The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-11 00:00:00

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SO-
CIETY'S MEETING AT LEEDS.

LEEDS, WEDNESDAY.

The implement yard on the Kirkstall-road this
morning presented a busy and animated appearance,
the exhibitors having been engaged from an early
hour in preparing for the judges. The entries in
this department of the show far exceed anything in
the history of the society, and the implements col-
lected together include every invention of recent
years, th object of which is to facilitate agricul-
tural operations, and to render the results of farming
more profitable and more productive. The great
implement makers are well represented, there being
no fewer than 358 stands, and the entries amount-
ing to the unprecedentedly large number of 5,488.
The whole of the exhibitors were expected to have
their implements ready for inspection this morning,
but owing to unavoidable delays, the day had far
advanced before the judges commenced their
onerous duties, which are expected, from the severe
competition, to occupy them until Saturday next.
The gentlemen who have been selected for this
John
ation are :—For drills, 8.:c.; Mr. Druce, Mr.
Thompson, and Mr. T. Huskinson. For
ploughers, hay-making machines, reapers, &c. ; Mr.
Hicken, Mr. Hipwell, and Mr. Tindall. For carts,
waggons, and miscellaneous articles—Mr. John
Hannan (Secretary of the Yorkshire Agricultural
Association) and Mr. Kenrick.
The judges were engaged during the morning in
selecting the various implements for trial.
The trial of the steam cultivators on the heavy
land commenced on Tuesday, in a field of about' 50
acres at Garforth. The land consisted of about 50
acres of heavy clay soil—rig and furrow—which
had been laid down with clover after barley, and
eaten off with sheep. The land was in what local
agriculturists call a very unkindly condition. The
surface had been trodden during the heavy rains of
spring,a andj afterwardsne, untilit
w
bakedasas
by
hardthe
almosthot a
gunss a
of
May and
macadamised road, and the subsoil was pressed into
a hard tenacious mass, with just sufficient moisture
to make it adhere together in a solid stratum of
clay. A more severe trial could scarcely have taken
place, and looking at the difficulties to be contended
with, it was not to be wondered at that only the
Messrs. Fowler and the Messrs. Howard appeared
on the field. Land was measured out for these gen-
tlemen, a certain portion to be felled with the
plough, and another portion to be scarifiea or culti-
vated, and they entered upon the work a little
before noon. Both commenced with the three-
share ploughs, and the former went forward unin-
terruptedly at an average depth of six or eight
inches until about two o'clock, when the second
share came in contact with a tree root, which broke
the standard. This was replaced, but in the next
turn the first share came in contact with a boulder
two or three stones in weight, and again the
standard snapped, and fears were entertained that
the plough would have to be abandoned. Fortu-
nately, however, no other serious obstruction pre-
sented itself, and the work was continued in a
very satisfactory manner. The Messrs. Howard
were less successful. They began with their
three-share reversible plough, which is not
well adapted for the uneven surfaces occasioned
by the old rig and furrow cultivation, and the
furrows were only scraped. On the crown of the
rigs the' shares got well hold and did very fair
work. There was a strong impression, however,
that the implement was not equal to the land,
and about two o'clock, the plough having got a
deeper hold, there was a break down, one of the
standards breaking off close by the framework.
Some idea may be formed of the tenacious cha-
racter of the clay at this point, when we state
that it was literally torn up in huge lumps. After
this break down, Messrs. Howard continued with.
the scarifier. The weather was fine, and the work
was watched by a number of intelligent farmers,
who appeared to take great interest in what was
going on. The trials were resumed this morning,
and are expected not to conclude before Friday.