158 MECHANICS. 



As the straw collects on this platform, it is raked off 

 in successive bunches for binding by a man who rides 

 on the machine for this purpose. 



Most reaping-machines are provided with a revolv- 

 ing reel, which strikes backward against the standing 

 grain, holds it there while the blade is cutting, and 

 throws it backward on the platform. This reel is dis- 

 tinctly shown in the representation {Fig. 137) oiMan- 



Fig. 137. 



Manny's Mowing and Reaping Machine, showing the reel distinctly. 



np^s Mowing and Reaping Machine, where the cut- 

 ting blade is placed midway between the forward and 

 back wheels. 



Mowing machines require but one man for their 

 management, who merely drives the horses that draw 

 it. Reapers, as usually made, require another man be- 

 sides the driver, to rake off the bunches of cut grain, 

 which is severe labor. Various self-raking contriv- 

 ances have been tried to obviate this labor, one of the 

 most ingenious and best of which is Atkins' Self-raker, 

 represented by Fig. 138, and sometimes called the 

 Automaton Raker. An ingenious piece of mechanism 

 causes the rake to sweep the platform, and presses the 

 fallen grain against another rake, when both of them, 

 with the bundle of grain firmly inclosed, swing round 

 behind, and then open wide, and drop it on the ground 

 ready for binding. It may be so regulated as to drop 



