62 G Report on the Trials of Implements at Bedford. 



for a self-feeder and guard combined, the other for a fixed guard. 

 Exhibitors will thus have more time to work out various schemes 

 for carrying out this object ; but considering the immense 

 importance of steam threshing machinery to the agricultural 

 interest, and the very small proportion of accidents that take 

 place in working it, as compared with other kinds of machinery 

 worked by steam power, it is very doubtful whether any good 

 Avill result from these endeavours, which will tend to increase 

 the cost of the machine and diminish the amount of work to .be 

 done. 



The dynamometer for testing the traction of carts and wag- 

 gons was qviite a new feature in the trials, and will prove of great 

 use in future competitions. 



The trials are fully described by Mr. Smith in the following 

 Report. 



XXVIII. — Report on tlie Trials of Implements at Bedford. By 

 G. PuEVES Smith, of Preston Dunse, Berwick, N.B. 



The Bedford Implement trials took place in proximity to the 

 racecourse, about two miles from the town, and between the 

 Midland and the London and North- Western railways. They 

 commenced on July the 6th, and extended over the entire week 

 until Saturday, July 11th ; all the awards, excepting that for 

 the horse-hoes for thinning turnips, having been placed in the 

 hands of the Secretary before the evening of that day. 



The drill-classes were tried on two fields specially pre- 

 pared, while the trials of the horse-hoes were conducted on 

 two which had oats growing in them, much overgrown, as well 

 as upon another which had been ridged up, and prepared for the 

 different classes of horse-hoes and grubbers, and in a turnip- 

 field on the farm of Mr. Prolle, of Elstowe. Unfortunately, 

 owing to the continued dry weather, the turnips which had been 

 sown on part of the field which had been ridged up did not 

 come to anything. This necessitated the trials of turnip- 

 thinners and general-purpose horse-hoes being conducted in 

 Air. Prolle's turnip-field. These turnips were sown on the flat, 

 and, as some of the turnip-thinners were specially adapted for 

 thinning turnips on the ridge only, it was deemed necessary 

 to hold a second trial of these implements in a field of turnips 

 on the ridge on the farm of jVIr. Horrel, near Oakley, about 

 eight miles from the Show-yard. 



The trial-course for the carts and waggons was partly along 

 the turnpike-road, and partly along the oat-field. Owing to the 

 long-continued drought, the fields and road were very dry, while 



