624 Report on the Exhibition of Implements at Taunton. 
farming interests. These will not quickly forget the lessons 
taught by the highly finished perfected machines and imple- 
ments, and the symmetrical models of animals. Evidently they 
came to see and learn, and to profit by what they might see ; not 
merely to see and be seen, which has appeared to be the chief 
object of a great proportion of the visitors to some previous 
Shows ; though it must be said, en passant, that the ladies 
among them were well worth seeing, and gloriously and 
triumphantly maintained the traditional beauty of the dames 
and maids of the West. Very satisfactory it is to find that the 
exhibitors and makers of implements drove a good trade and 
received manv orders throughout the week, notwithstanding the 
wet and the gloomv skies that were enough to damp the ardour 
of the most weatherproof and enthusiastic agriculturists. Upoa 
the whole, it must be said that, although the Society has sus- 
tained a heavy pecuniary loss, it has done a good and great 
work that will be long remembered, in going to a purelj 
agricultural district, and has imparted a stimulus to the agri- 
culture of Somersetshire. 
It was peculiarly appropriate that mowing-machines and har- 
making-machines were tried in a grass country- ; that the fortu- 
nate farmers of the rich meadow-lands of Somerset and Devon 
should have been enabled to see the implements most suited 
to their requirements exhibited and tested close to their doors. 
Xo better trial-ground for mowing-machines could have been 
well found than the luxuriant meads of Taunton Dene ; nor 
could more patient, more thoroughly competent, more hard- 
working Judges have been selected than the three gentlemen 
who toiled indefatigably from early morn till dewy eve during 
the whole term of the thorough investigations that have probably 
settled the question of supremacy, and obviated the necessity of 
further trials of machines connected with grass land, at least for 
many years. The land placed at the disposal of the Stewards 
by the local authorities was most conveniently situated. The 
fields were of suitable size and shape, while the crop of grass 
was in most cases quite heavv enough to try to the utmost the 
capabilities of the various machines, especially in the clover, 
which was a very stout crop, much twisted and laid in places. 
Yet one exhibitor, who had entered several machines, withdrew 
them finally from trial-competition for the alleged reason that 
the crops were not heavy enough to afford a sufficiently severe 
test of their capabilities. Very fortunately for the competitors, 
Judges and Stewards, and all engaged in the trials, the weather 
was fairly fine during the greater part of the trial-week, though 
it was stormy and wild occasionally. This served to vary the 
cloud- and land-scapes on the beautiful ranges of hills enclosing 
