at the Fhjmoidh Meeting. 391 



the com getting in between the platform and knife thus avoided. The gearing 

 is shielded to prevent dirt falling in ; the position of the draft-pole is readily 

 altered for mowing or reaping, and the machine is generally well made. 



In Messrs. I[ornshy''s, No. 1905, the alterations for reajjing consist in the 

 insertion of a slow-speed pinion, a seat more convenient for the raker, a fresh 

 dividing-board, very similar to that used in their manual reapers, and the drop- 

 sheaf grated platform already described. The cutting-bar can be i)rojected 

 G inches, so as to give room for the horses to walk clear, and yet allow the 

 knife a full cut ; and thus we see that in all respects it is a very excellent 

 combination capable of making good work of either kind. 



11 oo(/'s Macltine, No. 45, is worked with one horse in shafts ; but we think 

 that, for practical purposes, a pole and pair of horses would be preferable. The 

 machine is light and well made, and though, as a reaper, it made inferior 

 work as com] lared with the manual machines of this firm, yet, as a combination, 

 we consider it very creditable. 



Barher's, No. 6'J2. This machine, which may be considered as an assisted 

 " manual," was provided with a reel with the object of assisting in bringing the 

 corn to the knife, thus lightening the la])our of thcAvorkman and enabling him 

 to devote more of his attention to the delivery of the sheaf from the platform. 

 The reel was not xcvy successful in the laid corn, but no doubt was of some 

 nsc, and the machine made fair work. 



Class IV. 

 One-Horse Beapers, 



A large entry, including several machines that were evidently much too 

 large and heavy for one horse. We think that some reduction as to tlic 

 length of the knife bar might be introduced for this class. In awarding the 

 prizes we selected those machines that did good work, and were really of light 

 draft. It will be seen that we passed over IMessrs. Hornsby's, 1906, which is 

 similar in construction to 1903, and made excellent work, simply on the 

 ground that it was not a suitable machine for one horse. Nine machines 

 competed, Messrs. Hornsby (2), AVood, Samueleon, Cuthbert, Ticksley and 

 Sims, K. Page, J. Wright, and Bamlett. (See Table C). 



Wood's, No. 40. — Properly came under the head of a one-horse Picaper, 

 being a very light machine of easy draft, which cut and laid the sheaf well. 

 The open-slatted platform is veiy similar to that emploj'ed by Messrs. Hornsby, 

 only rather lighter, and the working parts are remarkably well proportioned 

 and well put together. 



Samudson's, No. 7 Eclipse Eeaper, with a tilting platform, is a simple and 

 efficient machine, principally noticeable for the peculiar adaptation of the 

 " double throw " jwinciple. In this machine advantage is taken of the slow- 

 speeded crank-shaft to raise the motion with one pair of wheels only, viz., the 

 driving wheel and a pinion. By this arrangement the framework, which is 

 wholly iron, is greatly reduced and simplified. The cut in this reaper is 5 feet 

 wide and the grain is caught on and delivered from the tipping or tilting 

 platform ; the weight is under 6 cwt. We regret that time did not allow of our 

 testing this machine with the dynamometer, as the simplicity of its gearing 

 and its easy motion lead us to anticii)ate light draft and little friction. 



Mcss7's. Jlornshfs, No. 1907, to which we awarded the 3rd prize is very 

 similar to Wood's machine as to the tipping platform, but requires more power 

 to do the same work ; it is on exactly the same principle as 1904, only smaller. 



11. Pages, No. 1058, made good work, but consiuned too much power. 



II. Cuthberfs, No. 376, a heavy machine, too much for one horse, made 

 very creditable work. The sheaf being left very even, 



BamleWs, No. 690, a strong useful machine, too heavy for one horse, made 

 fair work. 



