Report on the Trials of Implements at Reading. 693 
would not be considered a heavy one or very bad work in the 
East of England ; it must be added, however, that the " fagging" 
was beautifully done. 
The field was divided into three equal portions, and a 
reaper was started in each plot on the morning of the 9th. The 
competitors drew lots for the different shares, and the result was 
that Mr. Coultas had Plot 1 ; Mr. Phillips, Plot 2 ; and Lister 
and Co., Plot 3. 
Immediately following the reaping-machines were a number 
of " catch " hands, who tied the barley at a pace which was 
slow even when compared with that of the haymakers in the 
Fobney meadows. As every farmer in the neighbourhood was 
engaged in harvest work (though most of them seemed to be 
proceeding in a rather leisurely way), it was difficult to get a 
sufficient number of hands to bind the corn as fast as it was 
wanted for the stack. Some of the labourers who were cutting 
corn on the farm were willing to work for the Society at a price ; 
but as they asked 10s. an acre for binding sheaves without any 
shocking or raking, they were not engaged. The first day was 
very bright and warm, and a continuance of such weather would 
have baulked the competitors by leaving them no chance of 
exhibiting the powers of their fans ; but the morning of the 
10th was cloudy and threatening ; and the thistles and weeds 
were green and full of sap when the sheaves were bound. 
Stacking was begun at about 9 o'clock on the morning of the 
10th, and pretty well completed on the evening of the 11th. 
Before the cutting of the corn began, the exhibitors had 
made their preparations for the stacks in accordance with the 
directions they had received. They had been told that each 
would have to deal with two stacks of about the same size ; and 
they were invited to place their fans in such a position and to lay 
dampers, or otherwise to make arrangements, so that they could 
work both stacks at the same time, or each one separately. They 
were also directed to supply themselves with thermometer tubes, 
which were to be placed in the stacks pointing to the N., E., S. 
and W. The Judges directed that these tubes should be made 
of wood, as they had seen reason to believe that tubes of that 
material were more trustworthy than those of iron. When the 
shape of these tubes was under consideration, Mr. Giles (Mr. 
Phillips's representative), whose readiness and sk 11 fulness were 
always at the command of both Judges and Exhibitors, and 
whose good offices it is a pleasure to acknowledge, suggested 
that a triangular form would be the best, as a box of that shape 
would be more closely Imbedded in the stack than either square 
or round tubes. If such tubes were placed with the base of the 
triangle in a horizontal position, the corn must press closely on 
