When I arrived at Bygrave Farm, to spend one day
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at the agriculturalmotor trials. I envied the Pressmen who were putting in a " solid week " ()I it, because it struck me as a nice easy holiday job, though not, quite so much so for the principals and the drivers who were participating in the trials. They had their moments full of anxiety, and in the case of the 24mile road test, followed up the competing tractors in their own muterears. The ploughing had taken place previous to my visit ; I went over and saw the work that had been done, and heard much about it. Saunderson explained to the that on the Monday before the trials one of the Sounderson-and-Gifkins tractors had not up to then made a revolution, being completed only at the eleventh hour, so no wonder they came out slow in the ploughing test, because their bearings bed not worked in properly and bigends gave some trouble. The McLaren tractor, in its 24-mile circuit in the road test, broke all records for speed, and aroused much interest on its return to the starting point on Mr. Cooke's farm.
Then I was hailed by a friend of tune, a large estate manager, who had driven over to see the trial. He was, at the moment, looking for a vehicle capable. of road rolling, and of working a circular saw to cut through about 6 in. of wet wood. It seemed to inc that the Mann tractor was the very thing, so I introduced him to Mr. Dallas., the Mann southern representative, and I think they will arrange a sale. It was soon after this that luncheon began to be discussed, and a
tent on the ground offered cold fare, which was doubtless excellent. Mr. F. Strickland, with his 30 h.p. Thornycroft car, kindly suggested that the seven miles to the Sun Hotel at Hitchin were as nothing, and so it proved. In company with Mr. Wilkinson, of Marshalls, Mr. G. W. Watson, and Mr. James, of Hornsby's I found an excellent lunch. Even our representative was satisfied.
On our return, the Wallis-andSteevens came off the brake test and was started on its 24-mile pilgrimage. After giving it a few minutes to get down the dip, we climbed on to carts and other points of vantage and watched the sturdy Belle of Basingstoke taking her load of coal up the test hill without a falter. Of course the Ivel was there; she had given a good account of her small self in the ploughing, and, as I left, she was proceeding to the brake test.
It was Mark Twain who said in 0 rich burst of satire that the English were specifically referred to in the Bible. He was prompted to say this, I think, after a lecturing tour in the British Colonies, and the biblical passage to which he referred, and which may well be quoted without any irreverence, was: " Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.'
From a scheme of which I heard a short while ago, I should think that the German road travellers must he indined to narrow this down a little more, and to fix its significance oil to an American Oil Company. Some bright spirit in this oil concern must have observed a paucity of road-direction posts in the Fatherland ; this want has been supplied, and with a meekness that is positively touching; they have fixed up boards and have " thrown in," so to speak, a beautiful picture of a Vacuum-oil tin with each direction post! It this sort of thing; spreads to our own incorruptible courttry, I can see the authorities being approached by some irrepressible gentleman I wot of in the motor-spirit and oil way ; but, thank goodness, we have a Road Board whose members will see to these worthy aspirations. For myself, I would have a law passed that no advertisement shall appear on the highway ; we have a right to see as much of the green trees and hedges as possible. Besides, look how much nicer these advertisements appear when they take the form of full pages. facing matter in the nada). papers.