at the Lewes Meeting^ 1852. 



317 



Judges' Report — (Drills, Corx-Mills, &c.) 



In reporting: upon the drills this year it appears useless to go minutely 

 through their different items, as they are constructed upon the same general 

 principles as the two previous years, and may fairly be referred to the F^xeter 

 Report ; though evidently got up v\^ith that care and superior style of work- 

 manship which characterized them in the Great Exhibition. 



The prize for the best drill for general purposes has this year been awarded 

 to Messrs. Hornsby, This drill at Exeter was considered equal in all respects 

 to any of its class, but the price put it beyond the means of the generality of 

 farmers, so that it did not receive a prize : since then Messrs. Hornsby have 

 reduced it by 15/. 5s., and it is now considered fairly entitled to the reward. 



The prize for the best steerage corn and turnip drill is also due to Messrs. 

 Hornsby. The drill most perfect of its kind must be the one adapted to 

 every purpose and every emergency, and in which the most material parts are 

 upon the most correct principle. This remark applies generally to Hornsby's 

 prize drills, which have also the advantage of the screw for altering or regu- 

 lating their motion, w'hich is decidedly preferable to the lever, as causing a 

 less vibrating or jerking motion, and thereby ensuring greater regularity in 

 the distribution of seed or manure. In this respect Messrs. Hornsby excel 

 almost every other maker. 



Messrs. Hornsby's turnip-drills, both on the flat and the ridge, were again 

 considered the best. These two drills were very superior, in respect to de- 

 livering and covering the manure : the moveable front to the manure-box is at 

 present unequalled by any other appliance for preventing rough or damp 

 manure hanging to the sides ; they are also worked with less friction and 

 labour for the horses. 



The prize for the best drill for small occupations is again awarded to 

 Messrs. Garrett. This drill is the same as it has been for the last two years, 

 and is becoming a general favourite on light-land farms, on account of its 

 cheapness and easy draught. 



The prize for the best seed and manure drill for small occupations is also 

 justly merited by Messrs. Garrett, combining as it does all the essentials of 

 the most expensive manure-drills (with a horse-hoe for a few shillings extra) ; 

 the whole at a price meeting the wishes of the Society for cheap implements 

 in a most liberal manner, and deserves all the patronage that can be bestowed 

 upon it^ 



Messrs. Garrett's drop-drill is again the most perfect implement of its kind,^ 

 suitable either for a drop or stream drill, and to them the prize is awarded. It 

 is but due to the Messrs. Garrett to say that all their drills deserve the 

 highest commendation, and may be said to be the only ones that come into 

 close competition with Messrs. Hornsby. 



The manure-distributor of Messrs. Garrett richly deserves the Society's 

 prize this year, approaching a greater degree of perfection than any hitherto 

 brought before the public. The self-acting levers, to rid the prongs of the 

 revolving barrel of all adhering particles of damp manure, is a desideratum long 

 required, and now accomplished in a most simple and effectual manner. This 

 machine will cause a great saving of labour in broadcasting artificial manure; 

 but it ought to. be mentioned that the receiving-trough of the one exhibited 

 by Messrs. Smyth, of Peasenhall, appears to be upon a better construction. 



Regret may justly be expressed that many of our oldest drill-manufactti: ers 

 stick to what they call their original ideas; and, as an intelligent mechanic 

 remarked, when charged with pirating a notion, if we all stick to original 

 ideas, I wonder what will become of the Royal Agricultural Society. 



as to bring it into general use — a result which must tend to greater attention being 

 directed to the preparation of the land, and to the adoption of the mcst improved 

 systems of cultivation. — Wm, Fisher Hobbs. 



