582 
Report  on  Implements  at  York. 
to  express  his  thanks  to  all  the  officers  of  the  Society,  and  to  his 
colleagues,  for  their  uniform  kindness  and  assistance.  One 
cloud  alone  has  obscured  an  otherwise  agreeable  three  years  of 
office — the  death  of  Lord  Vernon,  the  last  retiring  Steward. 
All  connected  with  the  agricultural  world  lament  his  loss  ; but 
those  alone  who  had  the  privilege  of  personal  association  with 
him,  who  observed  his  untiring  patience,  his  indefatigable 
energy,  and  his  conscientious  determination  to  advance  ne 
interests  of  Agriculture,  can  fully  realise  the  irreparable  gap 
created  by  his  removal  from  amongst  us. 
XXVI. — Report  on  Implements  at  York.  By  John  Coleman, 
of  Holly  croft,  York. 
Judges. 
T.  P.  Outhwaite,  Goldsborough  House,  Knaresborough,  Yorkshire ; George 
Gibbons,  Tunley  Farm,  Bath ; and  John  Coleman,  Hollycroft,  York. 
The  exhibition  of  machinery  at  rest  and  in  motion  on  Knaves- 
mire  was  the  most  extensive  and  complete,  in  every  sense,  that 
has  been  held  since  the  alterations  as  to  fees  and  the  exclusion 
of  duplicates.  Derby  was  very  successful  in  this  respect,  but 
York  excelled  it  as  to  the  number  both  of  stands  and  exhibits. 
Thus — 
Stands.  Articles. 
Derby  ....  377  5960 
York  ....  401  6058 
It  is  not,  however,  by  size  alone  that  a judgment  should  be 
formed.  The  quality  of  the  exhibition  and  its  interest  in  the 
way  of  useful  novelties  are  important  elements  ; and  judging  by 
the  medals  awarded,  no  fewer  than  nine  in  number,  for  novel 
or  improved  appliances,  it  is  evident  that  implement-makers 
have  not  been  idle  during  the  past  year ; and  this  activity  of 
design  is  surely  the  index  of  an  improved  state  of  trade.  By 
slow,  but  we  trust  sure,  steps,  Agriculture  is  recovering  from  the 
severe  trials  which  have  paralysed  her  movements  for  some 
years,  and  we  may  hope  that  the  outcome  of  so  much  trouble 
will  be  a greater  demand  for  such  machinery  as  is  proved  to  be 
labour-saving  and  practical.  New  ideas  are  constantly  coming 
to  the  front.  Last  year  we  were  much  excited  about  hay- 
dryers.  A large  trade  was  driven  in  some  quarters,  and  all 
go-ahead  people  bought  a fan,  and,  either  by  power  or  manual 
labour,  tried  to  convert  wet  grass  into  sweet  hay.  To  ascertain 
