526 
2"rials of Tract ion- Engines at Wolverhampton. 
appears from tlic diagrams that ploughing requires rather less power than 
digging. 
From column 11 it will be seen that the strain on the wire-rope hauling 
the implement varied from over 4 tons in Messrs. Fowler's 20-horse set down 
to li ton in IMessrs. Barrows and Stewart's roundabout. From the lightness 
of the strain on the rope and the small amount of power expended per acre by 
the latter firm, it is evident that the implements used did not move the land 
very eflicientlj^ which was also the opinion of the Judges, derived from the 
appearance of the work. The Fisken high-speed rope working Messrs. 
Fowler's 5-tino cultivator ranks next in intensity of strain upon the wire rope, 
which amounted to over 2^ tons. 
From a variety of causes it was found impracticable diu'ing the trials to 
determine tlie exact resistance of the high-speed hemp rope in the Eavens- 
thorf)e tackle, but it was ascertained that the extension of the hemp rope 
some 200 yards at Stafford did not add to its resistance very materially. 
Column 17. The weight of the natural ground was taken in layers 6 inches 
deep, but the difference between the weights of the several layers was insig- 
nificant and quite irregular. The weight of earth moved is calculated from 
the average of numerous measurements of depth taken by the Judges, these 
gentlemen being unanimously of opinion that direct measurement was a much 
more accurate method tlian the one previously practised of calculating the 
depth from the weight of earth moved. 
The observations on fuel, water, and lubrication are imperfect as regards 
Messrs. Fowler's 20 and 12-horse double-engine sets. This is much to be 
regretted, and arose from the want of acreage at Barnhurst, and want of time 
and the inclemency of the weather at Stafford. The high-speed rope took 
the most lubrication, but this system to be properly tested should be worked 
for a considerable number of hours at a stretch. Messrs. Howard consumed 
the most fuel per acre. 
Eeferring to the averages of columns 20-23, and 25-28, it appears that 
The average consumption of coal = IGl lbs. per acre. 
„ water = 115 gallons per acre. 
,, oil and tallow = 5"1 ozs. per acre. 
„ water per lb. of coal = 7'2 lbs. 
„ „ coal per mean indicated H.P. per 
hour, T'l lb. 
„ „ weight of earth moved per lb. of 
coal = 9'3 tons. 
(Signed)' Eastosts A^'D Anderson, Consulting Enginetrs. 
August 1st, 1S71. 
XXVII. — Report of the Judges on the Trials of Traction- Engines 
at Wolverhampton. Bj F. J. Bramwell,, C.E., and James 
Easton, C.E. 
The Wolverhampton Meeting is the first occasion on which the 
Society has brought to trial this important class of steam-engines. 
For many years past such engines have appeared at the shows 
of the Society as articles of exhibition and sale, but they have 
never until this year come before the Society's Judges. 1 ear by 
year when steam-ploughing has been tried, as at Leicester, many 
