at  the  Exeter  Meeting , 1850. 
459 
from  their  blunt  formation,  the  teeth  did  not  enter  the  ground 
very  well.  After  a lengthened  trial,  it  was  clear  that  Mr.  Cross- 
kill’s,  which  worked  in  its  usual  masterly  style,  was  the  best,  and 
the  judges  testified  their  opinion  by  “ highly  commending”  it. 
Drain- Ploughs. — A novel  implement  of  its  character  was  ex- 
hibited by  Mr.  John  Fowler,  of  Melksham,  Wilts,  manufactured 
by  Messrs.  Ransome  and  May,  which  was  set  to  work  on  the  strong 
land  (as  a mole-plough),  cutting  the  drain  in  a clay  subsoil  2 feet 
G inches  deep,  and  placing,  or  rather  drawing,  the  wooden  pipes 
which  were  previously  manufactured  by  Mr.  Fowler’s  “ pipe- 
making machine.”  Manual  power  was  first  applied  to  the 
“ windlass,”  by  which  means  the  plough  travelled  at  the  rate  of 
2 yards  per  minute  ; two  horses  were  then  attached,  and  it.  worked 
at  the  rate  of  3 yards  per  minute  for  a short  time,  when  the  cogs 
of  the  wheels  gave  way,  which  were  evidently  too  slight  for  the 
power  required  to  draw  the  implement.  During  the  trial,  how- 
ever, the  motion  was  remarkably  steady,  although  several  stones 
came  in  contact  with  the  plough,  one  of  which  was  ascertained  to 
have  been  severed  in  two.  The  performance  was  far  better  than 
was  anticipated,  taking  into  consideration  the  stiffness  of  the  soil 
and  subsoil;  yet  the  application  (until  further  improvement) 
should  be  confined  perhaps  more  particularly,  as  was  the  prin- 
cipal intention  of  the  inventor,  to  bog  lands,  marshes,  &c.,  in 
which  he  proposes  to  use  a twisted  straw  or  heather  rope,  a 
specimen  of  which  he  produced.  To  the  plough  and  the  ma- 
chinery connected  therewith  the  judges  awarded  a silver  medal.* 
A gutter-plough  was  exhibited  by  Mr.  Thomas  Moore,  of 
Exeter,  Devon,  which  the  judges  “ commended,”  it  having  on 
trial  cut  out  well  small  trenches  or  gutters,  preparing  the  land 
for  irrigation,  or  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  off  the  water  from 
low  undrained  land. 
The  only  drain-plough  exhibited  for  the  prize  offered  by  Mr. 
Slaney  was  Mr.  Comins’,  of  South  Molton  ; and  from  its  in- 
efficient manner  of  performing  the  work,  the  judges  thought  it 
right  to  withhold  the  prize. 
Drill  for  general  purposes. — In  reporting  upon  this  drill,  it 
appears  almost  invidious  to  make  comparisons  between  the  un- 
* The  inventor  states  that  the  price  given  in  the  catalogue  far  exceeds  what  it  can 
be  supplied  at  in  future,  the  implement  having  been  only  completed  just  before  the 
meeting;  from  the  same  cause  the  working  of  all  the  machinery  appeared  to  he  less 
good  than  might  reasonably  be  expected  under  more  favourable  circumstances.  It 
should  be  explained  that  the  designer’s  plan  of  having  wooden  pipes  is  for  the  purpose 
of  making  use  of  refuse  timber  on  an  estate,  the  saw-bench  being  generally  useful,  and 
the  waste  wood,  left  after  forming  the  pipes,  being  sold  as  firewood.  Mr.  Fowler  stated 
that  the  cost  of  the  pipes  was  extremely  low  as  compared  with  all  others,  though  I for- 
bear to  quote  his  figures  ; they  fit  into  each  other,  a slit  being  cut  in  them  for  the  ad- 
mission of  the  water  after  the  ends  may,  from  swelling,  have  become  tight.  They  are 
strung  on  a small  rope,  by  which  they  are  drawn  after  the  plough  whilst  in  motion.  It 
is  an  ingenious  invention,  well  deserving  notice. — Dudley  Pelham. 
