at the Chester Meeting, 1858. 329 



mitting attention, thus rendering our work much easier than it otherwise 

 would have been. Having so much labour before us, and no little responsi- 

 bility, we resolved to lay down a plan for facilitating the one, and aiTiving at 

 something like a clear and definite conclusion relative to the other; and, as 

 adjudication by a system of points had been long in use at the Society's trials, 

 and its merits I'airly brought out, we held a committee-meeting of such Judges 

 as could conveniently be got together, and, after fairly canvassing the whole 

 matter, finally agreed upon a series of points upon which to found our deci- 

 sions. This was drawn out in a tabular form. 



The Engineering Judges engaged to give their opinion upon the simplicity 

 of construction and the goodness of workmanship of the machines brought 

 before them, and to aid us still further we procured from the Show-yard two 

 excellent machines — one from Messrs. Boby's stand, which perfects the samples 

 in a way hitherto unknown, leaving us the separate products for examination, 

 and at once showing us any defects in dressing the corn : the other, a chaff- 

 dressing machine from Messrs. Howard's stand, Avhich completely separates 

 all grain and seeds from chaff and cavings ; thus giving us a correct standard 

 by which to try the performances of the class of combined machines on these 

 points. 



We, therefore, as Judges, had mainly to confine ourselves to the work done ; 

 and we found that, by attention and care, we Avere soon able to put down the 

 proper number of points to which each machine coming before us was entitled 

 in reference to the precise kind or department of Avork executed, and which 

 the tabular sheet will, we think, show satisfactorily. It is perhaps super- 

 fluous to say that Ave scum utterly any charge of partiality ; but as, on 

 reference to the tabular sheet or form, it Avill be seen that nearly all the prizes 

 Avere aAvarded to one firm, Ave are desirous to affirm that it Avas not Ave as 

 Judges that decided it, but the system itself, viz. the greatest number of 

 points obtained for different orders of AA'ork, and for the excellence and quality 

 of the machine. Having gone through all the competitive trials (many of the 

 machines having been from various causes AvithdraAvn), and seeing that the 

 Engineering Judges Avere almost overAvhelmed Avith Avork (having 105 steam- 

 engines to test), Ave resolved to trouble them as little as possible, and agreed 

 to take their judgment upon the four machines alone Avhich Avere selected 

 for the final trial ; and further, that Ave Avould take their adjudication of points 

 to these four as the standard by Avhich Ave might adjust the points to the 

 other macnines brought for trial by the same makers. Consequently in our 

 tabular form no points are given under the heads of excellency of workman- 

 ship or simplicity and durability to any other machines but those of these 

 four manufacturers. 



The competitive trials were conducted in a very simple way. The machines 

 Avere subjected to a preliminary trial Avith 35 sheaves of wheat each (and 

 subsequently, if desired, Avith 10 sheaves of barley). Tf this trial proved 

 satisfactory, they Avere brought upon a platform, under a shed, and with 

 Mr. Amos's dynamometer attached to them, worked by Homsby's steam- 

 engine : 150 sheaves of Avheat Avere then dealt out to each as they were 

 brought forward, and upon the thrashing of these sheaves they Avere adjudged, 

 the dynamometer and its managers recording the time and poAver, the Judges 

 allotting the jiroper number of points to the Avork done, and the chaff and 

 finishing-machines, named above, pjroving the quality of the dressing. If 

 upon this trial the manufacturer and Judges conjointly thought it desirable, 

 the machine Avas submitted to the further trial of barley-thrashing in precisely 

 the same Avay, but Avith the limited quantity of 50 sheaves ; and many facts 

 Avere thus elicited Avhich it is highly desirable that the country should be 

 acquainted Avith, and which the accompanying Tables Avill shoAV. 

 VOL. XIX. Z 



