ENGLISH PUBLICATIONS. 67 



From Maidstone & South liastcrn Gazette, Oct. 21, '51. 



WEST KENT AGRICULTURAL SOCIICTV'S I'LOUGHING 



MATCH. 



HUSSEV'S AMERICAN REAPER. 



A distinc^uishing feature at this society's meeting on Thursday, 

 the i6th inst., was an exhibition of the capabilities of the above 

 machine. The sesson of the year of course prevented a display 

 of its powers on anything in the shape of grain, indeed great difficulty 

 was found in procuring even a green crop on which to operate. 

 Undaunted by this fact, the inventor was determined to show to the 

 anxious hundreds assembled the extent of the advantages to be derived 

 from the use of his reaper. At two o'clock the machine was set 

 to work upon a field of clover, short and light (as may be supposed), 

 where its performance was effectual as it possibly could be, exciting 

 a considerable amount of surprise as well as gratification. It was 

 then taken to a piece of marsh land, where clumps of stout rushes 

 in many places were growing in thick masses, presenting the appear- 

 ance of stunted grain. The machine passed over this marsh, cutting 

 the rushes with the same facility as if it had been corn, leaving the 

 stubble about 4 inches long and very regular, giving also a good 

 representation of the manner in which the sheaves of wheat, &c. are 

 usually delivered. Both these operations, but especially the latter, 

 were considered severe contests of the capabilities of the machine. 

 Taking all the circumstances into consideration, the performance was 

 far beyond all reasonable expectations. It was a question whether 

 the excellent work of the 58 competing ploughs, or the extraordinary 

 novelty of Hussey's machine in operation, added most to the gratification 

 of the large assemblage of the leading agriculturists of Kent. 



Fro)n the Kentish Gazette, Nov. 11, 1851. 



In addition to the interest naturally felt by all who live on and 

 by the soil in its proper cultivation, there was an unusual degree 

 of attraction in the fact that a reaping machine by Mr. Hussey, 

 (the celebrated American Machinist) would be tested upon 7 acres 

 of mustard adjoining the ploughing field. The reaping was com- 

 menced about twelve o'clock, and continued for a considerable period. 

 The crop of mustard was wet, and by no means calculated to favor 

 the experiment. It was however, after the machine was properly 

 arranged, cut down with great regularity; and at a speed equal to four 

 miles an hour it traversed the circuit of the field, hewing its way 

 through the mustard, quickly followed by a crowd of eager observers, 

 whose wondering gaze exhibited at once their astonishment and 

 admiration of its working. Occasionally the level of the cutters 

 were altered, so as to leave a greater or less length of stubble, which 

 evinced the accurate adjustment to which the machine could be 



