470 Report of the Senior Steward of Implements. 
We found at Wolverhampton a letter from the Secretary, stating 
that he had failed in obtaining a third Engineer Judge, though 
he had applied to all who had been nominated by the Council : 
and a telegram from Mr. Kay, that his medical adviser would not 
allow him to attend. The number was thus reduced from three 
engineers and six other Judges to two engineers and five others. 
Under these circumstances, we were glad to avail ourselves 
of the services of Mr. James Easton, one of the Consulting 
Engineers, who was associated with Mr. Bramwell in the test- 
ing and trials of the Traction-Engines, which occupied their 
entire time from Monday, June 26th, till the evening of Friday, 
July 7th. In the run of these engines over the course provided 
for them, two other Judges were attached to the engineers ; and 
from the skill and practical knowledge brought to bear on them, 
the Report cannot fail to be satisfactory to the public, as show- 
ing how far they are, and how far they are not, applicable to the 
various purposes of farm and road for which their advocates 
give them credit. 
The weather, previous to the commencement of the trials had 
been very Avet, and was of the same character during their whole 
continuance, making the Show-yard, which was naturally soft, in 
many places almost impassable. The trial-fields at Barnhurst 
were light, stony land, and would not have afforded any satisfac- 
tory results as to steam cultivation without the additional land 
which had been provided near Stafford, which, though not so 
light as that at Barnhurst, could not be called really heavy. 
The removal of so much tackle to a second trial-ground, 16 miles 
distant, was attended with some expense and inconvenience ; that 
it was satisfactorily accomplished was owing, in a great measure, 
to the valuable assistance rendered by Messrs. Fowler and Co., 
and Messrs. Aveling and Porter, who were ready on this and on 
all other occasions to place their engines at the disposal of the 
Society. 
The trials at Stafford commenced on Tuesday, July 4th, under 
very unfavourable weather, and were concluded on the morning 
of Thursday the 6th, on which day, as it was understood that 
several members of the Society and of both Houses of Parliament 
intended to visit the trial fields, the Stewards arranged that the 
traction-engines should leave Wolverhampton at 5 A.M., bound for 
the railway station at Stafford, about 15 miles distant, each engine 
being loaded in the proportion of 1^ ton to its nominal horse 
power ; thus a 10-horse engine drew a load of 15 tons. The 
train was accompanied by a staff of engineers, under Messrs. 
Bramwell and Easton, Avho took their passage on board the 
" Chenab," which had recently been built by Messrs. Ransome 
for the Indian Government steam-train service, and was kindly 
