Report on the Trials of Implements at Wolverhampton. 501 
to a dead-nnclior ahead. Tlic windlass is guided by being made to follow this 
headland rojic, with the fore-can-ia^c held straight and set at an angle by a 
ratcliet-pieco placed across the shafts and resting U|)on the rope. Tlie windlass 
is anchored against the side-strain duo to the plough-rope, not by cutting- 
Uiscs, but by a single spade-sliajicd coulter, P, about 15 iuchcs long by 7 or 8 
inches deep, which is attached to the main frame by a strong upright stem, 
and lowered into the ground at any requisite depth. When setting down to 
work or removing, there are no travelling-wheels to bo removed or put on. 
A spit of earth is dug up, and the anchor-blade, lowered into the hole, cuts its 
way at an invariable level through the soil at every advance of the windlass 
along tlie headland. Being jilaced in the proper position, a little backward 
from the line of direction of the plough-rope M, the blade P, held down by 
the weight of the windlass — 3 tons 2 cwts. — is found able to sustain any side- 
strain due to the work of hauling the implement ; and this holding power is 
not surprising when it is remembered that from the fact of there being only 
one ply of puUing-rope the strain is only one-half that upon the anchor of a 
Fowler's double-drum set, and less than one-half the strain upon the anchor 
of a clii)-drum tackle. 
The lighter windlass, also made by the Eavensthorpe Company, which 
weighs 2 tons G cwts., is constructed without the intermediate-motion shaft E ; 
and the same lever which connects and disconnects the friction-clutch H, also 
connects and disconnects the other friction-cone for driving the small coi ling- 
drum G, the hauling and travelling motions not being required to be in gear at 
one and the same time. From the short trials which it was alone possible to 
make, it is difficult for the Judges to pronounce decidedly upon the mechanical 
merits of the system. The plan appears to be eminently flexible — that is, it 
can be very readily adapted to any form of field ; and the power of placing the 
engine at a distance, without great cost of rope, is an imjoortant advantage, 
more especially as it is not necessary for the engine-driver to see any signals. 
The engine, when fitted with a good governor, in a great measure regulates 
itself; and at any rate the driver can readily tell by the variation of speed 
what is doing in the field. The two travelling-windlasses possess one advan- 
tage of the double-engine system, in the furrows always ending at the windlass, 
so that the windlass-man can see in all weather what he has to do. On the 
other hand, there is considerable loss of power, amounting to between 5 and 
10 per cent., in driving the swift rope (a speed which is 12i- times the pace of 
the implement), even fora 3-acre plot, and necessarily much more when dealing 
with a large field. The consumption of oil and tallow is also large, perhaps 
wasteful, owing to imperfect lubricating a]jpliances ; and the high-speed rope- 
pulleys are apt to heat, so that in dry and dusty weather an attendant would 
be necessary to look after them. It is much to be regretted that the design 
and workmanship, of the windlass especially, are not so good as might be 
desired. It is also to be regretted that the machinery is not arranged to 
be completely self-moving, the supply of horses being always a troublesome 
matter, that should indeed be unnecessary where the driving-power is a good 
traction-engine. 
On Plot 7, at Barnhurst, the time in moving to the field and setting down to 
work was 4G minutes ; in removal after the trial ISj minutes. Eight horses 
and four men were engaged. To work the tackle took one engine-man, one 
implement-man, and two anchor-men ; no lads being required, as rope-porters 
are not used for the wire rope. Working with one of Messrs. Howard's 
7-tined reversible cultivators with large-sized wheels, the apparatus finished the 
2 acres, 3 roods, and 11 perches in 1 hour and 19 minutes, which is at the rate of 
21 acres, 1 rood, 17 perches in 10 hours, or 25 acres, 2 roods, 20 perches in an 
autumn day of 12 hours. The depth of the tillage was only about 5 J inches ; 
