210 REPORT—1858. 
account of all theinventions for reapingupon record up tothattime, Mr. Crosskill stated 
that there were then three reaping machines capable of doing practical work : the two 
American reapers known as Hussey’s and McCormack’s, which came over to the 
Great Exhibition of 1851; and the Scotch machine called Bell’s (after its originator, 
a minister in Fifeshire), which was brought into general notice, and subsequently 
into practical operation, by Mr. William Crosskill, of Beverley. Since the year 
1853 these three machines have been greatly improved, to adapt them to the require- 
ments of British agriculture; Hussey’s by Messrs. W. Dray and Co., McCormack’s 
by Messrs. Burgess and Key, and Bell’s at Beverley, under the direction of the 
reader of the paper; and, by means of numerous working models and drawings, the 
construction and peculiarities of these three machines were fully explained and illus- 
trated. With reference to the cutting apparatus, it was remarked that numerous 
endeavours have been made from time to time to supersede the reciprocating motion 
given to the knives of the reaper, as it is a considerable source of loss of power, and 
causes a tremulous vibration, resulting in excessive wear and tear. All attempts 
have, however, hitherto failed to produce an efficient cutter, with a continuous 
motion, and in his (Mr. Crosskill’s) opinion they were not likely to succeed, as actual 
experience in the harvest field seemed to prove that the reciprocating or reverse 
motion is necessary to prevent the guards and knives from being choked with short 
straw, grass, weeds, and similar substances. The convenient disposal or delivery of the 
cut corn has been the greatest difficulty to encounter in bringing the reapers into 
general use in this country. Two of them are, however, made to deliver the crop in 
swathes, ready for taking up and binding ; and from the third the corn is removed in 
sheaves by aman who rides onthe machine. Various ingenious plans have from time 
to time been brought forward for delivering the cut corn. Of these an excellent model, 
from Messrs. Ransome and Sims, Ipswich, was exhibited of Atkin’s automaton self- 
acting rake, and a description given of the Britannia reaper, which was sent over 
from America this summer, to Mr. Samuelson, of Banbury. The different methods 
of attaching the horses, either by making them follow the machine, or walking by 
the side of the corn to be cut, were fully pointed out, and the advantages of each 
plan stated in detail. Makers and users of reaping machines are divided in opinion 
as to which is the best way; both have many warm advocates, and will probably 
continue to be used according to the different circumstances under which the ma- 
chines are employed. In offering some remarks on the practical use of reaping 
machinery, Mr. Crosskill said it was necessary to direct attention to the variable and 
uncertain nature of the work it has to perform. A week of heavy rain before har- 
vest will lay the corn in some districts so that it can scarcely be mown with the 
scythe, and is rendered quite unfit for the action of machinery ; in moderately favour- 
able seasons, however, the reapers, as at present constructed, are capable of render- 
ing important assistance to the farmer. The use of both reaping machines with self- 
acting delivery is steadily extending, and, as agriculturists and their men become 
more accustomed to them, their introduction is likely to become still more rapid, for, 
owing to the high price of labour during the harvest, they effect a considerable saving 
in the cost of cutting the crop, and enable the farmer to take more advantage of 
favourable weather than he can do by the uncertain aid of the limited number of men 
that are to be procured at that period of the year. It was also worthy of a remark 
in connexion with this part of the subject, that, excepting the locomotive engine, 
there is no machine in use which requires to be manufactured with so much care and 
regard to durability as the reaper. Almost all other machines used either in agriculture 
or manufactures do their work when at rest, and secured to substantial foundations. 
Even those constructed to move from place to place are, before being putin motion, 
fastened down, to prevent as far as possible the destructive consequences of oscilla- 
tion and vibration. The reaper is, on the contrary, not only exposed to all the strains 
consequent on passing over every description of uneven ground with its machinery 
in action, but is also subject to the effects of a continual tremulous vibration, caused. 
by the quick reciprocating motion of the knives. It was therefore not surprising 
that the introduction of reaping machines has been attended with considerable 
difficulties, especially as they have had to be worked by men but little accustomed to 
the use of machinery ; in this respect, however, the last few years had witnessed a 
great change. The assistance of the steam-engine was already felt by most farmers 
to bea necessity in carrying out all extensive operations with efficiency and economy ; 
