Book IV. 



REAPING MACHINES. 



427 



one of w. But w revolves six times for one revolution of the wheels b b : hence the roller y will revolve 

 twelve times for every revolution of b b. The diameter of the rollers is four inches ; their circumferences, 

 therefore, are nearly 12-56 inches, twelve revolutions of which will give 15072 inches. As before stated, 

 one revolution of b b gives only 132 inches, wherefore there is a preponderance of motion, on the side of 

 the canvass, of 18-72 inches for every revolution of bb. This velocity is necessary to insure the canvass 

 of clearing itself in all cases ; and, with a smart velocity, the cut corn is laid down with a greater angle to 

 the path of the machine. It may here be observed, that it is often found convenient to have the canvass 

 to lay down the corn on either side of the machine, according to the direction from which the wind is 

 blowing. This may be done with a double wheel at x, with a handle in the usual method employed for 

 reversing the motion of the rollers of the threshing machine. It were desirable, too, if possible, to have 

 the canvass besmeared with a drying oil or gum, or some other substance which would prevent it from 

 contracting with moisture ; as the slightest shower, or dew of a morning, contracts it so much, as to ren. 

 der the implement useless until the corn is perfectly dry. 



2738. An estimate of the probable value of BelVs reaping machine may be formed from the reports signed 

 by numerous practical farmers, who were spectators to different trials made in 1828 and 1829. In Sep- 

 tember, 1828, the machine was tried at Powrie, in the county of Forfar, before between forty and fifty 

 landed proprietors and practical agriculturists, who signed a declaration, stating " that the machine cut 

 down a breadth of five feet at once, was moved by a single horse, and attended by from six to eight 

 persons to tie up the corn ; and that the field was reaped by this force at the rate of an imperial acre per 

 hour." {Gard. Mag. voL v. p. 600.) In September, 1829, the machine was tried at Monckie in Forfar- 

 shire, in the presence of a still greater number of persons, who attest that it cut, in half an hour, nearly 

 half an English acre of a very heavy crop of oats, which were lodged, thrown about by the wind, and 

 exceedingly difficult to harvest. It was tried in a number of other places in Forfarshire, Perthshire, and 

 Fifeshire, and the general conviction appears to be, that it will soon come into as general use among 

 farmers as the threshing machine. {Gard. Mag. vol. vi.) The price is, at present, between 30/. and 351. ; 

 but if it were once in general use, probably the cost might be lowered ; but even that price would 

 be saved out of the usual sum paid for manual labour, during only one harvest , by an extensive farmer. 

 Few men deserve better of his country, and indeed, of every civilised country where agriculture is 

 practised, than Mr. Bell ; for surely that invention must ultimately be of great benefit to men and 

 women, which enables them to do by horses, oxen, or steam, that which they have hitherto done by a 

 most severe description of manual labour, rendered doubly oppressive by the season of the year in which 

 it must necessarily be perfoi-med. 



2739. A mac/line for reaping, and at the same time sheaving corn, was invented in the year 1822, by 

 Mr. Henry Ogle, school-master at Rennington, near Alnwick, Northumberland. In 1823, Messrs. 

 Brown, iron founders in Alnwick, advertised that they would furnish machines of this sort complete 

 for sheaving corn at the beginning of harvest. No farmer however could be found who would go to the 

 expense. The operation of the machine was satisfactory, and it was estimated to cut fourteen acres per 

 day. An engraving and description of it will be found in the Mechanic's Magazine, vol. v. p. 50. In 

 the same work (vol. i. p. 145.) will be found an engraving of a mowing machine invented by Jeremiah 

 Baily, of Chester County, United States, about 1821, and said to answer well, and to have been exten- 

 sively used. Whoever contemplates further improvements in this description of machinery, would do 

 well to begin by making himself master of all the foregoing inventions. 



'?740. Gladstone's machine for reaping beans (Jig' 378.) has been used in several parts 



of Scotland with complete 

 success. The framework 

 of this machine is the 

 same as that of a com- 

 mon plough. To this 

 is added the knife (a), 

 which is a plate of steel, 

 screwed to a piece of 

 wood, to keep it from 

 bending up and down; 

 this wood being screwed 

 to the framework. There 

 is a wheel [b] to keep the 

 knife when in motion in a 

 horizontal position. The 

 cutting edge of the knife 

 (c) has teeth, or serratures, 

 on the upper side (d) ; 

 the under side (e) is flat. 



One horse and a man will cut with this machine from four to fi . acres a day, with ease, 



and perform the work as perfectly as by manual labour. 



2741. A machine for reaping the heads or seed-pods of clover (fig. 379.), where the 

 '^79 i^K //. y:? .<:> ''isecond growth of that crop is left to stand for seed, has 



been used in some parts of Norfolk and Suffolk. It 

 consists of a comb, the teeth of which are lance-shaped, 

 very sharp, and set close. This comb is affixed horizon- 

 tally to the fore part of the bottom of an open box or 

 barrow, which is drawn by one horse and guided by a 

 man, who empties the barrow in regular lines across 

 tlie field by means of an implement (a), which serves also to clean the teetli. 



2742. A machine for mowing clover hay has frequently been attempted, but not yet 

 perfected. One by Plucknet, of the Blackfriars Road, London, succeeded tolerably, 

 but never came into use : it consisted of circular knives put into rapid motion, and the 

 cut stalks guided to one side by a revolving cradle, like that attached to corn scythes. 

 (2480.) It never came into use. 



