508 Report on the Exhibition and Trial of Implements 
corn-crops in spring was never more visible than during the last 
season, when much injury was done in the pulverization of the 
soil by the smooth-cylinder roller, used at times when Crosskill's 
would have been unsuitable. 
Drills. — To the casual observer little or no improvement 
might appear to have been made in drills ; still it was evident, 
on closer observation, that internal arrangements had been 
adopted for effecting greater regularity in depositing the seed 
and manure. I think it must also be now evident that the 
combined corn and seed manure-di'ill for general purposes may 
be superseded with great advantage by two distinct drills of lighter 
draught. 
Li(piid- Manure and Water Drills. — The public are not at 
present, I think, sufficiently acquainted with the great advantage 
of these drills for root-crops. Their value will, in my opinion, 
become every year more manifest, 
Manure-Distributors. — Great disappointment was expressed at 
Carlisle that all the improved manure-distributors were not 
entered for exhibition on that occasion, as their comparison with 
each other would have led to interesting results. I hope that such 
deficiency will not be found next year at Chelmsford, for these 
machines have by no means arrived at a state of perfection. 
Horsc-Hoes. — These are imjilements which must always be of 
great use to the farmer in the eradication of weeds. No one could 
travel northwards to Carlisle without seeing the necessity of the 
substitution of some machine for the manual labour hitherto 
employed for setting out turnips. In Norfolk and elsewhere 
this operation is beginning to be accomplished by the revolving 
horse-hoe. I regret, however, that this implement was not 
exhibited at Carlisle under the most favouraljle circumstances 
of its construction. By its revolving principle the plants and 
soil attached are thrown up together, but the soil by its greater 
weight reaches the ground belbre the plant, which, lying bare 
with its roots exposed on the surface, soon withers away. Tliis 
implement will, no doubt, eventually become a favourite imple- 
ment witli the best farmers under a perfect system of drill- 
husbandry. 
Steam- Cultivators. — No satisfactory attempt appeared at Car- 
lisle to carry out the much sought-for application of steam-power 
to the cultivation of the soil : it is evident, however, that the 
minds of mechanicians have been extensively turned to the sub- 
ject. The time is probably not far distant when mechanical 
invention may yet produce a machine fulfilling the Society's 
ctmdition, viz. that it shall " in tlie most efficient manner turn 
tlie soil, and be an economical substitute for tlie plough or the 
spade." 
