Report on the Exhibition of Implements at Birmingham. 597 
give a thorough trial to each implement. This expectation 
was fully justified by the results. It is to be regretted that 
several large firms ot' reaping-machine makers have abstained 
from entry ; but if they refuse to avail themselves of the facilities 
for trial afforded by the Society, they are doubtless prepared to 
abide by the consequences of non-competition. These trials 
are considered by practical men to be productive of much good, 
and it must be admitted that they are of so exhaustive a nature 
that none but the machine which satisfies the Judges of its 
excellence in every particular can attain the first place ; and 
under the present system of judging by points, it is next to 
impossible for any but the absolutely best machines to be indi- 
cated for the prizes. The paucity of competition referred to, 
although detracting in some degree from the general interest of 
the trials, will have the effect of stimulating new and enter- 
prising makers, and will doubtless lead them to increased efforts 
to improve their machines up to the standard of excellence 
required by the Society's Judges. As the trial of implements is 
at present the speciality of the Royal Agricultural Society of 
England, I should think that the Society will be ill-advised to 
abandon the prize system which has, at all events, accompanied, 
and, in my opinion, has much assisted, the remarkable develop- 
ment of agricultural machinery during the last quarter of a 
century. 
Two reaping-machines exhibited at Birmingham, and " en- 
tered for trial," were removed after the conclusion of the Show, 
in direct contravention of the Regulations of the Society. It 
will be for the Council to consider if means cannot be adopted 
which will effectually prevent such an occurrence in the future. 
The Stewards having laid out the different plots on Saturday, 
the 12th, Mr. Tough the bailiff rendering most efficient assist- 
ance with men and horses, the Judges commenced their work on 
Monday, the i4th of August, under circumstances which will long 
be remembered by those who were forced to endure the almost 
tropical heat of the sun and the concomitants of a sewage-farm. 
On Tuesday night a heavy thunder-storm cleared the air and 
cooled the ground, and on Wednesday and Thursday the work 
progressed under more favourable conditions. On Friday and 
Saturday rain fell heavily in the morning and prevented the 
trials being finished until the following Monday. The state of 
the crops, in consequence, made the concluding trials of more 
value, and tested the relative merits of the different machines 
most completely. 
Amongst the novelties in reaping-machines tried was the 
Steam Reaper of Messrs. A veling and Porter, who arc so well 
known for doing by the agency of steam all sorts of things 
VOL. XII. — S. S. 2 K 
