b PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 



Self -Binding Reapers. — The two self-biuding reapers of Mr Walter A. Wood, 

 London, and Messrs M'Cormack of Chicago, exhibited and recommended for trial at 

 the Dumfries Show, were tried on the 21st August 1878, on the farm of Liberton 

 Tower Mains, kindly granted by Mr Bryden Monteith. The difference between the 

 two machines is not great; the way in which the grain is carried from the platform on: 

 which it is laid after being cut to that part of the machine where it is bound is essen- 

 tially the same in both machines ; the point of difference is in the binding. Mr Wood's 

 machine works with greater force than the other, and, after the sheaves are bound, 

 throws them off, and may shake tliem to a greater extent than is desirable. The 

 M'Cormack machine merely drops the sheaves as they are bound, the one making^ 

 room as the next one has been tied ; but occasionally they were dropped three and 

 four together. Mr Wood's machine, drawn by two horses, was sent first into the field, 

 which was wheat fully 5 feet high, a strong, thickly-set crop, rather under-ripe as 

 regarded the straw, which severely tested the binders. In going up one side of the 

 field, which had an average gradient of 1 in 10, the wheat was well cut, but the 

 binding was imperfect on account of the crop being fully 6 inches longer than the 

 breadth of the travelling web and elevator. The consequence was that instead of the 

 cut grain falling down its whole length, and being carried forward by the elevators in. 

 a parallel condition to the binding platform, it fell diagonally and confused, and the 

 binding arms could not effect a clear separation, so that some of the straw was in two 

 sheaves instead of one. In cutting down the field this condition was made worse by 

 the crop being inclined from the machine. As regards the firmness of the sheaf and 

 the security that the binding wire will not .slip, the action of the machine was quite 

 satisfactory. The average draft cutting 4 feet wide up the field was 6 cwt. ; average 

 draft across the field (nearly level), 3 cwt. Messrs M'Cormack's machine, which was 

 exhibited by Messrs A. & J. Main & Co. , of Edinbiirgh and Glasgow, was next sent 

 into the field ; the wheat was also well cut, but the travelling web and elevators were 

 about 6 inches narrower than the crop was long, and the consequences were the same 

 as in Wood's raacliine ; the heads of the sheaves were very much fixed into each other, 

 and at times three or four were being dragged along with the machine. The fixing of 

 the wire was not quite satisfactory, there being two ties in the band, which occasionally 

 broke at the tying. The average draft cutting i feet wide up the fields was 6| cwt. ; 

 average draft across the field (nearly level), 5 cwt. Both machines were afterwards 

 tried on a field of barley fully 3 feet high. 'The M'Cormack machine was tried first, 

 and it proceeded without any liitch, each sheaf falling from the jilatform in regular 

 order, and without any of the dragging shown when working in the wheat. The trial 

 showed that with elevator and platform broad enough for the length of grain the 

 results would be more satisfactory. The average draft cutting 4 feet wide up the field 

 on a less gradient than the wheat field was 6 cwt. ; average draft across field (nearly 

 level), 4 cwt. Wood's machine was next tried in the same field, and did its work in a 

 satisfactory manner. Each sheaf was thrown off separately, firmly bound, and neatly 

 shaped. Average draft cutting 4 feet wide up the field, 6 cwt. ; average draft across 

 the field (nearly level), 3 cwt. 'The wire for tying the sheaves is an objection which will 

 greatly interfere with the introduction of the binders. The great breadth is also incon- 

 venient, rendering the necessity of taking down the machine, or placing it on a 

 lorry, every time it is moved along a narrow road or through a gate. The Committee, 

 while highly appreciating the skill and ingenuity displayed in the construction of both, 

 machines, are compelled to state that they do not consider them so sufficiently per- 

 fected as to enable them to recommend them in their present state to the farmers of 

 Scotland, but would recommend the Directors to award to the exhibitors of each 

 machine a gold medal, as an encouragement to persevere in rendering the machines, 

 more perfect. 



Controllable Rake Reapers. — The two machines exhibited by Mr Walter A. Wood, 

 London, and Messrs R. Hornsby & Sons, Grantham, were tried at the same time and 

 in the same wheat field as the self-binding reapers. Mr Wood's machine was first set 

 to work, and did the cutting very well, throwing off the crop uniformly, and with a 

 simple mode of altering the rakes, only the machine required to be stopped to do so. 

 Average draft up hill, 4 cwt. ; down hill, 2§ cwt. The Committee were highly satisfied 

 with this machine, and would recommend the Directors to award to it a minor gold 

 medal. Messrs Horusby's machine followed, cutting and laying down the crop in a 

 satisfactory manner. The mechanism for controlling the rakes is simple, being done 

 by the driver of the machine shifting a lever while cutting is going on, enabling 

 him to lay the crop in a continuous swath, or any number of rakes to sweep the plat- 

 form, so as to make a uniform size of sheaf from an unequal crop. There are other 

 important improvements in this machine, in having a wrought-iron driving wheel, and 

 several of the wearing parts made so that they can be easily taken off and renewed at 

 a small expense. Average draft up hill, 4 cwt, ; average draft down hill, 2^ cwt. 

 The Committee were highly satisfied with the working of this machine, especially the 

 controlling of the rakes without stopping the machine, and would recommend the' 



