at the Gloucester Meeting, 1853. 



371 



then more frequently occur, are thrown into a state of inactivity. Again^ 

 some who have persevered, and have mastered the difficulties of the machine, 

 and have found out the right number of hands, have asserted that they do not 

 object to this method, because it keeps their people on the alert. 



A side-delivery is, generally speaking, more convenient, and meets occa- 

 sions in which immediate binding is not proper ; but this method often delivers 

 the corn in a tumbled state for the binder. It appears, therefore, desirable, 

 that where a manual delivery is employed, a choice of these two kinds should 

 exist in the same implement. Now a question is, whether Dray and Co. have 

 attained this combination? They deposit behind, and with gathering-forks 

 they lift and place each parcel out of the way of the horses returning, on a 

 band previously laid down by boys. This, however, seems wholly or in part 

 an extra expense. It effects the same process that the side-delivery does, with 

 the advantage of a band got in readiness under the gathering, but which ad- 

 vantage is attained at the expense of three men and tw o boys. Bell's reaper 

 performs all that can be expected of a machine in regard to delivery ; it per- 

 fectly imitates the best workmanship of the scythe. It produces a swathe 

 spread for drying if the state of the crop requires it, or to be gathered and 

 bound immediately. 



Revolving Reel. — The reel, or collector, as Mr. Bell called it, performs im- 

 portant functions in M'Cormick's and Bell's reapers. It is necessary, because 

 the form of their knives possesses no power of grasping the corn. This bite is 

 in a measure given by the acute angle of Hussey's knives, while at the same 

 time the position of the man on the machine enables him to bend the corn 

 towards the knives, as w^ell as gather it on the platform. The reel answers two 

 purposes — one chiefly, by revolving inwards, to bend the standing corn towards 

 the knives, and momentarily to retain it while the bottom thrust is taking 

 place ; the other, the sweeps being set with proportionate lowness, by revolving 

 outwards, to lift a laid crop before the knives. At first sight the reel appears 

 to be damaging the corn ; but as it is made to revolve only at a small degree 

 of speed greater than that at which the machine is travelling, only a slight 

 pressure is effected. 



In regard to the economy of these reaping machines, the comparison must be 

 made with the scythe, and not with the sichle ; for while the cutting portion of 

 the latter is something like two-thirds, and the binding, &c., the other third, 

 that of the former is not quite half, though in value equal to half; therefore 

 must it be said, that by their operation of cutting the machines execute about 

 one half of the work ; the gathering, binding, and shocking forming the other 

 half. It has been found by experiment that gathering, bondmaking, and bind- 

 ing take up about equal time, that is, each about one-eighth of the whole work. 

 Thus a machine that gathers as well as cuts performs five-eighths of the work. 

 In this respect Hussey and M'Cormick have an advantage over Bell. And it 

 is a consideration for the proprietors of the latter machine, whether a little 

 simple mechanism might effect this operation, to be put in action only when 

 immediate gathering was required. A farmer has, therefore, in the first place, 

 machines presented to him that will cut corn, whether inferior or not to manual 

 work. In the next, they are brought before him in a sufficient state of advance- 

 ment to cut the majority of his corn crops. He may thus depend upon them 

 to supply a deficiency of labour ; he may use them to save labour ; or he may, 

 employ them as a help to expedite his harvest : this last proposition has- 

 hitherto, we know, not always been found to be a correct one. But botb 

 farmers and implement-makers are yet groping their way. One great point 

 for the interest of both parties is, that the makers should send out the ma- 

 chines as perfect and as trustworthy as possible, and after having thoroughly 

 tested them ; for nothing will more effectually deter farmers from purchasing 

 than the fear of being brought to a stand at so important a crisis as their w heat 



VOL. XIV. 2 c 



