Agricultural Steam-engines at Newcastle. 
669 
the Society determined upon offering a single large and indi- 
visible prize at Newcastle for the best compound engine, and a 
smaller, but still considerable, prize for the best simple engine, 
limiting the nominal horse-power, in both cases, to eight horse, 
and not excluding self-moving engines from the competition, 
although applying no tests to the latter except as prime-movers. 
The chief, if not sole, object of these new engine-trials was to 
ascertain, in the interests of the agricultural steam-user, what 
really are the relative merits of simple and compound agri- 
cultural engines. 
It is a matter of great regret that the determination in ques- 
tion, first officially announced in November 1886, was found 
displeasing to a number of the chief agricultural engine- 
makers in the country. These gentlemen met in the following 
month, and, after consultation, agreed to abstain from com- 
peting at Newcastle, chiefly on the ground that "a great deal 
more time should have been given between the announcement 
of such prizes and the date of the trials." 
After duly considering the objections raised to their proposals 
by this important body of engine-makers, the Society deter- 
mined to go forward with the trials, and events have proved 
that their judgment was correct. It is now known that two, at 
least, of the best engines competing at Newcastle, and these by 
different makers, were not commenced three months before the 
trials took place, while not only did both these " improvised " 
engines beat all previous performances of portable engines, but 
one of them about equalled in economy of fuel anvthing hitherto 
accomplished by the most economical condensing compound- 
; engines in existence. It is scarcely invidious, under the cir- 
j cumstances, to say that the plea of " want of time " conveys an 
j impression either of unwillingness or of unreadiness to enter 
I upon a contest which has not only been won, but well won, 
I without other preparation than that afforded by past experience, 
and an already acquired knowledge of the theorv of steam. 
To come to the practical question which the Society set itself 
to resolve at Newcastle : — " What are the relative merits of 
simple and compound agricultural engines ? " Readers of the 
' Journal,' not themselves engineers, may be assisted to a con- 
clusion by a few moments' consideration of certain elementary 
physical facts upon which this problem turns ; facts which, in 
the first instance, however, must be employed for the elucidation 
of a preliminary enquiry, viz., " Is there room, and, if so, how 
much room, for further economy in the modern steam-engine?" 
Nearly fifty years have elapsed since James Prescott Joule, 
following in the wake of Count Rumford and Julius Mayer, 
made himself famous by demonstrating the " mechanical 
