612 BcjHirt on the Trials of Combined Stacking-Machines 
failed to get through the work, and one or two of the others 
were choked up for a time by a rapid supply of sheaves. 
Before describing the machines it may be well to glance over 
Table I. and note its chief points of interest. It will be seen that 
the points of merit awarded to each machine have been printed 
in detail under each head. This has been done, notwithstanding 
' the caution once given to a newly appointed colonial judge — 
" Give few reasons for the judgments you pass. The judgment 
may be right though the reason may be faulty ;" for, in a class of 
machines greatly varying in design and execution, soine advantage 
may be derived from thus pointing out to each exhibitor what were 
considered to be the strong and the weak points in his machine. 
In comparing the columns of points, however, with the earlier 
columns of facts that evidently should be considered as affecting 
them (as 3 with 22, 9 with 23, 6 and 7 with 28, and 14 with 30), 
the reader must remember that in the course of actual trial certain 
other differences, though too small to be recorded, would influence 
the award of points. 
In column 3 a single line suffices for the machines that have 
their horse-works fixed as an integral part of the machine below 
the frame, but two lines are used in other cases, the upper one 
giving the price of the elevator, and the lower the price of the 
separate horse-works. The question of price is of greater im- 
portance with implements like elevators, only used occasionally, 
than with those that are in constant employment. If we reckon 
that 1,5 per cent, should be written off annually as an allowance 
for interest and depreciation in value, this will amount to 11. 10s. 
on a machine costing 50/. An elevator will take the place 
of two men on the rick after it has reached the heiglit of aboVit 
8 feet. On a farm where a month's work is done in stacking 
hay and corn each year it may be reckoned that the elevator will 
for twenty days take the place of two men, costing Ss. each per 
diem or 10/. ; to this may be added 3/. for labour saved in re- 
moving straw from the threshing of corn grown on the same 
farm ; the total value of the hand-labour saved will thus stand at 
13Z. On tlie other hand, to the cost of the machine about 3/. per 
annum must be added for the horse-labour required to drive it 
for twenty days stacking corn and hay ; in stacking straw it will 
be driven by a belt from the threshing-machine, and will require 
no horse. The total cost is thus estimated at 10/. 10s., and the 
total saving at 13/. ; but the advantage derived from the use of 
an elevator on sucli a farm is to be sought rather in the superiority 
of the work than in its cheapness. A machine costing 70/. must 
similarly be charged with IIZ. 55. for interest and depreciation, 
and, in the case supposed, the total cost would then stand at 
14Z. 5*., sliglitly exceeding the cost of doing the same work by 
