on Agricultural Implements. 



625 



tried. I think the connectin2:-rod might be lengtliened with advantage, 

 but in other respects it is. I think, a good, serviceable engine. As regards 

 the other engines, I agree entirely with the remarks made by Mr. Carr. 

 If I might be permitted to suggest a little advice to the makers of these 

 engines, I would beg of them to attend more to the proportions of the 

 various working parts, and less to external ornament. There is a want of 

 good proportion in several of the engines, and this, to a mechanic or an 

 economical farmer, is of more importance than a profusion of brass. 



Joseph Locke. 



Barrett and Exall's Steam-Engine. 



Much progress, however, has been made, as our best engine 

 now consumes less than 8 lbs. of coal per hour per horse-power ; 

 whereas an engine made by the vyinning manufacturer of four 

 years ago consumed 28 lbs., that is four limes as much fuel for the 

 same work. 



2. Threshing-ynacliine. 



This is the most complicated agricultural machine in general 

 use ; but, though it has also been long in use, and though repeated 

 trials have been made of competing threshing-machines at our 

 o-reat agricultural show, it was not till the Norwich meeting in 

 1849 that a very singular discovery was made of their great im- 

 perfection. It occurred to the consulting engineer, Mr. Amos, 

 that the draught of the common threshing-machine, Avorked bv 

 horses, should be tested when empty ; and it was ascertained that 

 some of the best 4-horse machines required no less than 3 

 horses, putting out their strength as when at plough, to keep the 

 machinery in motion without threshing at all. In other words, 

 of the four horses dragging round in their weary circle, three 

 were overcoming the resistance of the machinery ; one only was 

 threshing the corn. Technically speaking, the duty performed 

 was 25 per cent. only. So little, too, had the makers studied the 

 principle of construction, that this enormous waste of power was 

 capriciously divided betAveen the barn-works and horse-works. 



VOL. XII. 2 s 



