122 HIGIILAXD AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



examined in operation in harvest 1815 by a Committee of 

 the resident members of the Society. A sum of £21 was 

 also voted to Archibald Kerr, mathematical instrument 

 maker, Edinburgh, for the model of a reaping machine 

 constructed by him ; and a further sum of £21 was voted 

 by the Society towards constructing an operating machine 

 on the principles of this model. 



The votes for machines in 18 16 were numerous. A 

 piece of plate, of fifteen guineas value, was awarded to 

 Thomas Buttler of Hambledon, Hampshire, for his inven- 

 tion of, and having introduced into Scotland, a grubber, on 

 a principle superior to that formerly in use ; and seven 

 guineas were given to Walter Samuel, blacksmith, Niddry, 

 West Lothian, on account of his invention of a grubber on 

 a new and improved principle. Five guineas were voted to 

 Mrs Lovi, glass blower, Edinburgh, for her invention of 

 glass beads for ascertaining the strength or specific gravity 

 of spirits, worts, and other liquids, on a principle superior 

 to those hitherto in use. A gold medal was awarded to 

 Sir Alexander Gordon of Culvennan for certain improve- 

 ments in the construction of wheel carriages, particularly 

 his invention of a spring-draught gauge for ascertaining 

 the power of draught animals. A gold medal was voted 

 to John Graham Dal}-ell, advocate (afterwards Sir John 

 Graham Dalyell of Binns, Bart.), for his inv^ention of a self- 

 regulating calender for the pressure of cloths. A piece of 

 plate, of the value of ten guineas, was awarded to Samuel 

 Morton, Leith Walk, for his invention of a revolving brake 

 harrow or weed extirpator. 



The votes of 18 17 embrace some suggestive awards. 

 Thus John Baird, of the Shotts Iron Works, gets a gold 

 medal for an improved cast iron railway. John Young, 

 F.R.C.S., Edinburgh, receives a like medal for a machine 

 for watering drill crops upon a new and improved con- 

 struction. Andrew Clark, blacksmith at Carnacuin, on the 

 estate of Monaltry, is voted ten guineas for a water wheel, 

 for working machinery in certain situations without a water 

 course. A like sum is voted to John Hastie, millwright, 

 Hutton Mill, Berwickshire, for a machine for feeding the 



