506 
The Chester Meeting. 
from 25 1. to 3?., and amounting in the aggregate to 2671., were 
awarded in 1858 for steam engines, threshing machines, chaff- 
cutters, root-cutters, root-pulpers, linseed- or corn-crushers, oil- 
cake breakers, winnowing machines, corn-dressing machines, 
screens for corn and seed, mills, and churns, all of which were 
submitted to trial by the Judges. This year special prizes were 
offered and awarded for sheep shearing machines, the trials of 
which are reported at p. 547, and for self-binding harvesters. 1 
In 1858 the awards of Silver Medals for “ new” implements 
were six in number, and were given for a paring plough, a 
cheese-making apparatus, a blast drill, a draining-pipe and tile 
machine, a chronometrical thermometer, and a whisk for eggs. 
This year five Silver Medals (see p. 552) have been awarded for 
devices variously described as a lift-out gulley-trap, a revolving 
seed-sower for clover and rye-grass, a straw-trusser, a “ disc ” 
churn, and a potato-planter. 
Produce . — The handsome Champion Prize of 100/. for 
Cheshire cheese, won by Mr. Thomas Houlbrooke, of Calveley 
Farm, Tarporley, Cheshire, serves to recall the fact that a 
similar champion prize was won in 1858 by Mr. George Willis, 
of Ridley Hall, Tarporley. This year Mr. Henry Willis, of the 
same address, wins 601. for two first prizes and a second in the 
Cheshire cheese classes. In 1858 there were 194 entries of 
Cheshire cheese, with a total weight of 20 tons; this year 473 
entries were made, and the weight of the cheese staged was 35 
tons. The prize-money distributed in 1858 for Cheshire cheese 
was 419/. ; this year it amounted to 540/. With the exception 
of 15/. offered for butter, the produce classes in 1858 were re- 
stricted to Cheshire cheese. 
The Show of 1858 comprised cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, 
poultry, cheese, butter, and implements. It was emphatically 
a good Show, “ unequalled by that of any former year,” and 
though it was the twentieth of the Society’s Country Meet- 
ings, there is something of happy omen in the fact that it 
was the first of the series to result in a financial success. It 
is too early to speak definitely of the outcome of this year’s 
Meeting, but there is every reason to believe that the balance 
will again be on the right side. 
The total number of Judges who officiated at the Show of 
1858 was 47. This year the corresponding number was 108. 
Subjoined are the details : — 
1 The full report of the trials of harvesters was not completed in time to 
be included in this number of the Journal. The results, however, are stated 
in the Appendix, p. xcvii. 
