314 Report on the Exhibition and Trial of Implements 



1852 sold 2470 ! One large firm says that their orders for first- 

 class implements of all kinds have in the last three years increased 

 at least fourfold, and that their foreign orders also have been 

 very considerable since the opening of the Great Exhibition. In 

 short, the nearly unanimous feeling of the writers of the letters in. 

 question is, that the demand for improved implements is rapidly 

 increasing, and, as they have the best possible means of ascertain- 

 ing the fact, their agreement on the point may be considered 

 conclusive. They do not, however, stop here. Some of them 

 directly trace the increase of their sales to their success at the 

 Society's trials of implements — others treat the subject more gene- 

 rally ; but all who give an opinion at all agree in attributing the un- 

 deniable development that has taken place in the manufacture of 

 agricultural machinery, more or less directly, to the opportunities 

 and encouragement afforded by the Royal Agricultural Society. 



In conclusion the writer trusts that he has succeeded in proving 

 that great progress has been made of late both in the improvement 

 of agricultural implements and in their dissemination ; and whilst 

 congratulating the members of the Societ}'^ on these very satisfac- 

 tory results, he would also remind them that their importance is 

 much enhanced by their having been realized during a period 

 when the farmer, with truly British pluck, was slowly fighting 

 his way through difficulties of no ordinary kind. 



Moat Hall, Decemher, 1852. 



Judges' Report — (Field Implements.) 



Ploughs for general purposes. — Of this class 16 were selected for trial ; and 

 in order to meet the requirements of the kind of land, which was a loam in- 

 tersected with chalk and flints, they were directed to plough both 5 and 7 

 inches deep. The ploughs of Messrs. Ransome, Howard, Busby, Ball, and 

 Hensman distinguished themselves by their superior performances ; and in 

 order more fully to test their several merits they were conveyed to the 

 *' heavy land," and tried at 6 inches deep, making very similar work to that 

 on the previous trial. Ransome was the successful competitor, his plough 

 having turned the furrow-slice with the greatest possible precision. The 

 ploughs of Howard and Busby were in point of accuracy of performance 

 very highly commended. A new feature in the one of Howard's deservedly 

 obtained a medal. The improvement consisted in the application of a box- 

 nave to his wheels, much resembling that of the mail-axle, thereby pre- 

 cluding the possibility of dust, soil, &c., being cast on the spindle. By this 

 means that defect is obviated which is so commonly observed, viz. that the 

 wheels, even if constantly oiled, are ground, as it were, untrue. 



Heavy Ploughs. — Twelve of this "class were selected, and at the trial 9 

 inches of soil were required to be turned at the best angle, which was left to 

 the discretion of the exhibitors and their ploughmen. In the number were 

 3 Kentish ploughs, which at even 6 or 7 inches did not cut a uniform furrow- 

 slice, nor was it turned or laid in a good form. Those of Bentall, Ransome, 

 Ball, Williams, Hensman, and Howard were exceedingly good ; Busby's was 

 considered to merit the prize. 



Turnwrest Ploughs. — Out of the 8 which were tried, those of Howard 



