Hay and Strav) Presses at Koitinghavi. GOl 
It is true that McKenzie's Press, with a leverage of 161 to 
failed to obtain the required density, but Barford succeeded in 
doing all that was wanted with a leverage of 36 to 1. Mean- 
while, at the other end of the scale, Wames, with a leverage of 
883 to 1, got only a little more density than Barford, losing 
speed and time coiTespondingly, and needing a mammoth frame 
to withstand useless strains. 
This Eeport does not, of course, pretend to say where the 
'•happy mean" between these extremes lies; its duty ceases 
with pointing out discrepancies in practice which, before trial 
and examination, no one would have suspected. If Barford's 
pressure of something under 5 tons upon the platten is enough 
to do the work required from an " old hay press," machines 
which aim at obtaining from twice to eight times this platten 
pressure cannot possibly be the "fittest," and will, probably, 
not " survive." 
Similarly, the Bamber Press weighed less than three cwt., 
while the Warnes Press must have weighed nearly as many tons ; 
yet, such was the chaos of principles, and such the exigency 
of the situation in Class 3, that the Judges had no choice 
between giving the Second Prize to the Warnes machine or with- 
holding it altogether. This is faint praise for those machines 
which failed in Class 3, but it is solid fact. 
Surely, never was an occasion when unexpected results, such 
as those which followed the Nottingham trials, formed a better 
justification of the modified prize system as it exists to-day. 
The mere tabulation of those results is itself an education to 
makers who are, probably, learners of the art, not to say the 
*' mystery," of press-making. 
A last, and pleasant, duty remains — viz., to acknowledge, on 
the part of the Judges, the willingness — and, it might on this 
occasion be added, the patience — with which all their demands 
upon the exhibitors were met ; the value of the technical assis- 
tance afforded by Mr. Anderson, Mr. Courtney, and their assis- 
tants ; and the services of that faultless implement steward, 
Mr. Hemsley, in foreseeing and providing for every possible 
want. Three other less conspicuous aids to the Judges' labours 
require acknowledgment : Mr. Avery's kindness in lending 
weighing machines ; Messrs. Aveling's courtesy in putting one 
of their engines at the disposal of the Judges for more than a 
week ; and, finally, the services of Metcalfe, Messrs. Aveling's 
engine-driver, who won the admiration of all the Judges by the 
quiet, skilful way in which he placed and handled his engine, and 
the ready politeness with which he fulfilled their every request. 
