HARVESTING MACHINERY 143 



188. The self-rake reaper. The modern self-rake re- 

 sembles the early machine very much, and improvement 

 has taken place only along the line of detail. The machine 

 has a platform in the form of a quarter circle, to which 

 the grain is reeled by the rakes, as well as removed to 

 one side far enough to permit the machine to pass on the 

 next round. The cutting mechanism is like that of the 



FIG. I0g A MODERN SELF-RAKE REAPER 



harvester. The machine is used to only a limited extent 

 owing to the fact that the grain must be bound by hand. 

 The reaper is preferred by some in the harvesting of 

 certain crops, like buckwheat and peas. It is usually 

 made in a 5-foot cut, and can be drawn by two horses, 

 cutting six to eight acres a day. 



MODERN HARVESTER OR BINDER 



189. The modern self-binding harvester consists essen- 

 tially of (i) a drive wheel in contact with the ground; 



