134 EGYPTIAN AGRICULTURE. 



to a shaft running at right angles to the main axle. On 

 the end of this shaft is fixed a crank -wheel to which is 

 attached the connecting rod. By the reciprocating motion 

 transmitted by the crank-wheel, the triangular sections on 

 the knife pass from centre to centre of the fingers or guards 

 on the fixed steel bar and thereby cut the crop. The crop 

 when cut, falls on to a platform (as in the case of the 

 manual delivery reaper) and when sufficient to form a 

 sheaf is collected the platform is lowered by an attendant, 

 riding on the machine, and the sheaf falls in the rear. 

 Self -raking reapers perform the collecting and dischargi i ig 

 of the sheaves automatically by means of revolving beaters 

 and rakes, and only require one man to drive the animals. 

 Reaping machines cost from twenty to thirty pounds. 



32.9 



Fro. 33. SELF-BIXDKK . 



The Self-binder is a more complicated machine and 

 consequently requires greater skill to successfully work. 

 The points in which it differs from the above mentioned 

 are, that when the crop is cut it falls on to a plat- 

 form having a movable web or conveyor. This conveyor 



