624 Report on the Trials of Comhined Stackiiig-Machines 
for 1872. The only points of differeuce are that the trough is 3 feet shorter, 
and five movable boards have been added to increase the size of the hopper, 
these boards, of half-inch deal hasped together, are not in anyway an improve- 
ment, and were at once condemned as too slight to bear ordinary usage ; the 
accidental backing of a waggon against the hopper in the course of the trial 
confirmed this opinion, by breaking this upper frame. If a well-made cir- 
cular hopper had been substituted for this imfortunate contrivance, the 
l^oints given for stability would have been considerably improved. 
It will be noticed that this machine was adjusted for work by one man. 
The apparatiis for raising and for folding the trough works with great sim- 
l)licity, and has been described as of great strength, but adding considerably 
to the weight of the machine. A handle, placed upon a worm spindle, 
actuates a set of gearing that moves two toothed quadrants, fixed upon the 
base of wooden shafts ; friction-rollers at the upper extremities of these shafts 
clip the angle-iron on each side of the trough. Spindles through the base of 
the shafts enable them to turn upon bearings fixed to a short frame placed 
above the fore-wheels. On comparing the columns 5 and 9, it will be found 
that this machine was worked at a sharper pitch than any others in the 
trial ; although it did not obtain so high a position as it held last year, it 
will be seen that only three surpassed it in the total points of merit. The 
pleasure of finding one of the prize takers of last year courageous enough 
to enter the lists a second time, was lessened when it was found that the 
only change introduced was for the worse. In a class that is making rapid 
strides towards perfection, the competitor who stands still must quickly find 
himself surpassed. In this case I hope that a temporary failure will only 
stir to fresh efforts, resulting in new success. 
No. 169. Barford and Perkins. In this, and the machine next to be de- 
scribed, the trough is divided by hinges into two equal parts, and in folding 
the upper half is turned over to lie upon the lower part. For folding and 
for raising the trough, hemp ropes are used, passing over a pulley at the 
top of vertical wooden shafts, rising from the carriage-frame on either side. 
The weight of the upper part of the trough rests entirely on these ropes ; 
they ought therefore to be carefully tested at the beginning of each season, 
and it would be better to avoid the use of a perishable material by substi- 
tuting ropes of iron wire, although these would require larger pulleys. The 
trough, and the ropes and poles required for raising it are precisely similar to 
those used in No. 165 machine, and illustrated in Fig. 10, p. 629. 
An arrangement peculiar to this machine is provided to keep the shaft from 
the horse-gear nearly horizontal, and thus avoid the loss of power that results 
from the shai'p inclination at which the length next the elevator is usually 
placed. Two light iron brackets beneath the carriage-frame carry a shaft on 
the same level as the shaft from the horse-works, to which it can be attached 
at either end ; at its other extremity it carries a pulley, from which a short 
leather belt drives the shaft for the lower chain-wheels. The use of leather 
here is objectionable, the belt would be apt to slip in damp weather. The 
rounded hopper of sheet-iron provided by these makei's is not equal in strength 
to the wooden ones, but is more convenient than those made square. A good 
form of hood is provided of canvas, stretched over iron'rods. The short 
teeth on a quick-driven ladder have already been described, as inferior to 
longer ones with a slower motion. 
No. 5104. Ferlcins and Co. This machine is very similar to the one last 
described, and it will therefore be sufScient to describe the points in which it 
differs. The chief novelty is a contrivance for raising the hopper and bottom 
of the trough, when required to work at a great height ; this is done by fixing 
the driving-shaft, and the bottom of the trough, not upon the carriage-frame as 
is usually done, but upon the extremities of two wooden elbow-pieces, turning 
