Reports of Judges. 119 



FOURTH GROUP. 

 To the Board of Managers: 



Gentlemen — The uudersigued, judges iu Department VII, Group 

 4, report that they have carefully examined the several articles 

 referred to them. -Taken collectively, these specimens of skill and 

 ingenuity furnish evidence of continued advance and improvement 

 in the methods used to accomplish a desired end. In deciding upon 

 the comparative value of the samples entered for competition, great 

 scrutiny has been exercised in order to weigh impartially the evi- 

 dences of utility found in each. The following is the result of their 

 deliberations: 



No. 911. Grape and Flower Scissors- (S. W. Valentine.) They 

 consist of an ordinary pair of pruning shears, with a circular blade 

 ground sharp upon the edges and attached to one of the blades or 

 shears by means of a screw. When dull they can be easily 

 sharpened by unscrewing the circular blade and grinding it. It 

 remains sharp much longer than an ordinary knife on account of the 

 sharp surface not being so mucti exposed. It is a novel idea and a 

 very good one. 



No. 64. Steel Plows. (Collins & Co.) The four models are 

 the most perfect ot any on exnibition. "With many of the manu- 

 facturers of agricultural implements very inferior wood is used, 

 which breaks at the first severe test received. The manufac- 

 turers often render themselves liable to censure and many severe 

 criticisms for their want of liberality. With the above mentioned 

 plows great care seems to have been taken to finish all in a sub- 

 stantial and workmanlike manner. The beams are made of good, 

 lasting, tough wood, and all about them seems to have an air of 

 durability and strength which is quite satisfactory. 



No. 338. Miners' and Railroad Picks. (H. L. Lowman, Washoe 

 Tool Company.) The picks and pickaxes entered by the Washoe 

 Manufacturing Company are a very great improvement on the kinds 

 formerly used. The eye of the picks, from the form of construc- 

 tion, is much stronger than the old patterns; the handles are more 

 easily put in and arc much stronger when they are in. Their col- 

 lection on exhibition gives them much credit. 



No. 272. Prong Hoe. (F. M. Hexamer.) Its merits are, its 

 useful^iess as a potato digger. The tines are about nine inches 

 long, and it is said it serves a better purpose for digging potatoes 

 than anything else. It has taken the place of the old potato hook 



