at  the  Exeter  Meeting , 1850. 
457 
some  of  the  implements  being  immediately  withdrawn,  after  pro- 
ceeding a few  yards,  others  being  persevered  with,  without  suc- 
ceeding in  effecting  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  intended. 
Crossbill's  and  Smith’s  again  contended  very  evenly,  and  worked 
admirably : after  a fair  contest  the  decision  was  given  in  favour  of 
Smith  and  Co’s,  it  having  an  advantage  in  the  side  levers  for 
raising  or  lowering  the  implement  to  suit  uneven  surfaces,  and 
the  action  of  the  fore-wheels  is  superior,  equalizing  the  pressure 
on  sidelong  ground.*  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  judges  that  had 
“ Biddell’s  scarifier  ” been  exhibited,  a well  contested  race  would 
have  been  the  result. 
Pair-horse  Scarifier. — In  this  class  five  were  selected  for  trial 
on  the  light  land,  from  the  hardness  of  the  surface  and  the  requi- 
site lightness  of  a pair-horse  implement.  The  work  was,  on  the 
whole,  inefficiently  performed  : the  preference  was  given  and  the 
prize  awarded  to  Edward  Bentall’s,  of  Maldon ; but  the  judges 
are  of  opinion  that  there  is  no  such  implement  as  a good  “ two- 
horse  scarifier,”  because  for  use  with  a pair  of  horses  the  imple- 
ment must  be  made  so  light,  that  it  fails  to  do  the  work  required 
with  any  degree  of  accuracy,  and  they  would,  therefore,  prefer 
skim  ploughs  : f some  were  noticed  in  the  show-yard — good  in  their 
construction,  and  well  calculated  to  accomplish  the  work  of  a 
scarifier  with  much  greater  precision  and  facility  than  a “ pair- 
horse”  one,  particularly  when  the  surface  is  dry,  which  is  gene- 
rally the  case  when  that  operation  is  requisite.  The  judges  would 
further  suggest  that  two  occupiers  of  small  farms  might  purchase 
a four-horse  scarifier  between  them,  costing  each  party  no  more 
than  if  each  had  a two-horse  one  ; and  thus,  in  whatever  state  the 
land  might  be,  they  would  have  their  work  done  effectually. 
Horse-Hoe  on  the  Ridge. — A great  variety  of  this  class  were 
exhibited,  out  of  which  ten  were  ordered  out  for  trial.  The  land 
was  in  good  order,  but  the  turnips  being  irregularly  drilled,  could 
not  be  hoed  so  well  as  they  should  have  been.  Mr.  Busby’s 
made  the  best  work,  and  was  very  much  approved  of,  from  the 
form  of  the  knives  or  hoes : the  advance  or  front  hoe  in  shape 
* There  is  a great,  advanlage  in  the  two  wheels  with  the  double  action  in  the  axle 
with  which  this  implement,  as  well  as  that  first  exhibited  by  Mr.  Smith  at  the  Norwich 
meeting,  is  fitted;  and  I am  of  opinion  tlmt  these  anil  similar  implements,  such  as 
Norwegian  harrows,  &c.,  would  be  improved  by  the  general  adoption  of  this  plan. 
On  rough  and  uneven  ground,  or  in  crossing  furrows,  the  single  wheel  often  fails  to  be 
of  service,  and  is  frequently  an  absolute  impediment,  which  is  not  the  case  with  the 
fitting  introduced  by  Mr.  Smith,  who  has  also  improved  this  implement  since  last  year 
by  an  alteration  that  allows  the  tines  to  be  changed,  as  to  position  on  the  frame,  and 
thus  the  sidelony  tendency  these  implements  have  on  uneven  and  hard  ground  is  much 
abated  ; having  brought  this  defect  to  his  notice  last  year,  I think  it  due  to  Mr.  Smith 
to  acknowledge  his  prompt  attention  to  the  matter,  and  well  to  call  the  attention  of 
implement-makers  to  these  points. — Dudley  Pelham. 
f Some  valuable  information  on  this  point  is  contained  in  Mr.  Thompson’s  report 
of  the  exhibition  of  Implements  at  York,  pp.  18,  19,  20. — C.  B.  Challoner. 
