502 
Report on the Worcester Show-jjard. 
Child's Patent Grain Separator was again seen at work, per- 
fectly separating and sorting the grain, by itsJ;wofold blast and 
the exhausts. This machine is very largely used by the millers 
in this country to improve the samples of corn as purchased from 
the farmer, and since the latter can turn inferior grain to better 
account than any one else, it might be serviceable on any farm 
provided with fixed steam-power. 
Among the Agricultural articles exhibited which belong to no 
definite class, none have more of a growing interest than the port- 
able farm-railway. As steam-cultivation advances in clay-dis- 
tricts (in which materials for road-making are so often wanting), 
and superfluous horses are sold off, horse-labour will have to be 
economized even at a slack time of year. Moreover, the steam- 
cultivator will here help you to grow, but not to remove, large 
crops of roots. With the ordinary farm-track, as the traffic 
increases the difficulty of transport is augmented in a very much 
higher degree, until it becomes insuperable : whenever, therefore, 
the common cart and waggon are again under review, such a 
substitute as the tramway-truck and its movable road may deserve 
special attention. 
Mr. Grant has made praiseworthy efforts to reduce the movable 
railway to its most simple elements : his continuous bearing upon 
the ground, his simple joint from the insertion of a projecting iron 
tongue on one rail into the iron mouth of the next ; and lastly, 
his plain iron tie instead of a sleeper, are points which enable 
him to perform with much ease and despatch the removals which 
the branch-line of a farm-railway must be constantly undergoing. 
But it is questionable whether his system is not rather a sub- 
stitute for the barrow than the cart ; whether horse-traction can be 
well applied to it (and this is essential to economy), and also 
generally whether it is on a sufficiently large scale to be suited 
to the farm. It is satisfactory to know that its merits will be 
tested by an active agriculturist, who is prepared to makfe the 
venture, which involves an outlay of about 70/. for a quarter 
of a mile, or HOZ. for half a mile of rail, with trucks, turn- 
table, &c. 
For works on a larger scale in connexion with an iron tram- 
way, the well known portable railway of the two Crosskill firms 
will probably hold its ground, or become as much in use in 
England as on large estates on the Continent, where roads are 
wanting and timber abundant. 
Among the Miscellaneous articles which received medals or 
commendations, the wrought-iron ballasting Roller of Messrs. 
Aimes and Barford has the advantage that it travels light when 
empty, and, from its large diameter, easily overcomes an obstacle. 
The opening left for pouring in water is closed by a brass nut. 
