646 



Ajjpendix to Impleynent Report. 



Middlesbro'-on-Tees, who in the most hberal and disinterested spirit 

 allowed his crops to be trodden down and damaged to a very great extent, 

 especially on the 25th, when in spite of the storm an immense crowd 

 assembled to witness the trials. The jury cannot conclude their report 

 •without expressing the great pleasure they have derived from seeing two 

 machines brought into competition that were able to do such very good 

 work, and also at witnessing the friendly, straightforward, and honourable 

 way in which the exhibitors of the respective machines met on this occa- 

 sion. — Signed, on behalf of the jury, W. F. Wharton, Foreman. 



" Mr, Robinson's Report on Question 6. — ' Having carefully examined 

 both machines, and given the subject due consideration, I am of opinion 

 that M'Cormick's reaping-machine, as at present made, is most liable to 

 get out of order. Signed, Thomas Robinson, 



" ' York, September 30, 1851.' " 



After the trial, Hussey's machine was placed in the hands of Mr, Faw- 

 citt, of Oimesby, that he might work it on his own farm, and thus test its 

 fitness for every-day work, especially when in the hands of strangers. 

 Mr, Fawciit speaks highly of its performance, and after very little practice 

 made as good or better work with it than Mr. Hussey himself. The pro- 

 prietors of the two machines were subsequently invited to attend the 

 meeting of the Barnard Castle Agricultural Society, This invitation was 

 declined by the proprietors of M'Cormick's machine, but accepted by 

 Mr, Hussey, and great pains were taken to make the trial such as to fairly 

 test the fitness of the machine for ordinary harvest work. The barley on 

 which it was first tried was a light crop, a good deal bent down in one 

 direction, but not laid fla.t or twisted about, so that it was considered a 

 favourable opportunity for cutting by machine. The machine was driven 

 round a square piece of corn. It cut extremely well when v/orking either 

 against or across the lay of the corn, e. on three sides of the square ; but 

 when cutting the fourth side, the corn, which was short in the straw, was 

 so much bent from the cutting knives by a strong west wind which was 

 blowing at the time, that it was necessary to drive it at a smart pace to 

 avoid passing over it uncut ; and after a few rounds it was thought better 

 to cut three sides only, and let the machine go empty along the fourth. 

 The barley was closely and evenly cut, the stubble being left from five to 

 six inches in length. One or two persons were sent into the corn, to 

 trample it down and twist it about. This did not interfere with the work- 

 ing of the machine, and the twisted corn was well cut in all cases in Vv^hich 

 it was not trodden so close to the ground that the machine passed over it. 

 In one low^ part of the field the barley was thin, and a complete mat of 

 grass and other weeds covered the ground. This was extremely well cut, 

 so much so as to encourage the hope that this machine may on level land 

 be made applicable to the cutting of grass. In another part of the field 

 the barley was heavy, and laid flat, grass and weeds having grown up 

 among it; there the machine failed, and it was questionable whether even 

 scythes could have made anything of it, it being one of those places where 

 sickles alone could make good work. It was subsequently tried on oats, 

 with similar results, and on the following day it cut 4 acres of wheat in 

 about 2;^ hours. 



When the machine was carefully driven it was found that a breadth 

 of 4 feet 10 inches was cleared at each turn, but when no especial 

 attention was paid to this point it cut from 4 to 4^ feet, which was 

 quite as much as was cleared by M'Cormick's during the trial at 

 Ormesby. With moderately careful driving, the latter width (4 feet 

 6 inches) may be taken as the average, and, if the machine progressed 

 without interruption at the rate of 2 miles an hour, 1 acre would be cut 



