26 
Report on the Agricultural Implements at 
to be valuable must be exhaustive. For carrying them out, a 
crop varied as to character, difficult to cut, machinery of a special 
character for testing draft, a large area of land, and, above all, 
plenty of time and opportunity for a thorough test, are essential 
conditions. None of these were present. Moreover, one of the 
conditions of competition fully resolved on was that only one 
prize should be awarded in each class, and that, however merito- 
rious less successful machines might prove, they must remain 
unnoticed and unrewarded. At Eddington, the scene of the 
mowing-trials, the crop of seeds (Timothy and Clover) was so 
light and open in the bottom that it afforded, as it stood, no 
criterion whatever as to the ability of the machines to deal with 
ordinary crops. Every one of the 20 machines that were tried 
made creditable work ; and it was only when the mowers followed 
a heavy roller that decided differences of efficiency were visible. 
This action, on the rolled grass, was the best test that could be 
applied, but it hardly represented natural conditions. I leave 
the reader to imagine what would have been the position of the 
Jury if their verdict had depended upon the results of such a 
trial — due quite as much to the jockey as the horse. Through 
the courtesy of an exhibitor, and not by any foresight of the 
Commission, a dynamometer was applied, and I can therefore 
give the comparative draft of 20 machines. I believe that this 
alteration of programme gave general satisfaction. The exhi- 
bitors had an opportunity of showing their machines, the public 
could, if they took the trouble, judge for themselves as to com- 
parative merit, and the Judges made their notes and formed 
conclusions of great value in their selections for medals. 
The Table given on page 27 is interesting, as it shows a greater 
difference than I should have thought possible. Thus, to compare 
two extreme cases, the Eureka Machine, cutting £ in. higher it is 
true, took a trifle over half the power, per square foot of grass 
cut, required to drive one of F. L. Osborne's machines. The 
difference in horse-power, and the saving that must be effected 
by using the lighter-draft machine, may easily be imagined. 
This Eureka Machine, made by the Toivanda Eureka Mower Company of 
Towanda, Pa., is a complete departure from ordinary principles, the great 
feature being direct draft. I believe that it was shown in this country some 
years since, but has been recently much improved, and is now commanding 
much attention in the States. An idea of the form of the machine and modus 
operandi will be gathered from the following illustration (Fig. 20, p. 28), which 
gives an accurate plan. The knife, which in the machine exhibited at Phila- 
delphia was 6 feet long, works in front of the wheels, being driven by spur- 
gearing, long pitman at right angles, with knife and bell-crank from the left- 
hand driving-wheel. It is attached to the frame by jointed arms, so con- 
trived that the angles of the fingers can be altered according to the nature 
of the crop. The pole is directly in the centre between the driving-wheels, 
which are of large diameter, viz. 42 inches. The driver's seat is imme- 
