30 



fb) "The particular application of the flush edge at the fork of the 

 blades for the purpose described." 



He still kept his blade's almost four and one-half inches long, and, 

 beveled as they were on both sides to within one inch of their rear, 

 they acted in a manner similar to the " cutting of a stick between two 

 bricks." They still drew much dead grass, weeds and trash into the 

 slots of the guard, part of which worked out at the rear, because of the 

 opening on the top part of the guard. That this apparatus was not a 

 success is very plain from the reports that we have of the operation of 

 the machine. 



In 1851, at the World's Fair in London, the official trials were held 

 on the farm of Mr. Mechi, in Essex. The official report of Mr. John- 

 son, the American Commissioner, says : 



" The wheat upon which the trial was to be made was quite green 

 and remarkably heavy, and everything as unfavorable as could well be. 

 . . . The first machine tried was Hussey's, which did not succeed 

 at all, as it clogged very soon and passed over the grain without cut- 

 ting it. After this had been tried two or three times and failed, it was 

 proposed by one of the jury that no further trial be made, but it was 

 insisted that the other American reaper (McCormick's) should be tried. 

 . . . The machine was started. After it had passed its length the 

 clean path made by the reaper showed that the work was done, and the 

 reaper was successful." 



Mr. Hussey, however, was not satisfied, and another trial was 

 obtained. The following is from the report of Mr. Pusey, M. P., who 

 was one of the judges: 



" In the first trial at Tip Tree Hall Mr. McCormick's reaper worked 

 well, the other (Hussey's) did not go at all. As the corn, however, was 

 then green, it was thought right to make further trial. . . . The 

 object of our second trial was to decide whether either, or both, was 

 sufficiently good to receive our Council Medal. Mr. McCormick's 

 worked in this trial, as it has since worked at Cirencester College and 

 elsewhere, commanding the admiration of practical farmers, and there- 

 fore received the Council Medal. Mr. Hussey's sometimes became 

 clogged, as in the former trial at Tip Tree, and therefore could not 

 possibly obtain that distinction." 



The operation of the Hussey machine at Paris in 1855 has been 

 clearly shown by the quotation heretofore given to have been almost a 

 failure, for 



" The poor horses, although young and powerful, driven at great 



