at the Shrewsbury Meeting, 1815. 
315 
sent defect is not a mechanical, but, nevertheless, a real one, viz., 
its price ; and if it were possible to diminish that, it is probable 
that many criticisms on the completeness of its performance 
would vanish. The judges made experiments on the droppings 
of a five-row and single-row dibbler, which are subjoined ; — 
Number of corns of wlieat dropped by the five-row machine: — 
3 
5 
6 
4 
2 
5 
3 
6 
7 
5 
7 
3 
5 
1 
3 
4 
5 
8 
3 
5 
0 
3 
1 
5 
2 
3 
5 
4 
2 
4 
3 
3 
5 
4 
7 
3 
3 
5 
4 
2 
3 
5 
1 
5 
4 
4 
3 
5 
5 
4 
10 droppings— 35 38 4G 40 38 
Ten droppings of the single-row machine charged with beans, 
tried three times over, gave respectively 25, 39, 28 ; the number 
dropped at any one time varying from 1 to 6. 
The accuracy of this important function of the machine was 
certainly not so satisfactory to the judges as they could desire; 
but they had cause to believe that it arose, in a degree, from the 
haste with which the machines had been finished. They also 
remark that they think the steerage may be improved. 
The prize offered for " the best hand seed-dibbler " was with- 
held. There was no competitor with Mr. Smith, of Droitwich, 
whose implement was fully descril^ed in the Southampton report, 
and tried on this occasion ; but though improved and much com- 
mended, the judges did not consider its performance to warr<ant 
their bestowing the prize upon it. Its defect lies in its inabiHty to 
get through a sufficiency of work, not in the apparatus, which is 
correct and particularly suitable for gardeners' use. 
A silver medal was awarded to Mr. Rental), of Ileybridge, 
Essex, for a seed-dropping instrument, which was considered to 
be well worthy of extended practical trial. 
The folio wmg statement given to the writer by one of the judges 
at Shrewsbury (Mr. Burness, Park Farm, Woburn), may serve 
to assist the mechanic in his estimate of what the farmer requires 
as to speed and cost in dibbling : — " I have this year employed 
boys, and dibbled 100 acres, the cost amounting to something less 
than 3a'. per acre. The holes arc made 3 inches asunder in the 
row, the distance between the rows being 9 inches, and the num- 
ber of dibs per acre amounting to 232,320. The boys earn 3.y. 
VOL. VI. Z 
