned for the extraordinary variety and 

 good workmanship of his immense collection ; more particularly 

 for the ingenuity displayed in the construction of a cross-lock 

 waggon, which facilitates its turning in a very small space, and 

 permits the use of four large wheels of equal diam.eter. A 

 tipping waggon also possessed much mechanical merit, but it is 

 to be recommended as better adapted to commercial than to 

 agricultural use. Mr. Stratton produced an excellent specimen 

 of the low-chested cart, obtained by cranking down the axles, 

 now in such general use by mercantile men and shippers. This 



