542 
Implement Skoio at Manchester. 
2. Report of the Judges on Mowing- Machines. 
"We liave to report on a class of implements wliicli lias now become quite 
a necessity in ordinary I'arm practice, and it is a pleasant duty to describe 
machines which, in a comparatively short time, have attained a degree of 
practical efficiency equal to that of any other agricultural implement, and 
which supply a real want of the British farmer. A comparison of the present 
entries with those at Plymouth in 18G5, when similar machines were testedj 
gives the following result : — 
Two-horse Mowers. 
One-horse Mowers. 
Combined Machines. 
Exhibitors. 
Machines 
sent to 
Trial. 
Exhibitors. 
Machines 
Bent to 
Trial. 
Exhibitors. 
Machines' 
sent to 
Trial. 
Plymouth, 1865 .. 
13 
8 
Manchester, 1869 
17 
23 
9 
9 
11 
20 
We commenced our duties on Monday, July 12th. Furnished witli a list 
of the Exhibitors who were desirous of competing, we started on a voyage of 
discovery, or, more correctly, a tour of inspection. In some cases no information 
was procurable, owing to the absence of the representative. In others the 
Exhibitors being " at home," would press their claims strongly to send two 
or three implements in the same class, upon tlie ground of often trivial dif- 
ferences in construction. The whole of the first day, with the exception of ao 
hour, spent in viewing the trial fields, and giving orders to the surveyor, was- 
thus, as we venture to submit, wholly and unnecessarily wasted, and we beg 
respectfully to confirm the opinion expressed by the Judges at Plymouth, and 
suggest the necessity for some more systematic plan being adopted in the 
future. A shed in the trial field, or in close jiroximity to it, in which the 
machines intended for trial might be arranged in classes before the Judges 
commenced their inspection, appears to us to be an arrangement that would 
lighten the work alike of Judges, Exhibitors, and all connected with the- 
trials. 
Two-HoESE Mowers. 
On Tuesday morning, on our arrival at the trial field, on Mr. Cookson's farm^ 
we proceeded at once to draw lots for plots, and the trials commenced at l6 
o'clock. Time was taken of the start and finish of every machine, and of 
stoppages, with notes of their causes, our object being to reduce the large 
collection to a manageable form, by getting rid thus early of the less perfect 
machines. The grass selected for this preliminary trial, was apparently an 
old pasture recently renovated, the young grasses growing to a good height, 
but without that closeness at the bottom which generally characterizes old 
pastures. It was a fair crop, and, perhaps, proved quite as difficult to cut as 
it looked, for while some machines went through with case, others soon got 
into difficulties. This field was set out in half-acre f)lots ; and it was evident 
that our object would be attained, as the character of the work done, and the 
construction of the machines, were sufficiently manifest to enable us on this 
trial to reduce the list from 23 to 11. Many of the rejected were very useful 
machines, but wanted the finish and perfection of detail which characterized 
their more successful opponents, most of whom had the advantage of a more- 
lengthened experience. We trust that the unsuccessful may have gained expe- 
rience by the trials. Defects are often invisible at home; and we believe 
