20 



Hussey's machine had a platform extending the full width of the 

 cutting apparatus and frame. The wide third wheel was placed be- 

 hind this platform, and the raker, who sometimes sat upon the plat- 

 form, pushed the accumulated gavel upon the ground immediately be- 

 hind the platform, and in the path of the team and machine in making 

 the next round of the field. This was the plan of the Hussey machine 

 so long as built. That it was unhandy and a serious disadvantage 

 is fully proven by the following quotation from the Genesee Farmer, 

 vol. 1 6, p. 308: 



" Hussey's went on, and the gatherers had to> jump and run to 

 keep pace with the fleet horses. . . . McCormick y s worked very 

 easy and cut as close and regular as could be desired. There was not 

 a straw to be seen on the whole track over which it went ; the sheaves 

 were all beautifully arranged in line, with their butt ends nicely to- 

 gether, as nicely as if done by hand', with care. It cut so perfectly 

 straight that it took the last row at one cut and made a clean sweep, 

 not leaving a single straw to tell the tale. 



" While all that was going on, Hussey worked up and down with 

 a legion of busy gatherers following the reaper at a quick step, hav- 

 ing a large quantity yet to cut. The poor horses, although young and 

 powerful, driven at a great speed, were completely exhausted. The 

 machine works heavily, it requires too much power to drive its pon- 

 derous knife. Having no side delivery, a number of men must in> 

 mediately remove the grain in order to clear the track for the next 

 cut; the men not having time to make neat work left the field strewed 

 with grain. In countries where manual labor is scarce, which is the 

 case everywhere during harvest, this machine could not be employed at 

 all except with a great loss of grain, being tramped out by the horses." 



It can hardly be said that Hussey's machine was not a practical 

 reaper, solely because the gavel could not be delivered at one side. 

 But nevertheless the McCormick side-delivery plan has driven every 

 rear-delivery machine out of existence in America. 



Summarizing on this point : 



(a) McCormick's machine was constructed so that the raker 

 could deliver the grain at one side out of the way of the team in the 

 next round. 



(b) Hussey's machine was constructed so that the bundle had to 

 be raked off directly in its path on the next round. 



(c) Because of the absence of the reel and divider to get the 

 grain properly on the platform, it was impossible for Hussey's raker 



