at the Caiiterhury Meeting, 1860. 
489 
judjjes in thoir Report. The situation of the trial-fields is, in 
my humble opinion, one of the most important objects to be 
kept in view, especially for the sake of exhibitors who have 
been often taken so far from the implement-yard that, day after 
day, they were seldom to be found in it. During my short stay 
at Canterbury I heard no complaints on this account. 
A great deal has been said on the subject of points for the judges' 
decisions ; it may, however, be observed, that in addition to the tests 
supplied by the record of work done, power employed, &c. &c., 
there have alway s been points of investigation suggesting them- 
selves spontaneously to the judge's own mind as the results of 
his experience and knowledge, without which he would not be 
fit to undertake the various responsibilities of his office ; and 
these considerations, while they hardly admit of being stated in 
numerical tables, are yet indispensable for arriving at a right 
decision between the competing implements. 
I recommend Local Agricultural Committees to watch the 
repairs, and ascertain the well or ill-working of the various 
machines that come out in their neighbourhood : this may be 
easily done by each man speaking to his neighbour and others at 
market. 
If, moreover, the Royal Society would extend its sphere of 
action in this direction, great good would be effected. 
The Reports of the Judges are generally satisfactory^, especi- 
ally those on the Steam-cultivators and Threshing-machines, both 
of which will be read with interest. I am sorry that the judges 
of the steam-cultivators do not include the charge of a second 
engirke, which ought always to be ready, in case of accidents, 
especially on large farms, or those chiefly consisting of clay land, 
on which the great object is to prepare the land for root-crops, 
and to plough leys for wheat immediately after harvest ; under 
such circumstances any risk of interruption in the work becomes 
important. 
I may here remark that steam-cultivation, which is now 
deservedly in such great vogue, has no exclusive claim to the 
merit of augmenting our growth of corn. Those who have 
speculated on its powers, and judiciously applied them, more 
especially in breaking up stubbles for the next year's root-crops, 
immediately after harvest, have, without doubt, improved these 
latter, and also (if the land be properly cleaned by careful and 
repeated lioeings, &c.) all the crops which follow in succession. 
But, be it observed, this forward system has for many years 
been also carried out by horse-power, and has made prosperous 
farmers in many counties in England. 
With regard to the Local Prizes and the Award of the Judges 
at tlie adjourned Trial of the Reapers, I shall say but little ; but 
