352 Uej^ort on the Eahibition of Imjjlcmcnt^- 



to move portable agricultural steam-engines from place to place, 

 will be found either more convenient or economical ; they cannot, 

 hoAvever, but highly commend the simplicity and effectiveness of 

 the machinery applied by Messrs. Ransome to accomplish this 

 purpose. The engine travelled along the road at the rate of from 

 four to six miles an hour, and was guided and manoeuvred so as 

 to fix it in any particular spot with much ease ; it turned also in a 

 very small compass. 



Portable Saw-mill. — Mr. Crossldll's portable saw-mill is to be 

 commended as an implement adapted for the use of gentlemen 

 having much light timber to cut up into rails, or for other uses, 

 and seems to be well calculated, when driven by the portable 

 steam-engine or horse-power, to economise labour and the cost 

 of transport on a large wooded estate. The saw is of the circular 

 kind, and the machine is furnished with a grindstone, and with 

 augers to bore holes, all moved by power. 



Chaff-cutters. — The show-yard abounded with excellent chaff- 

 cutting machines, of all sizes, fashions, and capabilities. Three, of 

 the most powerful description, were selected for trial in connexion 

 with the steam-engines; but as the judges could not discover any 

 marked improvement over those produced and reported upon at 

 the Liverpool meeting, to justify the singling out of any one of 

 them for the Society's prize, it was not assigned. A premium 

 of 3/. Mas adjudged to Mr. James Richmond, of Salford, for 

 a small chaff-engine, of a novel and peculiar kind, patented by 

 Mr. Worth, an American. The action of this machine is per- 

 fectly continuous, the cut being produced by the pressure of 

 straight- edged knives, fixed at equal distances asunder, on a 

 bottom roller, in the direction of its length, and working against 

 an upper roller composed of a mixture of lead and zinc^ between 

 which the straw or hay is drawn in a regular stream. In prin- 

 ciple, this machine may be considered to be diametrically opposed 

 to that which has hitherto guided mechanics in the construction 

 of chaff-cutters ; but as it appeared to be worked with remarkable 

 ease^ and to cut with a cleanness never yet excelled, or, perhaps, 

 equalled, it was deemed to be entitled to reward, and to the 

 favourable notice of the Society. At present, the maker seems to 

 have limited the dimensions of the machine to suit the demands of 

 small consumers : experience will determine whether the same 

 principle can be extended to meet the wants of the large farmer, 

 and whether, in respect of durability, it equals the better-known 

 machines. 



Chaff-cutters, now in universal use, have so largely partaken of 

 the attention and skill of mechanicians, that the task of deciding 

 on their respective merits is become far too difficult for any 

 judges whose time is restricted to the short period allotted to the 



