472 
Report on the Exhibition of Implements 
unnecessary for drill-husbandry, as the masses must be broken 
up and pulverized by some means before the surface be fitted for 
drillage. The more recent additioir of manure to that of seed in 
drilling also renders a thoroughly pulverized and clean condition 
of the soil still more important, as the manure must be buried at 
a greater depth than the seed. The present preparation for the 
drill consists in pulverizing the ploughed surface by the harrow, 
which has to tear to pieces the roots of plants, such as rye-grass 
and timothy; an operation which requires several passages of the 
harrow. These considerations lead to the suggestion that, by the 
use of the skim-coulter with the plough, which divides the roots 
of plants, and buries them, together with the application of 
Mason's knives, and perhaps a pair of vertical dividing blades, a 
cheaper and more perfect preparation of the soil would be ob- 
tained for the autumn drilling of ley lands with wheat than by 
the present system. The good effect of the skim-coulter is well 
known ; it is highly prized and much used in some districts ; and 
the plough furnished with it was proved at Bristol to require 
no additional power. It was also proved that Mason's knives 
did not add more than 15 per cent, to the draught of the plough. 
The object of the foregoing observations is to engage the im- 
plement-makers and agriculturists to consider whether preparative 
tools may not be devised better calculated to economize and per- 
fect the preparation of land for drill-husbandry than those now 
employed. Constructive skill has triumphed over the mechanical 
difficulties of the drill ; but it seems to have been forgotten that 
the previous tillage operations are also susceptible of a special 
iida})tation to the final process ; and that, by diminishing the 
number of operations, and consequently the number of times ne- 
cessary for horses to travel over and poach the surface, economy 
and profit will result. 
Water-furrow or Boat Plough. — This implement was not 
tried in the field, but was known to the Judges as useful in 
clearing the bottoms and levelling the sides of the furrows in 
clayey soils ; also for forming channels for carrying off flushes of 
surface-water. It is a cheap tool, principally formed of wood, its 
section representing the fore-part of a boat, whence its name. 
The two wings overlap the edges of the furrows, leaving them and 
the bottoms smoothly rounded and clean ; giving an exceedingly 
neat finish to a newly-sown wheat field. It is the invention of 
a celebrated agriculturist, Mr. Stickney, of Ridgemont, in Hol- 
(lerness, where it is highly appreciated. A silver medal was 
awarded to the maker, Mr. John Caborn, of Denton, Grantham. 
Stubble-pariiiq or Shim Ploiu/li. — Four implements appeared 
in the show-yard responding to the Society's wish for the exhibi- 
tion of improved stubble-paring ploughs. The Judges had no 
