414 Report on Steam Cultivation at Newcastle. 
moderate cost of these drag-harrows, the quantity of work they could 
accomplish, the quality of the operation, and their adaptation for any kind of 
steam power, we think Messrs. Howard have produced a very valuable 
implement. 
No. 4. — John Fowler's Steam Harrows arc provided with slack-gear ; they 
are attached ' to and work between the fore and hind wheels of a carriago 
which carries the slack-rope drums. The weight of this carriage is considerable, 
and the pressure of the hind wheels upon the work a disadvantage. The cost 
of the implement is also an objection ; 50Z. is too much to pay for such a tool. 
The work was very good, the surface more broken thau No. 3, due to the fact 
that the teeth, whilst somewhat shorter, are nearer together. 
No. 5. — Mr. Ashby tried an enormous pair of rotating harrows, of great 
weight, furnished with strong round tines ; the diameter of the two harrows, 
and consequently the width of soil they would disturb, was 13 feet 8 inches. 
So great was the power required to move these harrows in the form they 
assumed at the. trial, that the iron bar to which the rope was fastened was 
bent double without the implement being moved. Mr. Ashby informed us 
that it was intended to attach them to Fowlers slack-gear carriage, and thus 
the depth and draft could have been properly regulated. Unfortunately, time 
did not allow of a second trial. In reference to the very interesting figures 
resulting from the Dynamometer tests, the two last columns are the most 
important, showing the actual draft for every foot in width harrowed, and the 
average horse-power required to work each implement. We think it is clear 
that whilst dragging may be in some instances economically substituted for 
cultivating, horse-power will have the advantage for harrowing operations. 
We award the Prize of 2,01. to J. and F. Howard. 
Class VI. 
Windlasses and Application of Power thereto. 
The object of the Society in offering this prize was to ascertain by which 
system of haulage a given amount of work was performed with the least ex- 
penditure of power. We understand that our decisions have been objected to 
in some quarters, under the idea that a windlass can only refer to machinery 
on which a rope is wound, and therefore that a clip-drum cannot be a windlass. 
Those, however, who arranged the wording of this prize, and who are emi- 
nently qualified to decide this point, considered that any machinery by which 
the rope is hauled and enabled to draw an implement through the soil is to all 
intents and purposes a windlass, and eligible to compete in this class. These 
trials, as well as those for Cultivators, were unavoidably delayed until Monday, 
July 18. This was in one respect an advantage, as the superior attractions of 
the Show Yard secured us a clear field, which was of the utmost importance, 
and the progress of the work, after the preliminaries had been arranged, was 
most satisfactory, affording a striking contrast to our experience in Class III., 
when the trials were frequently impeded, and at last put a stop to, by the 
crowding of spectators. Once again we venture to make a suggestion. It is 
that Dynamometer trials should take place before the public trials are 
announced. There were several very interesting points that we would gladly 
have investigated, but time -did not permit. Mr. Amos arranged these 
trials in the following manner. Mr. Fowler's 14-horse Engine drove each 
of the windlasses in succession through the large 50-horse power Dyna- 
mometer. The windlasses were detached from the working parts (piston 
and slides, &c.) of each engine, so that the draft registered indicated 
the actual power required by each system of haulage to perform a given 
quantity of work. Fowler's Three-furrow Plough was used, working at a fixed 
depth 7 ineij.'s, and taking a regular furrow 10 inches in width. It is therefore 
