114 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



started off on the contest, Hussey's reaper, by Dray; M'Cormick's, by M'Kenzie; and Bell's, 

 by Perry. Hussey's machine cut its piece in thirty minutes, M'Cormick's in twenty minutes, 

 and Bell's failed to finish its piece. Hussey's machine did its work remarkably well, cutting 

 clean and smoothly, and leaving the grain in the track of the machine in good condition for 

 the binders. This machine was conceded to be too heavy and laborious for the team, and 

 leaving the grain in the track of the machine was found to be an objection, as it necessarily 

 needed to be bound and removed as fast as the machine did its work, in order that the 

 machine could pass around a succeeding time ; yet this machine is unquestionably a good 

 one, and it may be used to great advantage, as it would likely prove durable, being very 

 strongly made. M'Cormick's machine performed its task well, cutting a close and even 

 swath; but the raker or attendant, who performed the labor of discharging the grain, 

 seemed to be very much strained, being obliged to ride backward upon the machine at one 

 end of the reel, having to reach fully across the entire width of the machine with a longs- 

 handled rake to gather the grain and lay it off of the machine. The horses on this machine 

 were much troubled by a strong lateral pressure against their shoulders, occasioned by the 

 tongue of the machine. This reaper, on the whole, is much too cumbersone and heavy for 

 two horses. However, it has proved itself vastly superior to any of the inventions of the 

 Old World; and from the fact of its success heretofore, particularly at the London Exhibi- 

 tion in 1851, it elicited a good deal of admiration and curiosity. The contest was now fairly 

 narrowed down to three machines, Manny's, Wright's, and M'Cormick's. But, on starting, 

 Wright's again broke down, and left the struggle exclusively to the two machines Manny's 

 and M'Cormick's. 



The two machines were then to be changed, in presence of the jurors, from the capacity 

 of reaping to that of mowing. Manny's made the change in one minute ; M'Cormick's in 

 twenty minutes, with three men. Each machine made one cut through the field and back 

 Manny's machine doing the best of two. Then the change was made again for reaping, and 

 in the same time respectively as before. Then both machines were taken into a wheat-field. 

 Manny's machine cut three swaths, and with an ease of action and perfection of work which 

 fairly placed it far beyond any further competition, though M'Cormick's reaper cut two 

 swaths, and in a workmanlike manner. Even if the two machines were equal as to the 

 quality of work, yet it was observed Manny's would have the advantage of being the most 

 compact, less cumbersome, and of much less weight than M'Cormick's ; and in Manny's there 

 is no lateral pressure against the horses, as by M'Cormick's ; also of being much the lightest 

 draft, and more easily adjustable to different heights of cutting, and more easily convertible 

 for the two purposes of reaping and mowing. This seemed to be the only machine against 

 which there could be no objection urged. 



Although the decision and report of the jury was not published, yet it is understood that 

 large offers were made for the patent-right of Manny's machine for France. 



Scale for Estimating the Relative Value of Different Mowing and Reaping 



Machines. 



SOME years since, the Agricultural Society of New York, after considerable deliberation 

 with many prominent breeders, adopted a scale of points for the estimation of live stock. 

 This scale, in its practical application, has given great satisfaction, and has been an import- 

 ant aid to committees. It is now proposed by Colonel Johnson, of New York, Dr. Elwyn, 

 of Philadelphia, and other prominent agriculturists, to establish a scale of points for 

 reapers and mowers, and by settling first what is wanted to make a perfect machine, to afford 

 thus some guide to committees at exhibitions for awarding premiums according to their 

 approximation to a recognised and established scale. 



A circular, setting forth the desiderata deemed necessary for forming a correct judgment 

 respecting various machines, has been issued, from which we derive the following: 



A Scale of Points is necessary in trials of reapers and mowers for three reasons: 1. That 

 a correct decision may be obtained ; 2. That the grounds of the awards may be understood 



