HARVESTING AND STORAGE 



465 



an improvement over cutting by hand, were felt to be inade- CHAP, 

 quate, and further improvements were effected to reduce labour. 

 A later machine consists of two driving wheels, between which 

 is mounted the frame for the driving mechanism and platform. 

 It is drawn by one horse, which walks between the two rows 

 that are being cut. The dividers pick up the lodged maize, 



Fig. 



171. 



-Device for cutting maize in the field. (After Myrick, The Booh 

 of Com, Orange Judd Co.) 



except such as lies in the row of maize away from the 

 machine, and guide it to the cutting apparatus, which consists 

 of two stationary side blades, above which is a movable sickle ; 

 this cuts the maize and deposits it horizontally on a platform 

 elevated about 6 inches above the cutting apparatus. On 

 the inner side is a guide chain, which helps in directing 



Fig. 172. — Another device for cutting maize in the field. 

 (From Transvaal Agricultural Journal.) 



the stalks of maize to the knife and the platform. The rear 

 part of the machine is provided with- a small wheel, above 

 which is a tilting lever ; by means of this lever the dividers 

 in front can be raised or lowered to gather up the lodged maize 

 until it comes in contact with the endless chain, and is thus 

 carried backward to be cut and deposited on the platform. 



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