instance, and when the necessary importance of the implements exhibited rendered it desirable to bring into prominence objects which did not come under any of the heads for which prizes were offered, the attention of the Judges was directed solely in this direction. Of late years it has been found desirable to modify this rule, and at the present time it is in the jurisdiction of the Judges to notice, either by medal or commendation, novel additions to an implement, even though that implement comes into competition on another occasion. The Miscellaneous Judges have no sinecure office. The inspection of every implement, and the probability that in many instances repeated visits will be necessary, entails an amount of patience and labour that demands our sympathy. Frequently, exhibitors, despite the notices that are posted twice a day, are not on their stands, and consequently it is impossible that everything can be properly seen. The practical knowledge and shrewdness requisite to resist the insinuating arguments of the inventor, which, however wide of the mark, carry weight from their evident sincerity, render the office one of great difficulty. On the one hand it is most desirable to encourage improvements, on the other it is mischievous to give prominence to worthless inventions.

Robey and Company, of Lincoln, exhibit Bell and Roper's Patent Self-feeding Apparatus, to be attached to their thrashing machine. The object of this invention is to do away with the necessity for men on the machine. The corn being carried from the rick and delivered into the drum by machinery, the latter can be entirely enclosed, and hence the scattering of grain inevitable in an open drum is avoided, and the risk of accident, either from the feeder getting into the drum or from the breaking of a beater, prevented. The apparatus consists of a shoot 13 feet long, fixed to the thrashing machine frame at one end, the other suspended by a crane or pulley so as to be just over the centre of the stack, but clear of the sheaves. Inside the shoot an endless leather strap 6 inches wide revolves, being driven by a pulley from the drum. The rollers carrying the strap are 12 inches in diameter, and revolve about 150 revolutions per minute. The strap carries iron teeth 34 inches long to prevent the sheaf slipping back, and also three or four solid plates of iron, which act as cups to carry up any loose corn which would otherwise accumulate on the stack. Over the centre of the drum is what is called the sheaf-divider, consisting of a series of claw teeth on a shaft worked by a cranked lever. These teeth tend to separate and carry the corn down to the drum, the mouth of which is contracted by broad pieces of wood placed in the intervals between the teeth. In order to prevent too rapid delivery and consequent clogging, a check-rake, on the opposite side of the drum, consisting of six teeth moved backwards and forwards intermittently with the teeth of the sheaf-divider, retains a portion of the sheaf whilst the remainder is delivered, and thus a regular feed is secured. The check-rake is worked from the crank shaft of the sheaf-divider by a connecting-rod, and its movements can be regulated by means of a slot so as to deliver with varying degrees of rapidity according to the nature of the crop. The sheaf, when the band has been cut, is laid in the shoot, with the butt upwards, and is delivered parallel with the beaters. The action of the rake teeth tends to rumple the straw, which in consequence is more broken in its passage than as ordinarily fed. This may be a serious objection in some localities, and must be valued accordingly. The Judges awarded a Silver Medal to this apparatus.

Campain's anchors for roundabout steam culture are designed to supersede the ordinary snatch-block and claws which require so much attention, and seldom are really efficient to resist a severe strain. Mr. Campain, a practical farmer living in the neighbourhood of Peterboro', finding the inconvenience of this, turned his attention to the subject, the result being the implement under notice. Messrs. Amies and Barford, the exhibitors, bought the patent, and are the sole proprietors. The merits of the anchor were tested during a two days' trial last autumn. It consists of a powerful oblong frame, carried on

four disc wheels, very similar in form to Fowler's disc anchor, and provided with a box for stones or earth when extra weights are required. The rope pulley may either be carried above or below the frame-probably the former plan is most suitable for the roundabout system, because the rope is more off the ground. The novelty and merit of the arrangement consist in the presence of a strong axle placed at the end of the frame carrying eight powerful tines; on one end of the axle is a ratchet in four segments into which the teeth of a lever handle fit. The distance between the segments represents the space through which the anchor is required to traverse on the headland. As long as the lever is up the tines ride on the surface of the land, but when their movements are stopped the strain of the rope which is being wound on the windlass causes the tines to bury themselves, and thus afford a powerful resistance both to side and forward strain. As the tines descend the hind disc wheels rise to some extent, but the anchorage is found ample, and the strain of rope tending to draw the anchor forward on the headland is thoroughly counteracted. There is a great saving of labour. The porter boy, previous to the departure of the implement for the opposite anchor, liberates the lever handle from the ratchet notch, adjusts the steerage if required, and can then leave the anchor; as soon as the plough commences to return from the opposite headland, the strain of the rope towards the windlass round the sheaf or pulley, draws the anchor forward until the lever comes in contact with the ratchet section, when it is at once arrested, the tines bury themselves, and strain is resisted. The price of each anchor is 251. A Silver Medal was awarded.

Henry Pooley and Son were commended at Manchester for automatic grain scale for weighing corn in bulk, an extremely ingenious machine, but to which the high price of 1007. prevented the judges awarding a medal, as they would otherwise have done. This year the exhibitors have completely altered the machine, made one apparatus do the work that before required double machinery, and consequently reduced the price from 100l. to 351. A short description, toge ther with a drawing, will convey some idea of the principle. An overhead shoot, with an outlet controlled by a valve, conducts the grain into a divided oscillating trunk, open top and bottom, which swings upon trunnions resting upon the platform of a weighing machine; the trunk passes through the platform, and vibrates between the inclined sides of a hopper, which forms a portion of the platform, these inclined sides meeting at the bottom and uniting at the division or partition, form the apex of a triangle. Each side of the triangle, when alternately brought closely against the sides of the hopper, converts that portion of the trunk which is in contact with it into a close vessel, being retained in position by a bolt. The grain falls into that portion of the trunk immediately under the shoot, and when the load is nearly imposed upon the machine, the outlet valve of the grain-shoot cuts off the supply of grain partially, allowing only just so much to fall gently into the machine as will complete the load with accuracy. Weight being ascertained, the bolt is withdrawn by the action of the machine, when the hopper tumbles over, releasing one of the lower triangular outlets from contact with the side of the hopper; the grain is discharged, and at the same instant the side of the trunk, which was previously empty, is prepared for the reception of another load of grain, its lower outlet being closed by the hopper, and its upper portion being brought directly under the shoot. Each discharge of the trunk is registered by a counter, one figure of which is moved with every vibration of the trunk. The operations of loading, weighing, discharging, and registering go on without intermission so long as the supply of grain continues, the only impelling motion being the weight of the grain itself. The reduction in price and greater simplicity of construction justified a silver medal.

Messrs. Howard's horse-rake, with self-acting leverage, appears an improvement on former attempts in this direction, because the means by which the

action is produced are simple and the emptying rapid, the teeth coming to the ground again with sufficient rapidity. There are several commendable points. The axle is of solid steel, and placed in the centre of the rake; the machine is thus very strong, and there is no tendency in the wheels to work outwards, a defect noticeable in all rakes with short axles bolted or fastened to a frame. The means by which this self-action is produced are as follows: On the axle, inside the travelling wheels, are small wheels, on which are placed friction bands connected with the frame; when the rake is full, leverage is applied to the break bands, they are tightened and become a part of the wheel, and travel round, carrying the teeth and load until a sufficient height is attained. The leverage is then released, the breaks cease to bite, and the rake falls to the ground. The illustration will explain more clearly the mechanism. Fig. 17.-Self-acting Leverage to Messrs. J. and F. Howard's Horse Rake, No. 5437.

The driver can either ride or walk. If riding the right foot is used to slightly depress the actuating lever at the point a, if walking he raises the lever at b, as will be seen by reference to the illustration. This alteration causes the tightening of the break-straps and consequent elevation of the rakes. The connecting link d is jointed to the foot lever at c, which centre c, when depressed by the action of the attendant is coincident with the centre of the axle of the rake, consequently the lifting motion of the cradle and tines does not influence it, although the lever arms d and e, with the cradle and break bands f, are carried forward when the rake is unloaded; thus, the first lever being depressed, the requisite friction is put on the brake bands, through the double-ended lever g. The break bands can be tightened when necessary by the screw link 7.

A capital cottager's cooking stove is shown by W. Barton, of Boston, whose large cooking ranges have attained a considerable reputation. This is an inven

tion of Mr. T. Richards, of Wincanton, and was considered by the judges so cheap and practical, that they awarded a silver medal. The stove occupies a 2 ft. opening, and stands 2 ft. 3 in. high. It can be used either as an open fire or as a close stove. When used as a close stove for cooking, the fire is closed at the top but open in front. The hot-plate is 24 inches by 15 inches for boiling, stewing, &c., or as an ironing-stove. The oven, placed under the fire, is 14 inches wide, 13 inches high, and 12 inches deep, and with its flues occupies all the width, and so is capable of baking everything. The flues run completely round the oven on each side, and enter a main flue into the chimney. The oven is of wrought iron. As an open fire the top is removed and placed against the back, and a fall door is let down, and acts as a sloping back to the fire, a good arrangement, as it is impossible to heap on too much fuel. In the chimney is a damper to regulate the draft, and the flues are easily cleaned. Altogether this is a very complete range, easily set and reasonable in price, being only 2l. 10s. Another range contains a small boiler in addition, which increases the cost by 11. 5s.

A silver medal was awarded to Mr. Gilbert Murray, of Elvaston, Derby, who exhibited articles 7747, 7748, and 7759, models of plant for cheese making on the American factory system, of cheese press, and of a factory for 300 cows, and having taken an active part in the establishment of a factory at Derby, which has been in operation for some months, we are indebted to him for an explanation of proceedings, and for a description of the processes. A company having been formed, the services of two competent Americans were secured, and although the subject was only discussed in December, the first cheese was made on April 8. The models shown were on a scale of 1 inches to the foot. The cans used for conveying the milk from the grower to the factory are cylindrical, of the same width throughout. The lid exactly fits the cylinder like a piston, and so accommodates itself to the supply of milk, thus preventing waste or undue agitation. In the centre of the lid is a tube projecting 6 inches inside; this, when filled with cold water, tends to lower the temperature of the milk. As the evening's milk arrives it is emptied into a large tin which stands on the platform of a portable weighingmachine, the weight being duly entered in duplicate, one entry going back to the sender. In the bottom of the weighing-tin is a brass valve, corresponding to a hole in the centre of the weighing-machine platform; to this valve a small brass chain is attached, by which it can be raised and the milk allowed to escape into a tin tube, which conveys it direct to the vats in the making room. The vats consist of two separate parts; the outside part is constructed of twoinch deal board, tongued and grooved, and supported on wooden legs; the inner case consists of strong tin secured to a rim of 4 inches deep and 2 inches wide; in the inside between the bottoms of the outer and inner vats is a space of 2 inches, which contains the steam pipes, and into which cold water is carried in order to lower the temperature of the milk when required. As soon as the whole of the evening's milk has arrived, and been run into the vats, the cold water is turned on and soon fills the space between the vats, about 6 inches from the bottom; and at the contrary end to which the water enters, an overflow pipe is inserted, this pipe conveys the water to a small overshot water-wheel, the small quantity of water gives a regular but intermittent motion to the wheel; this motion is communicated to a shaft running longitudinally through the building, to this shaft are again attached a series of wooden rakes, which float on the surface of the milk, and by their action keep up a continuous agitation, thus preventing any cream from rising. When the morning's milk arrives it is weighed and run into the vats, and mixed with that of the previous evening; by opening a tap at the bottom of the vat the cold water is all run off, and steam turned on, by an inch pipe running round the inside of the This pipe has small perforations throughout its length, and through

vat.