INVKNTION OF K1;.\1'1N(; .\l.\< MINKS. 2.'i 



and twelve years after his most ccjiiiplcte and uninterrupted success 

 in cuttint^ botli grain anti grass. In tact there was no year from, and 

 including 1S33, up to 1854, a period of 21 years the past harvest, 

 that we have not the most positive and conclusive evidence of the 

 success of llussey's reaper; in numerous cases the same machines had 

 cut from 500 to 800, and even one thousand acres; in one instance, 

 the same machine was used for fourteen harvests, or as many years, 

 succcssi\-ely and successfull)^ 



We have given some of the evidence for 1833. For 1S34 we annex 

 two letters giving an account of the two machines made this \ear, 

 one in Illinois, and the other in New York, viz: 



Spring Creek, Sangamon Co., III.. ) 

 Oct. 1st, 1854. ( 

 Mr. Obcd Hitsscy, Btdfi??ton'. 



Dear Sir: — Your favor of i\ugust loth came to hand a few days 

 since. The reason was, it lay at Berlin (formerly Island Grove Post- 

 ofifice) and my Post-ofifice address is Springfield, the only place where 

 I call for letters. 



In answer to your query, how your Reapnig Machine worked 

 in 1834, I have to say that it cut about sixteen acres of wheat for 

 me on my farm; that it did the work in first rate style; according 

 to my best recollection, as well as any of the machines that have 

 since been introduced. The only objection I recollect being made, 

 was, that when the straw was wet, or there was much green grass 

 among the wheat, the blades would choke. You certainly demon- 

 strated in 1834 the practicability of cutting grain or grass with horse 

 power; and all the machines since introduced, seem to have copied 

 your machine in all its essential features. 



I am respectfully yours. 



John K. Can field. 



The next letter, we copy from the Genessee Farmer of Decem- 

 ber 6th, 1834. The reader will readily perceive that the author, 

 Wm. C. Dwight, knew how to handle the pen as well as the plow, 

 and etiually well to work the reaper, being a practical farmer. 

 But we are pained to add that he lost his life by the fatal railroad 

 accident at Norwalk, Ct. about a year since. 



From the Genessee P'armer, Dec. 6, 1S34. 

 To the Editor of the Genessee Fanner: 



I wrote you last May that Mr. Hussey, the inventor of a machine 

 for harvesting wheat, had left in this village one of his machines for 

 the purpose of giving our farmers an opportunity to test its value, 

 and I promised to write )'ou further about it when it hatl been put 

 to use. For many reasons which will not interest either yourself or the 

 public, the matter has been delayed till the first rainy day, after my 

 fall work was out of the way, should give leisure to remember and 

 fulfil my promise. 



