at the Southampton Meeting, 1844. 
385 
prepared for agricultural use ; and the writer conceives that it 
would greatly diminish the chance of fraudulent tampering with 
this valuable manure, if it were purchased by agriculturists as 
delivered from the ship, and reduced for use at home. It opens 
another source of employment for the productions of the implement- 
maker. 
A very simple and cheap hand bone-breaking machine was pro- 
duced by Mr. Robert Fry, exhibited in the collection of Mr. 
Richard Stratton, of Bristol, for which an award of 2/. was made. 
The preceding remarks, in respect both of bones and guano, apply 
equally to this simple machine and to its inv(?ntor. 
Churns. — Of the variety of these dairy implements presented 
for competition, the judges selected one exhibited and constructed 
by Mr. David Harkes, of Mere, near Knutsford, as well deserving 
encouragement, and for which they gave the Society's prize of 5/. 
It is the invention of Mr. George Brown, of Capesthorne, in the 
same neighbourhood. The judges report that " it has a double 
rotation of dashers, one set revolvingr within the other, and con- 
sequently operatuig more powerfully in producing butter." 
Cheese Pressers. — A silver medal was awarded to Mr. Stratton, 
of Bristol, the exhibitor of a lever cheese-press, invented by W. J. 
Gingell, of Bristol. Of this implement the judges remark that 
" it is recommended by its simplicity and durability, and that it 
is within the power of a female to work it." 
Steam- Engines. — There were four steam-engines exhibited. 
The judges made use of one manufactured by Mr. Cambridge, 
and of another by Mr. Dean, in the prosecution of their trials. 
Of the former they observe "that it worked well, was simple in 
construction, and being the best of the lot they awarded for it a 
prize of 5/." They, however, give it as their opinion that "it would 
consume twice as much fuel per hour or per day as that represented 
by the maker." 
Of Mr. Dean's engine the judges observe, "that it proved to 
be inefficient and dangerous in the extreme; they thought it a toy, 
and not useful to agriculturists.'' They further express their hope 
" that the Society will offer a prize of such importance for steam- 
engines, as to bring out something better than appeared in the 
show-yard at Southampton, now that they are of such acknowledged 
use to agriculturists." 
The writer may observe that he did not witness the working of 
any steam-engines, and is, therefore, disqualified from expressing 
an opinion on the subject of their merits. 
Horse Engines and Machinery. — An entirely novel combination 
of a horse-engine and machinery, constructed and exhibited by 
Messrs. Ransome, obtained from the judges an award of 30/., being 
the highest sum they could afford out of the amount allotted by 
