496 
Report on tlie Worcester Show-yard. 
necessary want of durability in tlie engine, because the rules pre- 
scribed by the Society sufficiently regulate the size both of the 
boiler-tubes and of the spaces between them : in fact success in 
the race depends on superior finish, rather than refinements in con- 
struction which would be of questionable service. The purchaser, 
then, of any one of the competing engines might well be con- 
gratulated on his acquisition, and the question would rather arise 
Tv hether engines so got up can be supplied in sufficient numbers 
at the prices affixed. If there be any doubt on this point, the 
farmer may content himself with a " good serviceable engine," 
such as, no doubt, any of the leading makers would furnish in 
the regular course of business. 
With respect to the consumption of fuel, some may think that 
it matters very little whether one or two cwts. more or less of coal 
be consumed in a day, and may be under the impression that 
the grosser feeder may probably be the more simple and durable 
machine : but it will generally be found that the engine which 
requires most fuel, also requires most repair to its boiler and 
tubes ; indeed it is but natural to expect that ill-regulated heat 
should be a destructive agent. 
With respect to thrashing-machines, it should not be forgotten 
that at Canterbury those alone were under trial which do not pro- 
fess to finish the sample for market, whilst this year none but 
finishing machines were tested ; the inference, nevertheless, 
should not be drawn that the simpler machine is considered to 
be superseded, for in the judgment of many practical men it 
deserves the preference, and perhaps on some future occasion we 
may see both classes put upon their trial at the same Meeting. 
All points connected with thrashing no doubt came under the 
notice of the Judges in that department, and it is to be regretted 
that they did not record more fully the mass of information to 
the acquisition of which they applied themselves with unwearied 
assiduity. , 
Beport of the Judges of Portable Thrasldng-Machines and Fixed 
Barn- Wwlcs, 
POETABLE THEASHIKG-MACraXES. 
The number of entries "being considerable, we judged it expedient to select 
only one macliine from each exliibitor for trial, except in cases where two 
machines essentially ditfeiiug in principle were exhibited. As we proceeded 
with the trials the policy of this step became evident, where the iterformauce 
of some of these machines became in every way superior to others constructed 
by the same makers or exhibitors. 
We commenced by according a preliminary trial to each of the machines 
selected, by setting them to thrash 100 sheaves of wheat, satisfying ourselves 
at the same time that they were equally capable of producing a good sample 
of barley. The results of this trial are given in the following Table : — 
