586 Remarks on the Implement 



wliich may be indicated by two plain words — freedom and 

 co-operation. His Highness was evidently " not one to travel 

 from Dan to Beersheba, and cry — 'tis all barren." 



The principal characteristics of the last exhibition of Imple- 

 ments are briefly these : — On account of the exclusion of cattle, the 

 Bury Show was essentially an implement show ; considering the 

 value of the implements, perhaps the best exhibition ever known : 

 remarkable more because of perfectionment of parts than for 

 novelty of design; and for evidence of the steady advance of 

 steam power as applied to agriculture. With steam tackle, heat 

 being power, to cherish heat is the great object ; hence the goal for 

 racer engines, and, in the best sense of the word, engine jockeys. 

 Traction engines — called in the yard tractarians, Avere a note- 

 worthy feature, and snorted about in all directions ; there was 

 no prize for these mechanical Calibans : yet probably for them 

 there is a great future. Might not a curious paper be written 

 on the history of implements ; how they became naturalized in 

 agriculture? Large entries and extensive trials, with corre- 

 sponding pressure on stewards and judges, pointed to the abso- 

 lute necessity of avoiding any tendency in the implement depart- 

 ment to become hide-bound. A characteristic and perhaps 

 valuable feature is to be found in the fact that there is a minni- 

 mum of official interference. In short, the Society opens the 

 door — personal interest walks in and about. The general meet- 

 ing in the yard being merely a form, a characteristic of our 

 agricultural convocation is now, all work, no talk. The Sunday 

 service in the yard is interesting and appreciated. When at 

 Bury the clergyman said, " I beg you to accept the prayer-books 

 you have used," the general response, " Thank you kindly, sir," 

 was touching. The visitors of the labouring class were intelli- 

 gent ; none trudged unknowing and whistled for want of thought. 

 An important teaching of the implement yard is, that improved 

 agriculture must have improved servants ; and this leads me to 

 refer to two important considerations — the promotion of educa- 

 tion, and the encouragement of rational cheerfulness — for 



" A merry heart goes all the day, 

 Your sad tires in a mile-a." 



The key to the future of the implement department is in the 

 phrase, " the spirit of the time must teach us speed." Consider 

 the growth and the tendencies of our population, study American 

 analogies, and we see that our necessities will lead every day to 

 the increased use of machinery in agriculture — necessity being 

 the motive, competition the machinery of progress. It is to be 

 observed that, as regards any Government, reforms are apt to 

 come fi'om without ; at least a system should be viewed from 



