Report on the Trials of Implements at Taunton. 
629 
otation ; and it is the duty of the Stewards and Judges to see 
hat these objects are fulfilled, and that the Society's medals 
ire not lavished unworthily nor made too cheap. 
A programme of the order of the trials to take place at Taunton 
,vas arranged and widely circulated early in the trial-week, that 
ill concerned and interested might have some idea as to the day 
when certain machines would be tried. This programme was 
idhered to fairly well, and, it is believed, was much appreciated 
by exhibitors and the public generally. It is most desirable 
chat a similar public notification of the order of the forth- 
fcoming trials should always be published as early as possible y 
ilso that the Stewards should see that the order is followed as 
closely as circumstances will allow, as it would materially assist 
them in their duties, and cause the Judges to work with more 
method and system. 
The vivid recollection of most pleasant labours in connectioa 
with the Shows at Cardiff, Hull, Bedford, and Taointon, tinges- 
the parting at the end of the Stewardship with regret, which 
feeling is intensified as the remembrance of the many courtesies, 
hospitalities, and kindnesses received from the inhabitants of 
those towns, from all the other officials of the Society, and from 
all connected with the Show, comes surging up in the memory.. 
XXIII. — Report on the Trials of Implements at Taunton. 
By John Hemsley, of Shelton, Newark. 
It can scarcely be matter of surprise that competitive trials of 
agricultural machinery, carried out upon an extensive and public 
system, should continue to command so much attention from 
manufacturers and purchasers, when we consider the con- 
tinued demand there is for machinery having a labour-saving 
character, especially at this particular time. If these trials 
were not so conducted, farmers would be compelled to com- 
pare machinery in their own hands privately, with much incon- 
venience and perplexity to themselves ; and it is extremely 
doubtful whether, if this latter plan had been relied upon, this 
generation would have witnessed anything like the present 
degree of perfection in agricultural machines. 
The Royal Agricultural Society has endeavoured to carry 
out these trials, at no little cost, in a manner certainly not 
attempted by any other institution in this country ; and whatever 
may be its future course of action, the farmers of England feel 
greatly indebted to it for the course it has hitherto pursued 
in this respect. The strength of a machine, the power to 
