/'.!//.]/ IMPLEMENTS. 133 



a complicated machine as a self-binder (c) liability to the 

 shedding of grain by shaking when the crop is reaped in 

 the day time when the heat is excessive. 



The low price at which cereals can be harvested by hand 

 labour, nullifies to a great extent the advantages of 

 harvesting machinery. Were it not so there can be no 

 doubt that the difficulties involved in the use of self-binders 

 would be surmounted. 



Fr<;. 32. RKAI-INC 



A reaping machine consists of a main frame of cast iron, 

 carried on two broad wheels, to which is fixed a pole for 

 the yoking of a pair of horses or bullocks. The apparatus 

 which performs the cutting is composed of a steel bar, 

 about a metre and a half long, attached to the main 

 frame. This bar is provided with a number of guards or 

 fingers which have slots to permit of the passage of the 

 knife to and fro. The knife is a flat steel rod to which 

 are rivetted triangular sections having sharp edges. Mo- 

 tion of the knife is obtained either from a spur wheel 

 inside the travelling wheels, or from the main axle which 

 revolves with the travelling wheels. In both instances 

 the speed is increased by bevelled wheels and transmitted 



