Senior Steward's Report. 
403 
somes, Sims, and Head. The trials of Elevators occasioned a 
long and lively competition. Of these somewhat cumbrous and 
costly articles it is an unlucky feature that the point of most 
importance in their action is commonly the weakest, viz., the 
clearing the straw at the point of delivery. In many instances 
this defect was observable at the Cardiff trials; and the cure of it 
presents a difficult, though it is hoped not an insoluble, problem. 
The least satisfactory trials upon the whole appeared to be those 
of the class of Seed-cleaning machines. Only one can be said 
to have performed fairly well. 
It may be desirable to mention, on this occasion, one or two 
matters connected with the general arrangement of the yard, to 
which the notice of the Stewards was called, and on which they 
would venture to offer suggestions for the consideration of the 
Council. 
It has become the practice to mark, with previous prizes, 
implements and machines presented for trial ; this the Stewards 
think should, on grounds of free and fair competition, on abso- 
lute and present merit, be discontinued. Another practice is 
that of duplicating upon other articles in the stand (on the claim 
of identity or similarity of structure) the award of the Judges 
in favour of a -particular article ; this, on obvious grounds, both 
in the interest of purchasers, and otherwise, the Stewards venture 
to think should not in future be permitted. 
Among the General Regulations, Rule 33 requires that each 
boiler, before working, should be provided with two safety-valves. 
About twenty-six engines for working machinery in motion 
were reported to have come in with only one. On the rule 
being pointed out, several exhibitors sent for extra valves. The 
rule in question is a comparatively recent, if not new one. To 
avoid infringement in such cases, it is suggested that it might, 
perhaps, be desirable that new rules should be printed in red 
ink, or otherwise specially indicated to the notice of exhibitors. 
The attention of the Council will probably be called to the 
circumstance referred to at page 417 in Mr. Roberts's Report, 
of the (apparently) malicious injury attempted upon Messrs. 
Marshall's threshing-machine, by the forcible insertion of an 
iron crowbar up one of the sack-spouts. On this matter being 
reported, the Stewards ventured to offer a reward, on the part 
of the Society, in addition to that proposed by Messrs. Marshall 
(both were in vain), for the discovery of the offender. Injuries 
of this kind, though happily not frequent, have taken place 
in the Show-yard, on certain occasions, and might, perhaps, 
be rendered still more rare by a standing law of the Society, in 
substitution for the temporary decision of the Stewards, acting, 
as that does, only retrospectively, and at the risk of the success of 
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