Miscellaneous tmjplemenls Exhibited at Warwich. 627 
ornamental tiles, flooring tiles, quarries, &c. The modifications 
in this machine by which it is made easily convertible, and 
can be adapted to various uses and thus become more generally 
serviceable, commended it to the Judges. 
Article 5191. Mr. J. A. Partridge, Woodston House, Ten- 
bury. — Tills is a very simple implement, and consists of a piece 
of curved metal (|-inch) tube, about G inches long, fastened upon 
the end of a wooden handle, and used as a lead for string, in 
conjunction with Partridge’s patent continuous string system for 
hop-yards. Posts are placed at certain distances apart in the 
hop-yards, and support two parallel lines of wire, 3 feet apart, 
12 feet above the ground, and also one single line of wire over 
the hop plants, 9 inches above the ground, with wire hooks 
fastened upon each line of wire. With the aid of the “ stringer ” 
the continuous string is looped on to the first hook, and then 
carried from hook to hook, being fastened with a peculiar twist 
upon each hook, passing up and down, and diagonally across from 
one line of wire to the other, and thus forming a rigid network 
of string to support the growing hop vines. The string system 
is used by many growers, and is said to be efficient and to 
provide a substitute for hop poles. The labour saved in stringing 
an acre of hops with the “ stringer ” and continuous string must 
be considerable in comparison with the usual method of cutting 
the string into lengths, and fastening one length at a time to 
top and bottom wires. There must be also less waste of string. 
We were informed that the saving amounted to nearly 80 
per cent. 
The most Important feature in the Implement exhibits was 
the very large and interesting collection of gas and petro- 
leum oil engines, by several difierent makers ; and, in order to 
demonstrate the various purposes to which they may be applied, 
they were in several instances exhibited driving pumps, dynamos, 
or hoists. 
II. Gas Engines. 
At the Liverpool Meeting of the Society in 1877, a gas 
engine exhibited by Messrs. Crossley Brothers first attracted 
the attention of the Judges (see Journal, Vol. XIV., 2nd Series, 
1877, p. 150). For several years subsequently at the Society’s 
Shows similar engines by the same firm, but with improvements 
in detail, were exhibited. It has been reserved for recent years 
to see a great development in the increased power of these 
engines. Such increase, together with the number and stand- 
