at tlui Derby Meeting, 1843. 
473 
hesitation in selecting; for reward the iron skim in the collection 
of Mr. Hill, of Bricrley Hill Iron-works, near Dudley. 
This plough was invented by an amateur, nearly twenty years 
since, iu the neighbourhood of Pauntley in Gloucestershire, and 
had scarcely travelled out of its native parish until Mr. John 
Allen Stokes (to whom tliG Society is already chiefly indebted 
for disinterring and making known Mason's pulverising plough), 
struck by its effective appearance at a blacksmith's shop, ordered 
one, and introduced it into his own neighbourhood, "where its 
use," he observes, " has extended more rapidly than any other 
implement I am acquainted with, excepting Gardner's turnip- 
cutter." The Judges cite this opinion, given in reply to their 
subsequent inquiries, as the same effective appearance struck 
them, and induced them to reward it with a medal, though un- 
able to test its qualities on a stubble. This skim cuts a slice of 
2 feet in width, and is adjustable from 2 to 8 inches in depth. 
It is represented as capable of completing 3 acres per day, with 
a team of 3 or 4 horses, according to the depth of cut. Mr. 
Stokes speaks of it as an excellent instrument for preparing the 
cleansing of stubbles, and it is constructed by Mr. Hill at a very 
moderate price. 
Draiiditg Plour/hs. — Three forms of jilough for economising 
the labour and cost of drainage were produced by different 
machine-makers, without the stimulus of any prize offered by the 
Society. Of these there could be no question as to superiority in 
design and probable effectiveness ; and 10/. were awarded to Mr. 
David Harkes, of Mere, near Knutsford, for his implement. 
A partial trial was made of it in the grass land of the show-yard, 
the cut being about 12 inches deep, and as many wide. The .sod 
was well raised, and thrown to a distance from the excavation in a 
continuous line ; and gave promise of this implement's fulfilling 
the intentions of its inventor, and becoming a valuable addition, 
in suitable soils, to the stock of agricultural mechanism in one of 
its fundamental and most important branches. The acting parts 
are supported on four wheels, with sim])le and efficient con- 
trivances for determining the depth of cut, the raising of the 
excavator from the ditch at the end of a land, and its easy 
guidance. 
Harrows, — The Society's offered prize of 10/. for the best set 
of harrows was divided between Mr. Howard, and Messrs. 
Sanders and Williams, of Bedford. Both these makers pro- 
duced the implement in so effective a form as to render a judg- 
ment as to any decisive superiority extremely difficult without a 
lengthened practical trial. 
Mr. Slratton, of Bristol, exhibited the harrow contrived by 
Mr. Evan W. David, of Radyr-court, rewarded at Bristol, and 
