528 Exhibition and Trial of Implements at Carlisle. 
either in the rear of the machine, as in Dray's, or by attaching a radiating 
lilatform the corn is delivered at the side ; the delivery requires an attendant 
upon the machine in addition to the driver. Although this side delivery has 
the advantage over Dray's macliiuc of not requiring the corn to he moved, it 
is yet far from perfect ; for, being pushed off by a rake, the corn falls neither 
in swathe nor well-formed sheaf, but often in a tumbled mass not very fit for 
binding. Irrespective of the deliver}', this machine appeared to have an 
equality, and not more than an equality, of merit compared with Dray's ma- 
chine ; but the Judges considered that an arrangement which effected a side 
delivery, though imperfect, was of great im]iortance, and, therefore, awarded to 
this machine the Society's second prize of 20Z. 
As regards the economical use of reapers, the comparison must be made with 
the cost of mowing ; for every machine yet exhibited (Dray's excepted) is 
strictly a mowing, and not a rcapinri, machine. It is doubtless a great point 
gained, to have the power of cutting corn by machinery, at a time so important 
and critical as harvest, though the money cost may not be less : and this is 
si^ecially the case now, with the increasing cost and scarcity of labour. 
It is certain that nearly all the reapers in these trials are capable of cutting 
and delivering ordinary crops of corn at least as perfectly as the mower's 
scythe ; and it is the opinion of the Judges that the reaper exhibited by Messrs. 
Burgess and Key will do this at less cost ; but admitting this at present to be 
doubtful, all experience shows tliat almost every operation which can be done 
at all by machinery will be done more accurately and economically than by 
hand labour ; and to this rule it is believed reaping-machines will prove no 
exception. 
Though much yet remains to be done in perfecting these machines, it is 
satisfactory to the Judges to report that (onsidcrable advance has been made 
since last year ; and they believe that ere long a reaping machine will bo pro- 
duced capable of satisfying every requirement. 
The Judges cannot close this Report without expressing their obligations and 
thanks to Mr. Miles for the great facilities aftbrded by him for the trials of 
these machines, and for his obliging kindness and consideration to themselves 
and to all engaged in the experiments. 
Thor. Huskinson. 
Clahe Sewell Read. 
On looking back throusrh my period of office to its com- 
mencement at Lewes, in 1852, I tliink the Society has reason to 
con<;ratulate itself upon the steady improvements in agricultural 
implements and machinery which have year by year continued 
to mark its progress ; and upon having this year at Carlisle, 
in a remote district of its operations, so interesting a show 
in that department. This advancement can only be accounted 
for by the competition whirli the Society's trials at the country 
meetings have excited. The agricultural mind is scarcely yet 
in a position to discriminate between the claims of competing 
macliinery, or to form a satisfactory judgment on its practical value 
for farm purposes. The trials of agricultural machinery should 
be more adapted to the ordinary work required of the several 
machines employed on the farm, and the judges ought in every 
case to be men of great practical experience and independence of 
mind. At the conclusion of the Carlisle Meeting 1 was impressed 
with a conviction that, for the future, the implement prize-sheet 
