446 Report on the Exhibition and Trial of Implements 



he completed in breaking iip tlie soil with Coleman's large cultivator -u'as 

 excellent, but this of course does not comply "with the rule for the prize. 



Mr. Colli nson Hall's engine was unable, through an accident in making a 

 sharp turn, to reach the field in time for the trial. His efforts to do so, in spite 

 of this drawback, were strenuous and laudable, and he succeeded eventuallj'" 

 in bringing up his engine and making good work. 



Mr. J. A. AViUiams's system was anything but satisfactory in its results. 

 The Judges regret to be compelled to add that the extreme discourtesy of his 

 language and conduct towards themselves rendered their dirties in the inspec- 

 tion of his work painful and unpleasant in a manner they never before had 

 occasion to experience at the meetings of the Society. 



Mr. Fowler, after much delay, began ploughing ; the work done was very 

 good, but here we must say we could not reduce the pn'ice per acre below that 

 of the Boxted trials. As far as ploughing is concerned we think Mr. Fowler's 

 arrangement of his ploughs is the best we have seen. 



As Judges we wanted very strict data to recommend the steam ploughing 

 to the public ; w^e are soiTy we cannot do this, though we think Mr. Fowler 

 still stands ] ire-eminent over any others. We cannot say that his ploughs are 

 " economical substitutes for the plough or the spade," neither do we think the 

 wording of the premium can ever justify a judge in giving the prize while 

 a plough is used. 



Considering the great ability shown, and the great expense incurred, by Mr, 

 Fowler to bring steam cultivation to a good result, we venture to recommend 

 the Council of the Koyal Agricultural Society to vote him a medal, as a reward 

 for his strenuous endeavours in a good cause. 



Signed H. B. Cald'OTELL, 



Wm. Chalcraft, 

 Clare Sewell Bead, 

 J. Druce, 

 Fielder King. 



The following Report by Messrs. Owen and Clarke, sent in previously to that 

 of the other judges, will be read with interest, as offering some further par- 

 ticulars of the steam ploughing : — 



As we have not yet been called upon in our collective capacity, we offer a 

 few remarks on the trial, of steam ploughs. The gi'oxmd ,was altogether 

 unsuitable. The soil was very shallow and unusually flinty, and the sum- 

 mer's drought had so hardened it that it was with great difficult)- that 

 the ploughs in the upper part of the field could be made to enter it at all. 

 The site also of the field, upon a hill of considerable elevation, occasioned 

 great difficulties and delay, except to Mr. Boydell's engine, which ascended it 

 easily. The competitors actually in the field were Mr. Boj'dell, who brought 

 his traction engine with a set of ploughs made by BuiTcll and Co. of Thetford ; 

 Mr. Collinson Hall, who brought a traction engine of similar character to 

 Boj'dell's, but much smaller and of very dissimilar construction, and used 

 Fowler's ploughs ; Mr. Fowler, who brought two engines, one to be stationed at 

 each end of his work, the ploughing to proceed between them ; he, however, pre- 

 ferred using his anchorage ; Mr. Williams, who also brought two engines, the 

 ploughing to be between. His set of ploughs w-ere in a triangular frame, each 

 hanging independently, and guided in part by a liorse vxdldng in shafts 

 ahead, and for the purpose of turning the frame round at the headlands. 

 Mr. Coleman brought a large scarifier, capable of lieing worked by any engine. 

 The work being across the top of the hill, the stationaiy engines, where two 

 were used, could not be seen each from the other — an untoward circumstance 

 for the double-engine system. However, the four allotted spaces being set 

 out, the object to be accomplished was a mon economical mode of 'plovghimj 



