56 ENGLISH ITBLICATIONS. 



Mackenzie, (the son of an emigrant from Ivernessc) were in charge of 

 Mr. McCormick's Machine. The other was in the hands of the in- 

 ventor himself, Mr. Hussey, and of Mr. Pierce and Mr. Steevens (who 

 represented the agents, Messrs. Dray & Co.) 



The Rev'. Mr. Wharton, (the jury, competitors, &c. having gath- 

 ered round him on the field, on Saturday morning,) announced that, 

 after the lapse of an hour, when the corn would be in such a condition 

 that Mr. Fawcitt, as he had just said, would, under ordinary circum- 

 stances, reap it himself, the trial would commence. 



The question was, now, which of the two machines should begin. 

 A " toss " gave the chance to Mr. Pierce, and he requested Mr. Hurgess 

 to lead off. 



M'Cormick's machine then got into action, taking the crop in the 

 most favorable manner — that is, leaning toward the knife. Passing 

 along the field, (which was from two to three hundred yards in length,) 

 it cut down a breadth of little more than four feet. The corn being 

 laid, the flier, of course did not come into practical operation; nor was 

 it necessary that it should do so — the elements having already done 

 its work. The corn was well cut — the stubble a little too high. 



Another breadth or two having been cut, Hussey's machine 

 followed, and cut some breadths — somewhat wider than M'Cormick's, 

 and closer to the ground. 



Mackenzie, when we pointed out the shorter stubble of his rival, 

 admitted the fact, but said there would be no difficulty — not the 

 slightest — in bringing Mr. M'Cormick's knife nearer to the ground. 

 In America, however, where the straw is comparatively of little or no 

 \alue, the stubble is no object, and there arc some advantages in cut- 

 ting high. 



A backer of M'Cormick's machine (and many bets have been laid 

 on the two machines) urged that Hussey's would spoil clover when 

 going among wheat. The reply was, that Hussey's knife could be 

 raised or depressed at i:)leasure. 



The next test was cutting the crop across ridge and furrow, so that 

 the corn was lying neither to nor from the knife, but sidewise. Both 

 the machines cut the corn under these circumstances — Hussey's the 

 cleaner of the two. 



The jury then required the experiment to be made along the field, 

 with the corn lying from the knife. 



Mr. Hussey consented, and the machine succeeded in cutting tlie 

 corn — leaving a tolerable stubble, but not so short and regular as 

 before. 



M'Cormick's machine was then tried, and failed. As it scoured 

 over the corn, making sad havock, there were loud cries of ".Stop! stop! 

 you're wasting it!" 



Barley was next cut, with much the same result. In this case, Mr. 

 Hussey adjusted his platform for discharging the corn at the side. 



The binders being summoned before the jury, and asked which of 

 the two machines they preferred, so far as their particular department 

 was concerned — decided, 4 for M'Cormick's, 6 for Hussey's. 



