)8 Report on the Exhibition and Trial of Implements 



The 1st Prize of 3?. was awarded to 



The 2nd Prize of 2L to 



Highly Commended 



Chaff-Cutters for Horse or Steam-Power. 



In this class the time of working was limited to tliree. minutes — hay was 

 used, and a three-eighths length cut by each machine tested. The machines 

 were generally well arranged and constructed, and cut several different lengths 

 for feeding purposes. We noticed, however, that but very few were arranged 

 for cutting straw for litter, a point we consider of great importance, especially 

 in covered homesteads or box-feeding, or indeed in all places where economy 

 of material and quality of manure are matters of consideration. By dividing 

 the litter straw between its nodes or knots in the stem, its cylinclrical form 

 exerts immediately a capillary action upon the liquid part of the secretions, 

 absorbing them, bringing them in contact with the interior of the straw, 

 and setting up a process of decomposition or manure-making at once. Straw 

 thus cut will absorb more liquid, and yet form a drier bed, than when supplied 

 to cattle in the usual form. We observed with satisfaction that very few 

 makers retained the concave form of cutting knives ; the draiuing cut of the 

 outward curve (or convex form) being far more efdcient than the pressure cut 

 of the other. At the same time we would call their attention to the advantage 

 of arranging their knives so that the cut be continuous, and not interrupted, as 

 is too generally seen, by the cut of one knife being completed before the succeed- 

 ing one comes into action. The resistance offered through each revolution is 

 thus unequal, and has a tendency to give the fly-wheel a lateral vibratory 

 action, which, at high speeds, must sooner or later injure the machine. In. 

 machines for hand-power, driven at low speed, this is of no importance, as the 

 increased momentum obtained is equal to the lessened resistance offered by 

 the interval of the cuts. 



The following were selected for trial : — 



Art. 

 The 1st Prize of 5?. was awarded to 1 



The 2nd Prize of 3L to 23 



Highly Commended 2 



Commended 9 



