at the Plymouth Meeting. 385 



up the hill, wliich was wrong for the lay of the crop, the work was generally 

 better than could have been expected. None attempted a full cut, for though 

 the knife could have severed the straw, the attendant could not rake off the 

 crop ; even when, on the average, only from one-half to two-thirds of the 

 full width was taken, the labour was fearfully severe ; moreover, the corn was 

 left in irregular quantities, and much scattered. 



The inferiority of the manual reapers, as compared with those having self- 

 delivery, was very apparent. The severe and incessant labour of the 

 attendant ; the fact that the corn was in many cases unavoidably thrown 

 against the standing crop, thereby knocking down portions, the heads of 

 which would be cut off at the next round of the machine ; the necessity for at 

 once tjnng up the crop, whatever its condition — all prove that these machines, 

 though more largely employed than any others, on account of their low cost, 

 are not, in their present condition, to be recommended. 



The modifications introduced by Messrs. Hornsby, whereby the man's 

 labour is greatly hghtened by a self-acting delivery-platform, leaving the 

 sheaf at the side and clear of the horses, showed to great advantage in this 

 tangled crop, and was generally admired. The tipping j^latforms, which wo 

 believe to be new since Leeds, demand a passing notice. Some of these, as in 

 Messrs. Samuelson's Eclipse Reaper, are fixed ujion an axis near the centre of 

 the platform, and are tipped by the man's foot raising the front ; this leaves an 

 opening, and in a heavy-laid crop, the straw forces itself between the Itnife-bar, 

 and the under side of the platform when thus raised, and tends to clog the 

 machine. In a light standing crop such tipping platforms materially assist 

 the workman ; but in such a case as that before us, they are better fixed at a 

 moderate angle ; therefore it is desirable that they should be made both to tip 

 or remain fixed. The " slatted " platforms of Wood and of Hornsby, which 

 are attached to the knife-bar frame, by a hinge, and are lifted by the man's 

 foot when required, made better work ; whilst Cuthbert, with a fixed plat- 

 form and a revolving roller behind, made very good work ; and he was per- 

 sonally commendable for the extraordinary skill with which he used the 

 rake. 



After the " Manual " machines had thus been drafted, the combined reapers 

 and mowers went through a similar process. Eight of these competed ; their 

 work, with some exceptions, was unsatisfactory ; and although they are 

 decidedly improved since Leeds, especially when used as mowers (as hereafter 

 will be shown), we are inclined to endorse and re-echo the doubt then expressed 

 by the Judges, " whether the object sought for by this combination has as yet 

 been economically obtained." We would not discourage farmers from purchasing 

 the best of these machines, provided their work is principally mowing grass, for 

 which they are excellently adapted ; but when there is also a large acreage 

 of corn to be cut, we believe it will answer better to have independent 

 machines. 



Ten self side-delivering machines put in an appearance. Mr. HcUard was 

 the only thoroughly unsuccessful performer ; he exhibited a two and a three- 

 horse machine, similar in principle, combining a reel and fans, which knocked 

 out the corn, a fixed platform and a large revolving roller, intended to assist 

 the corn from the knife on to a travelling web, but which, in reality, formed a 

 complete obstacle, and caused the machine to block up, and roll down the 

 corn. We trust this exhibitor will turn his attention to the simplifying of his 

 apparatus. 



The preliminary trials being concluded, the remainder of the oats and the 

 rye were divided into 30 lots, of about half an acre each, and the final trials 

 were made. Eight machines were tried in : — 



2c2 



