732 Report cn Implements at Preston. 
Fig. 29 shows the method in which Messrs. F. W. Reynolds 
and Co. apply to stacks of silage their well-known chain ap- 
pliances, with screw-tightener and rollers. The requirements 
are the same as for a silo, the only difference being that the 
chains in a silo are pressed by the silage close to the walls, while 
in a stack they may be a few inches away from the sides. The 
apparatus is arranged to put a pressure upon the silage of 8 tons 
by each beam on an area of 90 square feet, giving a pressure of 
200 lbs. per square foot. Exclusive of the wooden beams and 
covering boards, the permanent attachments for each beam, con- 
sisting of two 20-feet special tested chains, brackets, screws, 
plates, and pins, cost 3/. A 4-ton screw chain-tightener, 4/. ; 
two cast-iron chain-rollers, IZ. These two last items serve for 
any number of silos or stacks. 
The subject of the preservation of ensilage is one of the most 
interesting agricultural topics of the day ; and additional in- 
terest will be excited in it by the competition for Sir Massey 
Lopes's munificent prize of one hundred guineas "for the best 
silo in England and Wales, in actual work during the winter of 
1885—6." It would have been pleasant to mark our appreciation 
of the efforts made to produce a thoroughly good press lor silage; 
but medals can only be given for new implements, and it is 
better to wait till a full trial can be given to all the various 
contrivances designed to attain the same result. 
Having noticed all the novelties that can be grouped together 
in different classes, it only remains to consider singly those that 
are left, taking them as thev occur in the Catalogue. 
No. 166, The Absolute Safety Valve, by Messrs. JV. N. 
Nicholson and Son, is a very ingenious combination of the 
ordinary lever and the lock-up safety-valve, which automatically 
defeats all attempts at tampering with it. Externally it presents 
the appearance of a rather large lever-valve ; but if a driver, 
more eager than careful, were to try to get more than the regu- 
lation pressure by hanging a coat or other object on the lever, 
he would find the valve blow off steam at once until the offence 
was removed. The sectional drawing shows that there is an 
annular valve opening outwards, and a double internal valve 
closing the central hole in the annular valve, and opening 
inwards. These two valves are connected by a spiral spring, 
accurately adjusted to the required maximum boiler pressure, 
and enclosed in a lock-up case ; this case, forming part of the 
valve, cannot be tampered with when at work. The spindle of 
the internal valve projects through the case, and is weighted 
by the lever in the usual way ; should any extra weight be put 
on the lever beyond that to which the valve is set, it will 
