116 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



just as simple in its structure as some hand-raker, considering what it does ; and, to make 

 judgment fair and equitable between them, the object and work must be fairly considered, as 

 well as construction. 



This point is not of great importance ; those following should control. For if a machine 

 is easily managed, durable, &c., it is little matter abou,t a piece or two more of gearing 

 or frame. 



The 3d Point "Facility of management, including time and room required for turning" 



is so similar to the ninth point rapidity of operation that one of these must : be set low, or 

 too much weight will be>giyen them. 



The 4th Point "Durability and reliability" is of much more importance. Any machine, 

 however good in other respects, is an immense evil to the farmer if it fails in time of need. 

 Having relied upon it to save his grain, and it proving worthless, and having made no other 

 provisions, he is obliged to hire harvesters at largely-increased cost, if, indeed, he can get 

 them at all, or perhaps submit to the loss of a valuable crop, wholly or in part. Opinions 

 would vary greatly as to the number this should be set at. 



The 5th Point "Adaptation to varied and uneven surfaces, and to cutting at different 

 heights" should be set much lower than the previous one. 



The 6th Point "Freedom of the knife from clogging" seems to merit much consideration; 

 though not so important in reaping as in mowing. Some machines, it is known, choke or 

 clog by fibres being drawn in the opening of the fingers in cutting damp or wet grain. This 

 is particularly the case where there is much undergrowth. It is important to be able to cut 

 when the dew is on, because it is cooler, and the grain shatters less. But if the knife 

 constantly clogs, little progress can be made.* 



The 7th Point " Motive power, or power required for a given amount of work." The 

 difference in team required to work any two reapers is never more than one pair of 

 horses, the value of which for a harvest will vary considerably in different sections. Large 

 farmers who have plenty of horses would only consider the cost of an extra pair as the worth 

 of the extra grain they had to feed during the reaping. Probably putting this at the same 

 as the 1st point, "cost," will be fair and certainly high enough, particularly as the inconve- 

 nience of using an extra pair has its weight in the estimate of 3d point. 



The 8th Point "Manual labor in raking." To establish the value of this point, it is 

 first to be considered that there is considerable difference between hand-raking reapers in 

 the ease with which grain can be raked from them. It would not be too much to allow ten 

 to estimate the difference between them. 



Then a self-raker saves a hand, and that, too, at the very hardest of work, over the best 

 hand-raker. As wages were last year, and will be the present, this hand in harvest, with his 

 board, costs at least $2 a day. If a little less than that in some sections, it will be enough 

 more in others to make it equal this and more too. The wheat-harvest will last from eight 

 to twelve days say ten and oats, rye, barley, &c. say five days. The latter is, perhaps, a 

 day or two longer than Southern farmers would generally have grain for ; but it is too little 

 by five days for the North, so that fifteen days' work would be a moderate allowance, making 

 the saving $30. Something more should be added to this, because of the excessive labor 

 that is saved, one hand being hardly sufficient to work all day long, and day after day in 

 raking off. For this five is added. Add the previous ten, giving forty-five for this point. 



The 9th Point "Rapidity, or amount of harvesting in a given time." Suppose reapers 

 cost on an average with transportation $140, and are worn out in five years ; that is, $28 a 

 year ; the interest is $8.40. The team, two pair, $18. The rake $30, and driver $20. The 

 latter not having as hard work and a cheaper hand answering, his labor is estimated a little 

 less than the raker. The total is $104.40. The narrowest reaper cuts four and a half feet, 

 and the widest six feet, (with a very few exceptions not necessary to be allowed for,) making 



* Thus far it has been impossible to find data by which to estimate the relative value of the points, and opi- 

 nions will perhaps vary very much concerning them. But in the others, we can get sound data to base them 

 upon, and though in carrying out the estimates some come to high figures, they are not, therefore, to be rejected 

 or considered wild. 



