370 Report on the Exhibition and Trial of Implements 



Husseys clogged from the soil being made sticky from the rain. Most of the 

 machines showed an inability to make good work by the side of a deep furrow. 



Each machine was subjected to a scrutiny by the judges, under the guidance 

 of the consulting engineer. The original Hussey was much improved in its 

 mode of adapting the forewheels, and attaching the horses, and the tendency of 

 the corn and soil to foul the cog-work was corrected. The knives also by a 

 simple contrivance were made much less liable to become jammed up in a grassy 

 undergrowth. 



Dray and Go's, is an exceedingly well-executed machine. Its mode of alter- 

 ing the height of cutting is very readily effected. It has a w-ell-contrived 

 method of carriage (at the extra cost of an axletree and pair of wheels) for 

 travelling and getting through gateways. They also have an improvement in 

 the knives for obviating choking. These are well made, forming a cutting 

 edge at an acute angle. They are easily shifted ; and the price of a spare set, 

 which it is always desirable to have in readiness in the field, is 32s. 



The M'Cormick Reaper exhibited by Mr. Samuelson presented the imple- 

 ment according to its original make, with its knives worked at a speed sufficient 

 for the comparatively thin crops of America : and that by Messrs. Burgess 

 and Key, as improved by M'Cormick for British husbandry, and with 

 the speed of the knives much increased for cutting heavy crops. Though 

 needing further improvement, this implement is undoubtedly a desirable addi- 

 tion to a farmer's stock. Its draught is easy, and its mechanism is simple, and 

 its knives the most inexpensive and efficient of any exhibited. They are sickle- 

 edged, each an obtuse angle of about 4^ inches long, riveted on a slight bar, 

 and experience has proved that they are free from the least tendency to choke. 

 They have shown themselves also respectable grasscutters, and their obtuse 

 form renders them little liable to accident. The price of a spare set is only 

 16s., and that of a spare knife Is. It is, however, a slightly built machine, 

 and one wonders why the cost should reach 25/. Its extreme width is 9 feet. 

 The workman seated upon it, aided by the weight of its reel, no doubt gives it 

 sufficient steadiness to meet the resistance presented. This workman is also so 

 placed as to poise the weight of the pole oft' the backs of the horses. 



Mr. Crosskili's Bell was pronounced on examination to be good in its mecha- 

 nical details. And an additional implement was also brought forward containing 

 essential improvements, made since the trial at Gloucester : for instance, some 

 gearing for continuing the action of cutting while turning, and in substituting 

 wood for iron in the leverage of the reel, together with greater facility for 

 altering its elevation. This implement exhibits an apparent unnecessary solidity 

 of parts, and its weight is not less than IG cwt. But Mr. Bell explained 

 that such a weight is proved to be a necessary medium between the resistance 

 and the propelling power. And such resistance, shown by the great exertion 

 required of the horses, is much greater than that of its competitors — greater 

 than appears called for in the additional power absorbed by the revolving 

 apron, together with the good 6 feet width of cutting that is taken. The 

 necessary bite of the wheels on the ground appears to be generally attained in 

 the other machines by the weight of the raker seated uf)on them, but not 

 entirely ; for they have found it necessary to have raised strips across the sur- 

 face of their wheels to prevent slipping. Bell's shears are a very expensive 

 item ; there are ten pairs, the price of each blade of which is 10s. Qd., making 

 the total amount 10/. lOs. They are nevertheless very strong, and not very 

 liable to suffer damage from the obstacles they may meet with. The lower 

 range is fixed, while the upper row receives a movement from the cam-wheel, 

 and accomplishes its very effective cutting. 



In regard to the advantages and disadvantages of the different modes of 

 delivery, that which drops off" the corn behind, and which requires the 

 binders to make a clearance before the machine returns, appears on most first 

 trials to entail a very undue amount of hands, who, on the stoppages which 



