Repoi't on the Trials of Implements at Taunton. 631 
form of general regulations, under the heading of " Entries for 
trial," issued the following notice : — 
The specification must state the selling-price of each article complete and in 
od working-order ; and each exhibitor will be bound to execute all orders 
ven to him in the Showj'ard at the price stated in this specification, and to 
leliver the Implements within six months of the closj of the Show, on pain, 
n case of failure in such engagement, of not being again allowed to exhibit at 
tlie Meetings of the Society. 
In order to ensure a bona fide selling-price being specified for competing 
machinery it shall be a condition that, if the price certified by the exhibitors 
shall, in the opinion of the Engineer-Judge, or Judges, together with the Cou- 
-ulting Engineer of the Society, be stated so manifestly low that the exhibitor 
:annot consistently supply at such price, the Judges shall have power to 
iecline to try sucli machinerj'. 
It may also be doubted whether, although one machine may 
[be superior to another in these short trials, it would continue 
jto be so after a certain amount of work ; but it should be remem- 
bered that the best means of estimating this is the thorough 
texamination Avhich these machines undergo by the very able 
engineers to the Society ; and that in the best of them the 
parts are so constructed and arranged as to produce the least 
possible amount of friction ; and this important quality has not 
been by any means lost sight of by the Judges in awarding the 
points of merit. 
I wish to take this opportunity of stating that the English 
farmer is much indebted to the American inventors of these 
machines, as well as to the present manufacturers, for their enter- 
prise in competing in such a spirited manner in this country, 
the results from which may not at first sight be adequately 
estimated. 
The history of the trials of grass-mowers by the Royal 
Agricultural Society is to be found in the volumes of this Journal 
for the years 1857 (when prizes were first offered for them*), 
1861, 1865, and 1869. The interest of the farmer in these truly 
labour-saving machines may not be considered so great now as 
it was at the Manchester trials, when the conclusion was arrived 
at that he might safely invest in any one of the best of them ; but 
it remained for the present g ear's trials by the Society to exhibit 
their perfection in such a high degree : strength given without 
adding unnecessary weight, improvement in wearing parts, and 
the machines altogether better adapted for heavy and difficult 
cutting; in fact, the large majority of the machines which were 
brought to trial at Taunton will be found much cheaper ma- 
chines than those which competed in 1869. It was obvious that 
a smaller number of what comparatively might be termed inferior 
machines came to trial at Taunton than at Manchester. 
Taking the usual calculations for horse-power, interest of 
* These were carried off by American inventions. 
