746 
Report on the Exhibition of Implements, 
bank some distance back from the opposite edge, so as to allow 
space for the deposit of the earth ; also a strong balance-plough 
capable of carrying four shares on each side ; and the scoop, 
which is bell-mouthed, 7 feet G inches at the mouth, and 6 feet 
broad at the narrowest point, 6 feet from back to front, and 
about 4 feet deep at the shallowest part, and which, when full, 
holds 2^ cubic yards of soil. The removal by plough and scoop 
of 2000 cubic yards per week is considered fair work. The 
ploughs are first employed to tear up the soil at the bottom 
of the dam to a depth of 10 or 1 2 inches. The soil is frequently, 
owing to drought, as hard as a road, and could not be touched by 
ordinary means. When the surface has been ploughed, the 
scoop is substituted for the plough. It is drawn forward by the 
engine on the bank into the loose clay, and when full drawn 
back and up the side of the excavation by the other engine ; and 
then at a suitable distance it empties itself, and to some extent 
spreads the material as it is discharging. The cost of excavating 
a dam to 12 feet, which was the greatest depth possible by 
bullock labour, ranged from lOd. to Is. a cubic yard. The steam- 
plough and scoop, when in fair working order, can excavate 
to a depth of 24 feet, at 6d. a cubic yard; Mr. Waite considers 
that a depth of 30 feet might be reached without inconvenience 
or undue strain on the machinery. A team of bullocks are 
required to bring fuel (wood), of which about 2 tons a day 
are consumed, and eight men are required. The cost of the 
whole plant, delivered at Port Adelaide, was 3000Z. When it 
is remembered that the country in question is utterly useless for 
summer grazing without a supply of water, the immense advan- 
tage to the sheep-farmer of being able to sink these deep artificial 
lakes can scarcely be overstated ; and there can be no doubt that 
the difficulty as to the occupation of a dry country has been 
solved, and that large areas, which would otherwise have been 
worthless, may now be stocked, through the work that can be 
done by the steam-scoop. The Catalogue price of the scoop is 
2201. 
As a matter of small detail, mention may be made of a some- 
what novel and ingenious method of expanding the frame of a 
horse-hoe (Article No. r)l ;")()), shown by 3L: William Gilbert, of 
Shippon, Abingdon, Berks, so arranged that the alteration can 
be instantly made without stopping the horse. This is effected 
by means of a tuj-ntable-disc with two eccentric pins, to which 
arms are pivoted vhich actuate the frames. A lever-handle from 
between the stilts, held in place by a rack, enables the attendant 
to move the turntable. A friction-wheel behind the frame, on ii 
swivelling axle free to move, is held in a backward position 
during work, by means of a trip. When the trip is removed, 
