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was Messrs. Marshall, Sons, and Co.'s thrashing and finishing machine, which is of very compact design, all the working parts, including the elevator, being contained within the frame and being thus protected from the effects of weather and rough usage. Everything is so arranged that the work can be carried on in the most convenient manner, the straw and canings being delivered from the front of the machine, and the chaff cleaned and delivered into bags at the side, while the finished corn is deposited into sacks at the back. The construction is in every respect very substantial, the whole of the framing is of the best seasoned oak, while the drum and breastwork are of wrought iron, and the drum spindles, shaker, and shoe cranks are of steel; all the shaft bearings are of good length with substantial brasses, and well protected from dust and dirt.

It was to a machine of the same class that the judges awarded the first prize of 40 at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show in July last (the only difference being that the Cardiff machine was fitted with a "Rainforth's Patent Separating Screen"), and we cannot be surprised at the short but very satisfactory comment passed upon it in the Royal Agricultural Society's Report :-"An exceedingly wellmade machine." Referring to the table of results published by the society, we observe that in two trials of wheat-thrashing, 405 and 406 points respectively were made, in barley 427, while in oats the high number of 447 points were recorded out of a possible total of 450, and this notwithstanding the fact that malicious damage had been done to the screen of the machine during the night before the trials, which could only be hastily repaired upon the ground with such rough and ready appliances as happened to be at hand. We are informed that Messrs. Marshall, Sons, and Co. have during the past year more than doubled the extent of their works at Gainsborough, and have just completed, among other buildings, one of the finest engine-erecting shops in the kingdom.

Messrs. E. R. and F. Turner, of Ipswich, are a firm familiar to agriculturists and others from their celebrated crushing mills, which continue to gain renown for the manufacturers, and have recently been awarded the silver medal by the Royal Society of the Netherlands, at the Hague. The firm showed several varieties of these crushers, but they need no description or praise from us, their utility having stood the test of long experience. Two specimens of the R. A. S. E. first prize grinding mills with French stones, 3 feet and 22 feet in diameter, were also on view, and they appeared still to merit the high encomium given them by the Royal Agricultural Society's judges at

Oxford, that they were "exceedingly well made." A malt mill, with compound wedge adjustment, for ensuring equal wear on the faces of the rolls, was also shown at this stand, as well as oilcake breakers for hand power, the larger of the two being provided with two sets of rolls, so as to reduce cake to the smallest size, with less wear to the teeth, and with less power than in the ordinary machines.

Besides mills of all kinds for preparing food for stock, &c., E. R. and F. Turner are celebrated as manufacturers of small thrashing sets of three to five-horse power, which, to judge from the specimen exhibited, they have succeeded in bringing to a high state of efficiency. The set exhibited was of five-horse power, the engine being well proportioned and of substantial construction. The thrasher was four feet wide and of the double blast finishing class. Strict attention to practical utility in design and constructive excellence in these small thrashing sets has obtained for this firm a leading position in their manufacture, and they are in large demand in districts where the transport of larger and heavier machines would be impossible. Another great advantage attaching to them is the small number of hands necessary to work them, while their capacity -i.e., the work done by them-is by no means small. The makers assert that a careful account would show that in a season as much would be earned by a small thrashing set as by a large one, the smaller having an advantage in the facility with which it may be removed and set to work, and delay thus avoided. The gold medal of the Royal Society of the Netherlands was awarded to one of these thrashers at the Hague in September last.

Messrs. Howard, of Bedford, the well-known steam plough manufacturers, exhibited some magnificent implements, which can be seen daily at work on their own grounds. Messrs. Richmond and Chandler showed, amongst other implements, their well-known thrashing machines, which have taken first prizes of the Royal Societies of England, Scotland, and Ireland, also the silver medals of the International Exhibitions at London and Paris. The principal features in their new chaff machines consist in an entirely new form of mouthpiece, so constructed that however irregularly the machine may be fed, and whatever quality of hay or straw may be placed therein, it never chokes. The surface of the mouthpiece is made of steel, and this has the advantage of presenting the same smooth edge as long as the machine lasts; the knives are also kept sharper on the steel face than when cutting against cast iron. There is also an expanding jaw to the mouthpiece, which jaw is hinged to the axle of

the upper toothed roller, and is pressed down by a hand-screw so as to securely hold the material being cut, while admitting of considerable alteration according to the nature of the substance acted upon. 'A travelling web is introduced in place of the ordinary bed of the feeding box, which is a material help to the attendant, particularly in the larger machines, relieving him of the labour of pulling the hay or straw forward, and allowing him to concentrate his entire attention on the feed. A handle is placed at the side of the machine, by which two lengths of cut are obtained, and the same handle acts upon a stop motion to arrest the rollers at any moment.

Messrs. Isaac James and Son exhibited, amongst other things, an excellent manure cart, and a capital roller and clod crusher. Messrs. E. Page and Co. maintained their reputation as manufacturers of agricultural implements; as also did Messrs. Underhill. Mr. Benjamin Edgington, of Duke Street, London Bridge, as usual had to show something useful for farmers in his rick cloths, marquees, tents, &c.; as well as a light, strong, pliable cloth for waggon and cart covers. Messrs. Burney and Co. exhibited some excellent water carts and cisterns.

Carriages may be considered one of the best features at the Smithfield Club Show. In this line Mr. Thorn, of Norwich, showed some first-class workmanship. Amongst other things, we would specially select for commendation his Norfolk shooting cart, with "adjustable shafts." Mr. Inwood, of St. Albans, showed, amongst others, a very pretty dogcart, which attracted much attention. Mr. Ayshford, of Britannia Works, Fulham, exhibited his patent dogcart, which was much admired. Mr. Boxall, of Grantham, also displayed a serviceable shooting cart and very pretty park phaeton. Mr. Samuel Smith, of Suffolk, the inventor of the now well-known Perithreon, exhibited a brougham, possessing a "magic door," capable of being opened and closed by the driver from his seat, by a very simple piece of mechanism. Messrs. Day, Son, and Hewitt, the well-known makers of the "stock-breeder's medicine chests," had many visitors to their stall in search of the panacea for "foot and mouth disease."

The sewing machines exhibited by Messrs. Newton, Wilson, and Co. attracted much attention from country visitors. The Howe Sewing Machine Company's stand was also a centre of attraction --or, rather, the young lady was, on account of the deftness displayed by her machine in what, we were informed, is technically known as "braiding" amongst ladies. No show could be complete without Bradford's "Vowel" Washing Machines, upon which, as

usual, there was a great "run." In garden furniture and requisites Mr. Alfred Pierce showed some novelties. Altogether, what we "jotted" down at the time as worthy of notice seems upon reading over quite like an account of the contents of an Agricultural Exhibition, which indeed is a true description of this great annual show. No other country could produce anything like it, and Englishmen may well be proud of such an institution, deyoted to the development of stock, produce, and agricultural implements. Although the London streets did not appear to us to indicate so many visitors as usual, the show was in this respect one of the most successful on record.

STRANGER THAN FICTION.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE TALLANTS OF BARTON," THE VALLEY OF POPPIES," &c.

CHAPTER XLII.

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OF CERTAIN EMIGRANTS ON BOARD THE HESPERUS;" AND CONCERNING A WELL KNOWN MELODY THAT LED TO A DELIGHTFUL DISCOVERY.

Y the kindness of Mr. Williams, Jacob was enabled at once to throw up his Dinsley engagement; and, on the invitation of Mr. Horatio Johnson (with whom Mr. Williams had recently spent a day at Middleton), he took Liverpool on his way into the Principality of Wales, for the purpose of bidding adieu to a party of emigrants in whose welfare he was deeply interested.

It was a calm summer night, when Jacob and the Doctor, and Mrs. Horatio Johnson, and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Titsy, sat in a corner of the best cabin of the Hesperus, bound to Canada. The moonlight was streaming in upon them through the cabin window; Mrs. Johnson was plying her knitting needles, and looking up occasionally to make a remark; the Doctor was detailing to Jacob his views about the future, and the comparative ease with which money begot money in the colonies; Tom was listening to the Doctor and smiling at Susan; and Jacob was wishing them all sorts of success and happiness, whenever a lull occurred in the conversation, and exacting promises of frequent letters.

The parting hour came at last. Mrs. Johnson, though in her heart she could not altogether forgive Jacob, for we know what, united in the general feeling of sorrow at leaving him; but happy in their own goodness and honest affection, not one of the four had any regrets in setting out for a new home far away from scenes which were associated with so many bitter memories. Jacob took his leave with much real emotion; and an hour afterwards stood gazing at a ship that was disappearing in the moonlight, to be followed by other vessels which other people would look after and wave handkerchiefs at, and weep about, and dream of in the silent watches of the night. On the following afternoon Jacob arrived at the first stage in his

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