Sect. II.

Class 9.

AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL MACHINES AND IMPLEMENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

The application of the mechanical genius of this country to Agriculture is illustrated by the present Class. Iurespect of the space occupied by it, it may be considered the largest Class in the Exhibition; but’in the numberof exhibitors it does not equal many other Classes. In consequence of the annual exhibitions of agriculturalimplements held in different towns, the exhibitors in this Class have had a degree of experience in their pre-parations for exhibiting, not enjoyed by those in other Classes, to whom a public display of their productionshas presented itself as a new undertaking.

This Class divides itself into the following sub-classes:—A. Implements for Tillage, such as Ploughs ;Harrows, Scarifiers, Clod-crushers, &c.; B. Drilling, Sowing, Manuring , and Hoeing Machines, such as Drills;Dibblers, Hoes , &c.; 0. Harvesting Machines, as machines for cutting corn, &c., Rakes, Tedding, and othermachines ; D. Barn Machinery, as Steam-engines, Horse-works, Thrashing-machines, Winnowing, Hummelling;and other machines; E. Field, Fold, and Yard machinery, as Turnip-cutters, steaming, feeding, weighing;and watering machinery; F. Agricultural Carriages, Harness, and Gear, such as Waggons, Carts , &c. ; U.Drainage Implements, as Pipe, Tile , and Brick-making machines, Irrigators, &c. ; H. Dairy Implements, asChurns, Presses , &c.; I. Miscellaneous Implements used in Agriculture ; and J. Garden-engines and Tools.

The implements and other apparatus of this Class will be found in Avenues P. Q. and R., extending fro 111the western wall of the Building to the Sculpture Court. Some of the machines in motion, such as mills f° rfarm produce, together with some of the steam-engines adapted for agricultural purposes, are found in thespace generally occupied by Classes 5, 6. Outside the Building, also, at its western end, are gates, hurdle 8 ;&c., which properly belong to this Class. »

The results of much effort, in calling in the powers of the steam-engine to the aid of agriculture as to that omanufacture, are evident in this Class. The agricultural steam-engine is itself an interesting object. For ltspractical application, great simplicity, combined with efficiency and strength in the working parts, is absolutely,necessary. The mechanism requires to be such as shall not be easily deranged, or if deranged to bo capable oeasy adjustment. The elements of lightness and portability, with simple but efficient working power;naturally offer themselves, as of the first moment, in the construction of an engine to be managed by agricultu ialabourers, to be dragged into the fields, and often over bad ground and roads. - g

The oscillating cylinder-engine is used in some of the instances exhibited, and in others the cylinderplaced horizontally, and is fixed, the slide-valves being acted on by an eccentric in the usual manner. Th cengines have been put to actual service, together with the other machines in this Class ; having been testedthe trial-yard on their way to the Building. Upon the result of these experiments will principally depend tnreport of the Jury for this Class. _

A variety of ploughs and pulverizers are shown, the peculiar form and construction of which are submittedpractical agriculturists for their approbation. A large amount of attention has been given to the form of tshare and furrow-turner, with a view to their adaptation to soils of varying tenacities and degrees of resistau® "Many of the iron ploughs are deserving of notice from their compactness and lightness of construction. gare made especially for convenience of stowage for emigrants. The drilling, sowing, and manuring maexhibit features of interest. In many of these, vulcanized caoutchouc has been serviceably applied for conduct-1 athe seed, manure, &c., to the coulters. The steerage of many of these machines exhibits ingenious arrangemjuAttempts have frequently been made to substitute mechanical for hand labour in harvesting operations.curiously-contrived forms of apparatus are found in this Class adapted for cutting com and grass, and thusa degree dispensing with the labours of the reaper and the mower. Barn machinery is also well representea variety of chaff-cutters, winnowing, thrashing, and other machines and mills, which afford an instruc^view of the present extensive applications of machinery to agricultural uses. The implements connected i ^the all-important subject of drainage are specimens exhibiting much inventive skill. The pipe, ^ r * c ^, e il-tile machines are highly interesting, and some are exhibited in operation, automatically producing, froinkneaded clay, those various articles, the ordinary manufacture of which requires the labours of several 0 j-viduals. The pipe-making machines present a singular aspect when in work, discharging an endless 10 ' tpipes of wet clay, which arc divided by the alternate rise and fall of horizontal wire. By a simple arrangethe length of these pipes can be adjusted to any required extent.