Beport on Sheaf-hinding Macliinertj at Shrewsbury. 47 
On the afternoon of the fourth day of the Show a most 
unfortunate accident occurred to one of the dairymaids. This 
circumstance upset the arrangements in the department in which 
the accident occurred, and some of the operations were not 
again resumed. 
Trials op Sheaf-Binding Machinery. 
The fourth competitive trials of Sheaf-binders held under 
the auspices of the Society were in connection with the 
Shrewsbury Meeting. At Liverpool, in 1877, the Gold Medal 
of the Society was offered, the competition for which resulted 
in three makers entering the field — all of them with American 
machines, viz. Walter A. Wood, D. M. Osborne and Co., and 
C. H. McCormick. The Judges decided, after an exhaustive 
trial, that though great credit was due to the inventors and 
exhibitors, yet the work done was not sufficiently perfect to 
warrant them in awarding the Gold Medal of the Society. A 
silver medal was, however, awarded to Walter A. Wood as a 
" recognition of progress." 
In connection with the Bristol Meeting, held the following year, 
atrial of binders again took place, when, in addition to the firms 
previously mentioned, those of J. and F. Howard, the Johnston 
Harvester Co., Hetherington and Co., and H. J. H. King, then 
entered the field. During the twelve months' interval between 
these trials, McCormick had evidently applied his well-known 
inventive genius to the improvement of his machine, for on this 
occasion he carried off the Gold Medal, having fulfilled all the 
specified conditions. Wood's Machine was placed second, with 
a high commendation. 
These trials were not again resumed until the Derby Meeting 
in 1881, when a Gold Medal was offered " for the best binder, 
with material other than wire, whether attached to a reaper or 
separate." The exhibitors, thirteen in number, were allowed to 
retain their machines up to the date of the commencement of the 
trials, so as to enable them to adopt any improvements that 
might, on trial, be proved advantageous. The weather was very 
unfavourable when the trials took place, which of necessity 
interfered to some extent with the uniformity so desirable in the 
condition of the ground and the materials operated upon. The 
Judges awarded the Gold Medal to the McCormick Harvester 
Machine Co., and two Silver Medals were given to Messrs. 
Samuelson and Co. and the Johnston Harvester Co. A full 
Report of these trials by Mr. John Coleman is given in Part I., 
vol. xviii. of the ' Journal.' 
This Report affords a fitting opportunity for paying a tribute 
