MATERIALS USED. 325 



journal, " not leaving a single stalk ungathered ; and it 

 discharged the grain in the most perfect shape, as if 

 placed by hand, for the binders. It finished its piece 

 most gloriously." 



The contest was finally so narrowed down that it 

 was confined to three machines, all American. One 

 of these now gave out, leaving but two to strive for 

 the prize. 



The machines were afterwards converted from reap- 

 ers into mowers, one making the change in one minute, 

 the other in twenty. Both performed their task to the 

 astonishment and satisfaction of a large concourse of 

 spectators, and the jurors themselves could not restrain 

 their enthusiasm, but cried out, " Good, good, well 

 done ! " while the people hurrahed for the American 

 reaper, crying out, " That 's the machine, that '& the 

 machine ! " " All the laurels," says the report of a 

 French journal, " we are free to confess, have been 

 gloriously won by Americans ; and this achievement 

 cannot be looked upon with indifference, as it but 

 plainly foreshadows the ultimate destiny of the New 

 World ! " 



With respect to the materials used in the manufac- 

 ture of reapers and mowers, particularly the latter, 

 there is a difference of opinion as to whether the frame 

 should be of wood or of iron. The weight of opinion 

 seems to be that for all practical purposes wood is the 

 better material. The iron cutter-bar has been tried to 

 some extent, but not sufficiently to lead to its adoption 

 in all cases. But, that the materials of which these im- 

 plements are constructed should be far better than they 

 have generally been, there can be no question. Many 

 of the bolts in some of the machines have been made, 

 apparently, of a poor quality of iron, while they should, 

 perhaps, have been made of steel, and in the most per- 

 28 



