Report on the Trials of Implements at Oxford. 531 
•cylinder until the stop has cleared the friction-roller, and at. the same moment 
the mouth of the hopper is closed. This is effected by a cam on the o])posite 
side of the cylinder, which holds up a crank-rod while the corn is falling and 
closes the o])ening as soon as the cylinder moves. A registering dial is also 
connected with the machine. This machine, having only recently been made, 
was not i)roperly adjusted, and required further testing. Price 21?. The 
Judges highly commend. 
William Ball and Son, of Rothwell, show a simple break on the hind 
wheels of a waggon. A long leverage is \vorked bj' a wheel and screw attached 
to the under side of the back frame ; the fulcrum is placed at the end of the 
•cross-beam, and thus the length of the arm of power renders the action easy and 
the result instantaneous. A wheel revolving rapidly can be brought to a stand- 
still at once. The screw is an imjirovemcnt on the springs, which were liable 
to get out of order. The surface of the break is a block of wood, some 4 inches 
deep, and the leverage allows of wear up to the frame. Highlj^ commended. 
Mr. Bichard Winder of Farningham, Dartford, has brought out a simple 
machine for tarring sheep-netting, being an addition to, and to be used in 
connexion with, his folding-machine, which was noticed at Manchester. The 
apparatus consists of a large trough, with flat bottom and sloping ends ; the 
bottom of thin sheet iron, the rest of wood. Under the centre is a sheet-iron 
firebox, perforated with a number of I inch holes for draught. In the centre 
of the box is a friction roller, fixed about an inch from the bottom, under which 
the netting passes. The trough is filled with sufficient tar to cover the roller; 
consequentlj^, as the netting is drawn forward it must be thoroughly coated 
with the tar. The netting, as wound on the drum of the sheepfolding ma- 
chine, is fixed at oue end of the trough ; the end is carried under the friction- 
roller on to a drum at the opposite side. The same driving-wheel is used. 
Stockholm tar is ordinarily employed, but where hares and rabbits abound a 
mixture of Stockholm tar and gas tar are used. We should recommend the 
addition of soot, if the latter can be made to mix. Mr. Winder states that 
whereas sheep will often get the netting into their mouths and nibble at it 
when Stockholm tar only is used — which they appear rather to like — they 
very decidedly object to the gas-tar. If this is so, it would be a wise precau- 
tion to use the mixture, especially as the expense would be considerably 
lessened. The tar must be kept boihng during the operation ; 100 yards of 
netting, the quantitj- carried on the drum, can be operated on in 15 minutes. 
It should remain for three or four days on the drum under cover, when 
it becomes dry and can be used. The cost of the trough, without the drums, 
is 21. The Judges commended this machine. 
Thomas Hunter, of Maybole, Ayr, exhibits Dickson's patent double-drill 
tuniip-cleaner, which was highly commended, consisting of two exp.anding 
harrows, tlie range of expansion being from 20 to 36 inches. The shape of 
each harrow somewhat resembles a figure of 8, and by running one harrow in 
advance of the other — effected by shortening the attachment to the tree — narrow 
furrows can be worked. The last pair of tines on each harrow is replaced by 
a cutting-blade covering the width disturbed by the teeth in front. Tliis is 
valuable for cutting" up strong-rooted weeds. The frames are so jointed that 
the outer side of each harrow can be fixed at any angle required by the form 
of the ridges, and thus by careful management the surface may be disturbed 
close up to the turnips, — a point of gi'eat importance when, as frequently hap- 
jjens, the top-soil has been rendered crusty by heavy rain. Each harrow works 
■widest in front. These harrows will be found useful for working do^^•n potato- 
land after the crop has been planted and before it breaks through the surface. 
The price for medium soils is U. the set ; for heavier soils the frame is made 
somewhat stronger, increasing the price 5s. 
Article 240. — iiet of Steam- Coohing Apparatus, hy Amies and Baeford. 
Price 751. — This is a domestic steam cooking, boiling, and roasting range. 
