854 Bepart of the Judges on the Milking Machine 
In reply to inquiries sent to me as to methods of Entomological 
Agricultural instruction, I endeavour to point out that it is not 
simply entomological science that is needed, in the sense of classi- 
tication and the like, but knowledge of insects, especially of crop 
insects, which will give capability of distinguishing them in their 
different stages, and of methods of prevention which throw them 
under the power not only of special measures, but also of ordinary 
garden and farm treatment. 
The above are only such short notes as may now be offered of 
some of the year's work, but if desired I would give information on 
any of the year's subjects in full detail. 
Eleanor A. Oemerod. 
REPORT OF THE JUDGES ON THE MILKING 
MACHINE EXHIBITED AT DONCASTER. 
The Royal Agricultural Society has made more than one attempt 
to encourage the invention of an efficient milking machine, by 
the offer of prizes of substantial amount at its annual Country 
Meetings. In connection with the Bristol Meeting of 1878, when 
the Show was held in the centre of a famous dairy district, 
prizes were given for a great variety of utensils used in dairying 
(milk -cans, churns, butter workers, cheese tubs, curd knives, curd 
mills, cheese-turning and churn- cleaning apparatus, milk coolers 
and the like) ; and last on the list was tlie offer of a prize of 50/, 
for " the best milking machine, to be tested during six consecutive 
months of the spring and summer of 1879." Unfortunately, no 
competitors appeared for the prize, and the Judges, commenting on 
this fact, observed : — 
The Judges greatly regret that there was no entry in Class xiv. for the 
best milking machine. He who successfully solves the difficulty will reap a 
rich reward. The want of such a machine is the one missing fink in dairy 
management. Greater mechanical difficulties have been overcome, and we 
hope before many years to see the milking machine difficulty practically 
solved.' 
In 1882, at Reading, the offer of 50Z. for the best milking 
machine was repeated, but with a precisely similar result, for 
although there was one solitary entry from a Copenhagen lirm of a 
machine which was priced at 3/., it was not exhibited at the Show. 
Undeterred by this failure, and perhaps encouraged by the 
description of a machine of the kind (known as the " Murchland ") 
in the Journal for September 30, 1890 (Vol. I. Part III. page 645), 
the Council offered two prizes of 20^. and 10/. for competition 
' Journal, Vol. XV., Second Series, Part I (1879), p. 156. 
