390 



General Report on the Exldhition of Implements 



In the heavy oats this did not act well, the weight being vertical, and therefore 

 possessing little power at the point when the platform having tipped requires 

 to be brought Ijack. 



In a light cro[) we have no doubt this well-made machine would prove very 

 successful. We can only repeat here that in such heavy crops tipping platforms 

 are im]jracticable. 



Cutlihert's, No. 377, appears to be a strong and simple machine, an improved 

 form of the old Husscy reaper, with a rigid platform fixed at a low angle, at 

 the back of which is placed a small roller, intended to assist the raker in 

 pushing olF the sheaf. The friction of the knife-bar is reduced by a long 

 pendulum sling. The sheaves were well laid. 



Altliough, as above stated, we consider that tipping platforms are useless 

 in a heavy crop, nevertheless, we arc of opinion tliat a jirovision should be 

 made lor tijipiug, as in all moderate crops such an arrangement is a gi'eat 

 improvement. 



W. JJrenton's, No, G08, was another improvement on llussey's invention. 

 The peculiarity in this machine consists in a revolving roller, 8 inches in 

 diameter, which is put in motion by a foot-lever raising one end and pressing 

 together two smooth wooden riggers. Tliis roller is intended to help the corn 

 from the knife on to a fixed platform. In the laid crops of oats it was of little 

 use, and appeared to be ]ilaccd too higli. 



JJoivJiciT/, ]^o. -(JO, with 5 ft. G in. knife, has the i)]atforni in two parts; 

 the front part is raised by the foot, the hind portion by a lever worked ofl' the 

 front ; the arrangement is ingenious. The knives are peculiar, and remind us 

 of the old Bell's machine, having no finger-points. The lower knil'e-bar being 

 fixed, the upper one oscillating over it and kept down close to the fixed bar by 

 screws. The cutting was well done. 



Lastly, J)icJi-cr''s licapcr. No. 852, with a spring ]ilatforn), made fair work, 

 cutting and delivering well. Here, again, the knife-bar works by a pendulum 

 instead of a slide-bar. 



Our award in this Class was as follows : — 



£. s. d. 

 To Messrs. Ilornsby and Sons, No. I'JO.'I .. .. Prize of 10 

 To Messrs. Hornsby and Sons, No, loot .. .. Ditto .'5 



To Messrs. Picksley, Sims and Co., No. 1GG2 .. Ditto C) <) 



Highly Commended, Cuthbert, No, 37G., 



Class III. 

 Combined liecqnnf/ and Moiving Macldnes. 



The trial of combined machines appears next on the list ; but, as wc 

 tihall have to s[)eak more fully of this class as mowers, it will only be 

 necessary here to briefly note their performances as rea^Kirs, Out of the eight 

 machines entered, the Judges selected only five as worthy of a second trial, 

 viz., Messrs. Hornsby's, Wood's, Kcarsley's," liamlett's, and Barber's ; Burgess 

 and Key's machine, though it mowed very creditably, was so defectiAe 

 as a reaper in the preliminary trial that it did not again appear, and Messrs. 

 8amuelson's machine did not distinguish itself in either capacity. Both 

 Hornsby and Wood made good work ; the latter with much the smallest draft. 



BumleWs, No. 688, is a^strong well-made machine very steady in its work, 

 cutting well, and leaving a good sheaf. The driver can, as in the mower, 

 instantly regulate the cutting height of the knife, raising either end inde- 

 pendently of the other — a very riscful arrangement for ridge-and-furrow land; 

 this alteration can be made without stopping the machine. The height of the 

 tilting platform can be adjusted for either laid or standing corn, or set so level 

 that the sheaf can be delivered without tilting, and the risk of choking from 



