THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



101 



having thus a clipping or shearing action ; they are kept 

 close and free from cloggint; by a spring pressurc-l)ar, 

 and each linife may be unscrewed off and renewed at 

 pleasure. The length of the vibration is only 2 in., and 

 the motion comp-iratively slow." The extreme length 

 of cut is 5 feet. T!ie muchine is of simple construction, 

 being small, compact, and light, and of easy draught; 

 and when used as a mower there is not a cog-wheel in 

 the machine. It is also adapted for reaping corn, by 

 the addition of a curved platform ; and a radial arm 

 sweeps, by an ingenious arrangement, backward and 

 forward over the platform, alternately lifting and letting 

 fall a rake, wliieh receives and delivers a bundle of corn 

 at every 3^ feet ; or the attendant can retain it longer 

 upon the platform, according to tl)e crop, at his pleasure. 

 Its weight as a mower is about Oij cwt., as a reaper near 

 8 crtt. ; its width, 8 ft. 3 in. 



I have not seen this machineat work as a reaper, and 

 my impression is unfavoura!)le as to its capabilities in 

 that respect, from the manifest reluctance tlie managers 

 show to give it a fair trial in a corn-field ; but as a 

 mowing machine in moderate crops o I grass or seeds it 

 is beyond praise. The work done is so evenlj cut, 

 and so nicely distributed ovor t'je land, as to defy the 

 competitioi of the i)est haymikers. In heavy crops 

 of grass I observed the driving-wheel was occasionally 

 clogged by accumulating grass or old fog around it, so 

 as to prevent its turning ; tliis, however, was soon re- 

 lieved by backing the machine. The knives, too, were 

 occasionally obstructed by hard or wooUey fog— i. e., last 

 year's uncut decaying grass. This, however, will often stop 

 the most expert "mow-men." I merely observe, that 

 I entertain a hi^h opinion of the efficiency and general 

 usefulness of this machine, and believe it will ultimately 

 obtain great public favour. 



Dray and Co.'s Hussey's Mowing Machine. — 

 Muioing Machine as improved by Dray and Co. — 

 This machine, so far as my observation goes, is identical 

 with their reaper, minus the tipping platform and facili- 

 ties for the delivery of corn. This is all right. I like a 

 convertible machine ; and this one certainly cuts grass 

 and seed-crops in very good style indeed. It is some- 

 what smaller tlian the Eagle mschine. The acute skele- 

 ton knives cut admirably. I htive repeatedly seen this 

 work both as a mower and reaper, and, although from its 

 greater draught whilst taking less work, I cannot class it 

 as equal with the Eagle machine ; yet it is certainly next 

 to it as a mower, and the price is less, they being £5o 

 and £26 respectively. It is well worthy encouragement. 



Lord Kinnaiud's McCormick's Mowing Ma- 

 CHINE. — This machine is, I think, very nearly identi- 

 Cil with his reaper, being also minus the endless web 

 and the other apparatus lor the side-delivery of corn. 

 I saw it mowing clover and grass at Salisbury ; the 

 former it did very well, but the heavy grass crop and 

 surface drains prevented a fair trial as a grass mower, 

 which, in fair even work, it would cut very well. It is 

 much larger, and takes a wider space than either of the 

 above. The price low — <£''21. As a mowing machine, 

 the breadth taken is against its cleanly working. 



Mazier's Little French Machine. — I have seen 

 this macliinc tried in both departments of mowing, 

 neither of whii-h it would effect with economy. It is a 

 compact little thing, but for our go-a-head farmers it 

 will never do ; they require a machine of greater capa- 

 city. It is also merely by being deprived of its many 

 chains for side-delivery of corn, that it forms a mowing 

 machine. It takes a limited breadth. 



Reai'ing Machines — In this department of ma- 

 nufacture we have a great increase, and many improve- 

 ments. The first I shall name is Burgess and Key's 



Reaper. This machine is fitted with M'Cormick's well- 

 known cutters. The great novelty is the addition of a 

 newly-invented conical screw-divider. This is a large 

 peculiar-shaped roller, like a pavior's rammer, which, 

 revolving as it passes along, readily divides the upstand- 

 ing corn, and lifts up the 1 'dged for cutting. Tliis is a 

 decided improvement upon the divider-uoard, which 

 tears its way through the crop, pulling up some and 

 breaking' off otheis, by which portions of the crop are 

 lost. The gradually insinuation; screw separates the 

 corn without difficulty, and with less labour to fho 

 horses; and scarcely any is dropped. The screw-roller 

 deliv3ry-pIatform is much as I have heretofore seen it, 

 but I thought the width taken rather larger than past 

 years — i. e, 5ft. Gin.; but the labour to which the 

 horses are put is not excessive. 



CrosskUrs BelVs Reaper. — This reaper has under- 

 gone several improvements. It is the most useful anJ 

 convertible of a'l the reapers. The propulsion being 

 from behind, it can charge into the crop at any point. 

 The cutting-bars immediately precede the horses, thus 

 dispensing with the side draught. The endless web is 

 so contrived that it cm lay the corn in a continuous 

 swathe on either side of the machine, thus opening a 

 way for it to pass up and down the fiidd at all times 

 olose to its work. It takes a breadih of 6 It. 9 in., 

 which is very great ; indeed so great, that two horses can- 

 not readily work it. The machine itself, although re- 

 duced in size, is still too large and heavy. 



Draj/ a7id Co.'.-t " Husse)/." — This machins has not 

 undergone any material improvement during th- past 

 year, except its convertibility into a mowing machine. 

 The tipping platform is a decided improvement, but it is 

 not a very recent invention. The delivery is behind, 

 which is a great hindrance in work, as the corn must be 

 gathered before it can tske a fresh bout. It is the most 

 compact and lightest reaper we have, and cuts admir- 

 ably. 



Palmer's Union Reaper. — I have frequently seen 

 this machine in work ; all is done in a truly business-like 

 manner. The large curved platform has a singular ap- 

 pearance, and is provided with rollers to assist the rake- 

 man to effect a good side delivery. I did not observe 

 anything essentially new this season, and to which I am 

 trying to confine myself. 



Lord Kinnaird's Reaper. — This is the cheapest I 

 have seen, and works well. It would be rather more at- 

 tractive if improved in its manufacture. His lordship 

 has studied economy to a fault. 



Wrny's Reaper. — Thij is a one horse machine, iuid 

 came out for cora[)etition at the York meeting. It is 

 similar in form to '' Hussey's Machine," and has also 

 a similar back delivery. The novelty to be notic<;d in 

 this machine is theiigenious arrangement of its cutters, 

 or rather in its series of knives. These consist of an 

 endless band or series of cutting edges, in fact an endless 

 knife, which in passin.^ very rapidly across in front, and 

 revolving freely from beneath the frame, cuts its way in 

 a very business-like manner. The band revolves by 

 means of two horizontal wheels, one on each side of the 

 frame. In work, it appeared necessary that the pace 

 should be quick, otherwise it did not cut well, and 

 symptoms of clogging were manifest; and this clogging 

 was a serious obstruction, as it was not readily relieved. 

 I saw it tried thrice at York ; and although the pace 

 was severe, yet the draught in cutting a breadth of 3 (r. 

 G in. was not very great for the one hurse. Undoubtedly 

 the endless knife contributed much to lessen the draught, 

 of course, there being less friction than from the 

 vibrating motion of- other machines. I was pleased with 

 the machine and its working as a whole, and believe it to 



