534 
Implement Show at Manchester. 
Messrs. Howard, of Bedford, had a large collection of beautifully built 
double-cam improved American machines ; they made good work at fiist, but 
did not keep their place during the trials, evidently from a want of proper 
adjustment of the rakes and fans. 
Tlie ground set apart for the trial of reaping-machines consisted of two 
large enclosures cropped with rye, which was about half ripe ; they were 
adjoining the showyard and very convenient; they had been drained, levelled, 
and specially prepared for the Society, so that a fair and equitable field was 
given to all competitors. The crop was a good one for the season, and a little 
swung over in both fields, but none of it was laid ; this latter state was, how- 
ever, effected by the Judges causing a part of it to be well rolled down for 
the final trials, — a process which seemed to afford considerable amusement to. 
the bystanders, as well as to the Exhibitors themselves. 
The Judges resolved that the order of proceeding on Tuesday morning 
should be a short preliminary trial with each machine, which was then com- 
menced, and from the gi'eat number of machines to try, and occasional delays, 
in procuring men and horses, these preliminary trials were not concluded until 
midday on Thursday. Careful notes were taken of the quality of the work 
done, the temperature of the bearings, and the appiarent strain upon the horses. 
During this time a staff of surveyors, under the guidance of Mr. Smith, cut 
out the remainder of the fields into f, 5, audi acre oblong plots, this was 
done by the assistance of the Beverley Company's pushing machine, the Com- 
pany, at the request of the stewards, having furnished their " Pusher " for 
the purpose of cutting out the roads. 
These trials were as searching and prolonged as time would admit, and 
whilst we gave every consideration to the merits of each machine presented 
to our notice, we were most especially attentive to score every point 
that could be made for the smaller makers ; yet some of their machines, 
although excelling in workmanship and lowness of price, when brought under 
the dynamometer test, failed entirely ; but we should specially except two. 
machines made by Messrs. K. Cuthbert and Co., of Leeming, Bedale, York- 
shire, a two-horse machine at 111., and a one-horse ditto at 14Z., Nos. 44 and 
45 in the Catalogue, both of which proved very light in draught. 
The reaper trials excited much interest, and during the first few days it was- 
necessary to employ both horse and foot police, and retaining ropes, to keep 
the crowd back. 
The weather was dry throughout, and with the exception of one or two days- 
it was extremely hot ; by the third and fourth day the Judges had fairly warmed 
into their work, and were to be seen conducting operations in a truly workman- 
like manner. 
The Stewards made renewed efforts to bring forward men and horses, in 
order, if possible, to bring the trials to a close by the end of the week, but all 
to no avail ; the Judges suggested that it might be better to postpone the 
final trials until harvest, but the Stewards, after consulting together, deemed 
tliis course unsatisfactory, and ordered the trials to proceed on the following 
■week, which was done, and the awards signed at 7 p.m., on Tuesday the 20th, 
thus terminating one of the longest contests which ever took place under the 
auspices of the Society. The Judges beg to tender their respectful thanks 
to the Stewards of Implements, for the attention -paid to their comfort. The 
Judges would also record the extreme urbanity and patience shown by the 
Exhibitors in general during these prolonged trials. 
The following list indicates the amount of prize-money offered in the five 
different classes of machines tested : — 
