Repwt on the Exhibition of Implements at Kilhurn. 687 
both night and day for three or four consecutive days, and often 
in pouring rains. By this means, however, most of the imple- 
ments were got into the yard before the opening of the Show on 
Monday, June 30, though much of the machinery in motion 
was not got into working order until the middle of the week. 
It was then necessary to provide, in some way or other, for 
the convenience of the public, to enable them to get to the 
different stands, and for this purpose several thousand feet of 
planks and, I may say, miles of wattled hurdles were laid 
down, which to some extent attained the desired object, for 
although the latter were rather rough to walk upon, they were 
certainly preferable to wading ankle deep in the mud. 
The extra cost entailed on the Society by the weather alone 
in labour and materials was upwards of 4000/., the loss on the 
part of the exhibitors being, of course, incalculable ; but the loss 
most to be regretted was that sustained by the public, who 
were utterly unable to see or appreciate in any satisfactory 
degree an exhibition so full of interest and instruction, and 
such a one as this generation is not likely, in this country at 
least, to have the opportunity of visiting again. 
I think, therefore, that the Exhibition of Implements at the 
International Show at Kilburn will long be remembered by 
those who took part in it, both officials and exhibitors, for the 
difficulties that had to be overcome, and the utter discomfort 
that prevailed during the whole of the meeting. For my own 
part, though regretting the loss entailed both on the Society 
and the exhibitors, I cannot look back at the Show with feelings 
altogether unmixed with pleasure, when I remember the in- 
domitable pluck and good humour displayed on all sides, and 
the thorough determination of everybody to make the best of a 
bad job, for disappointing it was, heart-rending, I may almost 
say, to be unable to reap the benefit of so splendid a collection 
brought together at so much labour and cost. 
There is no doubt that the Exhibition of Implements this 
year was exceptionally large, partly owing to its international 
character, and also, it may be, to the large stocks in the hands 
of many exhibitors from the long depression affecting all trades 
alike, more especially agriculture. But to me it is a ques- 
tion, which I think will have to be seriously considered, 
whether our show in this department has not grown to such an 
extent that it must be curtailed in some way or other. There 
can be no doubt that one on a smaller scale would be of more 
utility to the public ; and this result can only be arrived at by a 
more thorough weeding out of articles of a miscellaneous cha- 
racter, and, as Mr. Hemsley suggested last year, the regulation 
as to duplicates being more strictly enforced. I do not for a 
