Report on Cream-separators and 
the two machines being that, instead of the side locomotion as in 
Darby's Digger, Messrs. Proctor's tines are placed at the end, 
and follow the engine, and dig 12 ft. wide. The weight is very 
considerably lessened, and also the cost. The Digger exhibited 
at Reading was fixed to an ordinary 6-horse power engine, which 
could with little trouble be again detached and placed on its 
ordinary carriage if required. The price, without the engine, 
is 275/. The forks, three in number and 4 feet wide, are 
placed transversely, suspended from a strong frame, and actu- 
ated by three cranks on a rotating shaft, which is driven by 
an intermediate spur-gear from the engine crank-shafts above. 
The Digger makes 45 revolutions per minute, while the engine 
travels at the pace of 45 feet in the same time, so that each 
fork strikes the ground at an advance of one foot from the 
last stroke. This machine, with a man and a boy in attendance, 
is calculated to dig about seven acres in a day of ten hours. We 
did not see the machine working, so we are not in a position to 
pass an opinion on the quality of its work ; neither is it our 
duty to draw a comparison upon the merits of digging as a 
means of cultivation over the old method of ploughing. We 
simply found the machine in the Showyard, and have very 
shortly described it. 
Messrs. Coultas, of Grantham, exhibited a Blast-fan for drying 
corn when threshed. Their ordinary fan used for stack drying 
was attached to a large wooden receptacle, with a perforated 
bottom, and capable of holding four sacks of grain at once, 
through which the blast was forced. The Judges gave this 
machine a trial, by wetting four sacks of wheat on a tarpaulin, 
and left them soaking all night. The next day Mr. Coultas ran 
his fan for four hours ; but when the wheat was again weighed, 
he had failed to take out all the added water. 
Messrs. Jas. Waliooi'th and Co., Bradford, Yorkshire, also ex- 
hibited a Grain Dryer for the first time. Owing to some delay in 
fitting the machine, he was unable to show it to the Judges at 
work, which they much regretted. The apparatus consisted of a 
long galvanised revolving cylinder, set on a slight incline, through 
which 15 steam-pipes were placed for heating purposes. An 
exhaust-fan was attached at the end for drawing ott the damp 
steam arising from the drying corn. There was very consider- 
able heat generated in this cylinder. Whether the steam heat 
would affect the germinating properties of the grain, or in 
any way injure it for milling purposes, we had no opportunity 
of judging. The cost of the machine is 90/. 
Messrs. Bcnj. Reid and Co., of Aberdeen, offered their Force- 
feed Manure Distributor for trial. This machine is easily and 
quickly regulated, and will sow from 1 cwt. to 20 cwt. per acre, 
