at the Chelmsford JSIeeting, 1856. 573 



pence, and at the same time increase the produce and quality of the material, is 

 a great advance on the road to perfection. Looking at the nicety required in 

 the act and the great waste from bad management, we think very favourably 

 of this invention, and have awarded it a medal. The price appears to be high, 

 and will no doubt lessen the sale. With a strong tub and much less expensive 

 gear, it would be equally effective and durable, and might, we think, be sold 

 at a more reasonable price. — As a new invention, the barley-awner of Messrs. 

 Ransorne appears the best brought out, which we should have highly com- 

 mended had we had the opportunity of trying it before our awards were deli- 

 vered in. After some barley-thrashing in tlie trial-yard, we put it to the test 

 and found it quite answered our expectation, with less power than these 

 implements generally require. 



What to grow, and how to render the produce of the farm available for sale, 

 without decreasing the fertility of the soil, is one of the great problems to be 

 solved by the farmer. The growth of flax apjiears to be one of the subjects tend- 

 ing to accomplish this end, but hitherto the sale of the straw has prevented the 

 profitable cultivation of the plant. Mr. Pye appears to have hit upon an in- 

 vention to render the fibre more valuable after the seed has ripened. The 

 specimens produced appeared but little depreciated compared with green straw ; 

 should this desirable end be obtained very many acres of clay land might be 

 profitably cropped with flax, instead of fallow, as the short time required lor 

 maturing the plant would leave ample scope for a good fallow afterwards, 

 and the seed would very mtich assist in fattening stock in combination with 

 the root crops. We have awarded Mr. Pye a medal for his method of prepa- 

 ration, wishing the project every success. 



The patent endless band saw of Messrs. Barrett, Exall, and Andrewcs, is a 

 new feature in cutting timber when it is required to be cut in a curve, such, 

 for instance, as felloes of wheels, &c. ; the friction is much less than in the cii- 

 cular saw, and it seems to us a very desirable machine for the workshop. We 

 awarded it a medal. — A patent corn and malt screen, exhibited by R. Boby, 

 worked by a crank, tlie screen parts fitted with rollers between each wire, 

 preventing the possibility of blocking up, and giving free egress to the thin 

 kernels, thereby separating the grain and making a fine sample, we consider a 

 great imj)rovement over the old plan, and have awarded him a medal. — Per- 

 haps the most lamentable specimens of mechanical necessity are corn-dressing 

 macliines like Mr. Hackvale's, with special contrivances to take out the seeds 

 of weeds from corn ; but so long as the notion is entertained that weeds 

 indigenous to particular soils are bred like tadpoles in a horse-pond, we supjiose 

 we must continue to recommend them to the notice of slovenly farmers. — The 

 variety of root-mincers or pulpers by Pliillips, Bentall, Barnard, and Bishop, 

 are all improved since last year ; still the work ai)pears to us to be best done by 

 Phillips at present. Plaving paid great attention to this system of feeding for 

 these last two years, we may be excused for digressing a little while sjieaking 

 of these machines. Boots require to be cut into very small crystal-like pieces, 

 then mixed with two-thirds chaff, allowed to ferment, the time depending on 

 the temperature of the weather ; by no means let it sour ; if for fat cattle mix 

 corn or cake with it ; if for store stock, bran, pollard, malt-dust, &c. This 

 plan is the most economical and |irofitable way of keeping milking cows or 

 lean stock through the winter. The butter is of good quality, and quite free 

 from the disagreeable flavour wliich often follows when roots arc given to them. 

 — There was the usual variety of miscellaneous articles that make up the total 

 of the show-yard, such as Bead's ])atcnt watering-engine and double-action 

 green-house i)umi) ; garden-tools, watering-pots, housemaid's barrows, and 

 numerous liortieultural appliances by (iidney and Son; lawn mowinv'- 

 maciiines by A. Sliaid<s and Co. ; circular iron corn-bins, well adapted ibr 

 riding-stables; washing and wringing machines; a portable farm forge, cx- 

 VOL. XVII. 2 Q 



