Trials of Self-binding Reapers at Aiybiirth. 149 
and tailer. No improvement appears to have been made in the 
former since the Bedford Meeting. The latter Mr. Hunter 
exhibited in forms adapted for both heavy and light land. The 
invention has been brought out and tested for some years, but 
it is on its duplicate form for strong and light soils that it rests 
its claim as a new implement in the catalogue, and competes for 
the Society's medal. Whether this claim be admitted or not, 
its title to be considered a most useful novelty cannot be ignored, 
if we take " novelty " to mean something that has not been 
achieved elsewhere as a whole, rather than as something entirely 
and absolutely new in all its parts as well as in its results. 
The implement is constructed for cutting or sawino; off leaves or tops, also 
for cutting; up the turnips from the roots, placing them in regular rows ready to 
■foe carted away for storage, or put into heaps for cutting up and consuming on 
the land on whicli they were grown. By a very simple arrangement of the 
cutting or sawing frame connected with the main beam of the implement, and 
adjustable by rods and chains, the leaves of the turnips are lifted up in front 
of the cutting frame, the saw of which passing along cuts them all neatly 
off nearly at the same level The cutting frame is triangular, the narrow or 
leaf-lifting end being towards the front of the machine, the saw or cutting 
part forming one side of the triangle, and placed on the outer side of it. 
There are two cutting frames, one on each side of the implement, so that as 
it passes along it cuts otf the leaves of two rows at the same time. The rods 
and chains which adjust the position of the cutting frame are carried back- 
wards, and are connected with two small levers jointed to the handles, so that 
the attendant can work them as required. The main-framing is carried upon 
three wheels, a small one being in front, and the two hind ones on a cranked 
axle worked by a lever, so that the implement can- be raised from or lowered 
to the surface of the land as may be required. 
Barford and Perkins' Steam Cultivator is a novelty in its 
self-acting appliance for lifting the tines out of the ground at the 
headlands, or at any point. Similar in general construction to 
ordinary cultivators for steam power, in this point of turning 
without difficulty it is unique. Inside each wheel, and fitted to 
the axles, are iron cams. By leverage from the operator's foot a 
bolt or bolts with small friction wheels at their extremities are 
made to protrude from the side of the frame so as to come in 
contact with the cam, and thus the frame is raised ; the said 
frame not being rigidly attached to the axle when raised, the 
irame is held up by strong supports which can be removed by a 
second leverage. Without a diagram, it is difficult to convey 
an idea of this ingenious device. So far as I could ascertain in 
the limited space in the Show-ground there seems to be little 
doubt of its being a novelty that will make its way in practice. 
From an engineering point of view, no exhibit in the yard 
excited equal interest with Otto's Silent Gas-Engine. Its special 
claims are " no boiler, no coal or refuse, no extra attendance. 
I 
