450 Report on the Exhibition and Trial of Implements 



is no screwing or turning tlie tap, and there is nothing that can soon get out of 

 order. There are some parts that would be better made of wrought iron than 

 cast. 



The collection of seeds and roots of Messrs. T. Gibbs and Co. was in itself 

 quite a show. It was well Avorthy a minute inspection, and we regretted we 

 could not bestow on it more than a hurried glance. The was specimens of roots 

 were artistically and truthfully executed, and the sjDecimens of grain remarkably 

 fine and neatly arranged. Messrs. Lawson and Son had a very excellent 

 exhibition, which was only second to the stand of the Seedsman to the Royal 

 Agricultural Society. 



The Commendations in our class included the following : — The hydraidic and 

 veterinary instruments of Mr. E. Eead, of Regent's Circus, exhibited the most 

 perfect workmanship. The watering engines may be regarded as belonging to 

 the garden rather than the farni, but we have known them of essential service 

 at a fire. At the commencement of conflagrations they have saved a vast 

 amount of property, and the farmer who purchases one for his garden may find 

 it of great utility, should his premises be unfortunately visited by fire. 



]\Ir. Powell showed a clever little hand hean-dibble, and a sort oi Dutch-hoe, 

 which, as it cuts both ways, was described as a draw- share hoe. We much 

 question the statement in the catalogue that a man could hoe upwards of an 

 acre per day with this hoe ; he must walk at a furious rate, or work extra 

 hours. 



The stall of Messrs. Cottam, with a swinging manger, seemed a good con- 

 trivance for a crib-biting horse. As soon as the corn is eaten the manger 

 shuts back, and tliere is nothing left for the horse to bite. 



The asphalting apparatus, showm by Mr. Woods, is cajntal for the purpose of 

 laying down these very useful floors. By a space being left under the copper and 

 round the furnace, the sand can be dried before being mixed with the asphalte. 

 This saves a great deal of fuel. 



At Carlisle we first saw Mr. Lister's implement for tailing turnips in the land. 

 It is well adapted for cutting oft' the roots of turnips as they stand, but still 

 Ql. 10s. is a large sum for an imjilement which could not be used many days in 

 the year. We have seen good shift made with a double horse-hoe. Something 

 of the kind is often needed, especially in seasons when the fibrous roots are 

 numerous and strong. The frame of Mr. Lister's machine (which was at Mr. 

 Busby's stand) is strong enough to serve for a light scarifier or parer. 



Messrs. Hill and Smith's premium iron hurdles are very good. They are 

 made by macliinery, of the best Staffordshire wrought iron when in a cold 

 state. 



Mr. Sym's little machine for mincing meat and maJcing sausages is well and 

 deservedly known. The valve box of Mr. Fowler's double-barrelled pump 

 is very accessible, a most important feature in pumps. Messrs. Wallis and 

 Haslam had a very useful machine for drilling iron, and in these days of cast- 

 iron implements such a machine is often wanted. The engineers considered 

 that the American rotatory 1-horse power of Messrs. Burgess and Key merited a 

 commendation. Messrs. Howard's oval stem of the pilough-coulter is suiiposed to 

 be stronger than a round one : it at least presents a greater thickness of iron 

 where most wanted, and is as easily altered as the round coulters. Mr. Crowley 

 had a substantial set of good iron hames, and Mr. Thompson exhibited a 

 handy ivorkman's draining bevel. And there was Mr. Biggs' cradle for sheep- 

 dipping, and Mr. Athawe's percolator forks, and Messrs. Ransome's stable 

 box-fittings, all usel'ul in their way and worthy of notice. 



These we believe were the articles in the miscellaneous department which 

 presented the chief features of excellence and novelty. We again repeat 

 that it is no easy task, on being turned loose into a yard containing so many 

 articles, to select the best and most ])erfect specimens of its miscellanea. 

 Useful and ornamental objects abounded throughout the show ; some so well 



