Report on the Trials of Implements at Oxford. 515 
inslance, ami when the necessary importance of the imi)lcments exhibited 
rendered it desirable to bring into ijroniinence objects wliich did not come 
under any of the heads for wliicli prizes were offered, the attention of the 
Judges was directed solely in this direction. Of late years it has been found 
desirable to modify this rule, and at tlie present time it is in the jurisdiction of 
the Judges to notice, either by medal or commendation, novel additions to an 
implement, even though tliat implement comes into competition on another 
occasion. The Miscellaneous Judges have no sinecure office. The inspection 
of every implement, and the probability that in many instances repeated visits 
will be necessary, entails an amount of patience and labour that demands our 
symjiathy. Frequently, exhibitors, despite the notices that are posted twice 
a day, are not on their stands, and consequently it is impossible that everything 
can be properly seen. The practical knowledge and shrewdness requisite to 
resist the insinuating arguments of the inventor, which, however wide of the 
mark, carry weight from their evident sincerity, render the office one of great 
difficulty. On the one hand it is most desirable to encourage improvements, 
on the other it is mischievous to give prominence to worthless inventions. 
Bohey and Company, of Lincoln, exhibit Bell and Roper's Patent Self-feeding 
Apparatus, to be attached to their thrashing machine. The object of this in- 
vention is to do awaj- with the necessity for men on the machine. The com. 
being carried from the rick and delivered into the drum by machinery, the 
latter can be entirely enclosed, and hence the scattering of grain inevitable in 
an open drum is avoided, and the risk of accident, either from the feeder getting 
into the drum or from the breaking of a beater, prevented. The apparatus 
consists of a shoot 13 feet long, fixed to the thrashing machine frame at one 
end, the other suspended by a crane or pulley so as to be just over the centre of 
the stack, but clear of the sheaves. Inside the shoot an endless leather strap 
6 inches wide revolves, being driven by a pulley from the drum. The rollers 
carrying the strap are 12 inches in diameter, and revolve about 150 revolutions 
l^er minute. Tiie strap carries iron teeth 3 2 inches long to prevent the sheaf 
slipping back, and also three or four solid plates of iron, which act as cups to 
carry up any loose corn which would otherwise accumulate on the stack. Over 
the centre of the drum is what is called the sheaf-divider, consisting of a series of 
claw teeth on a shaft worked by a cranked lever. These teeth tend to separate 
and carry the corn down to the drum, the mouth of which is contracted by 
broad pieces of wood placed in the intervals between the teeth. In order to pre- 
vent too rapid delivery and consequent clogging, a check-rake, on the op)posite 
siile of the drum, consisting of six teeth moved backwards and forwards inter- 
mittently with the teeth of the sheaf-divider, retains a portion of the sheaf whilst 
the remainder is delivered, and thus a regular feed is secured. The check-rake 
is worked from the crank shaft of the sheaf-divider hy a connecting-rod, and its. 
movenaents can be regulated by means of a slot so as to deliver with varying 
degrees of rapidity according to the nature of the crop. The sheaf, when the 
band lias been cut, is laid in the shoot, with the butt upwards, and is delivered 
parallel witli the beaters. The action of the rake teeth tends to rumple the 
straw, which in consequence is more broken in its passage than as ordinarily 
fed. This may be a serious objection in some localities, and must be valued 
accordingly. The Judges awarded a Silver Medal to this apparatus. 
Campavis anchors for roundabout steam culture arc designed to supersede 
the ordinary snatch-block and claws which require so much attention, and 
seldom are really efficient to resist a severe strain. Mr. Campain, a practical 
farmer living in the neighbourhood of Peterboro', finding the inconvenience of 
this, turned his attention to the subject, the result being the implement under 
notice. Messrs. Amies and Barford, the exhibitors, bought the patent, and 
are the sole proprietors. Tlie merits of the anchor were tested during a two 
days' trial last autumn. It consists of a powerful oblong frame, carried oil 
