at the Gloucester Meeting^ 1853. 



373 



" The judges have the satisfaction of reporting that a decided improvement 

 has taken place in the working of the reaping machines brought under their 

 notice ; they are, nevertheless, of opinion that, by a combination of certain 

 elements which exist in the various machines exhibited, there might be pro- 

 duced one surpassing anything hitherto brought before the public. Such an 

 implement might be made to unite the advantages of simplicity in construction, 

 greater durabilitv, lightness of draught, and reduction in price, with the 

 thorough capability of being more easily managed by the agricultural labourer. 



" Wm. Fisher Hobbs, Steward of Field Implements. 

 " C. E. Amos, Consulting Engineer. 



Hexry J. Ha>"nam, j 

 " \Ym. Woodwakd, > Judges.*' 

 " Joseph Druce, j 



In the award that has been given, and in the above opinion that has been 

 expressed, it is hoped that fresh stimulus will be given to perfect this class of 

 implements. 



Henry J. Haxnam. 

 Wm. Woodward. 

 J. Druce. 



APPENDIX. 



Burcote, Abingdon, October 12, 1853. 



Dear Sir, — Having been requested by ]Mr. Crosskill to come and witness a 

 trial of his impros-ements in Bell's reaping machine, I went to Beverley for 

 that purpose on Wednesday last, Oct. 5th. I met three gentlemen who had 

 been judges at different trials of reapers this year in the North, and we came to 

 a decision that considerable improvement had, in certain points, been effected. 



The alteration consists principally in substituting a set of knives rivetted, 

 on the Hussey and M'Cormick principle, on a straight thin bar, which is set in 

 motion by a crank, instead of the former shearing apparatus worked by a cam- 

 movement. These fixed knives are 24 in number, 3 inches long, shaped to an 

 angle of 90 degrees, and v. ith serrated edges. The trial took place on a piece 

 of late wheat. It was immediately perceptible that the draught was lessened, 

 and that the man who drove was placed more at ease, though he both held the 

 reins and guided the machine. For at Gloucester and Pusey any irregularit}^ 

 of draught appeared to call forth a good deal of effort from the man at tht, end 

 of the pole. On this point Mr. Crosskill observed, that when the horses are a 

 little accustomed to the machine, and the driver is acquainted with the horses 

 and the work, there never had been occasion for more than one person to drive 

 and to steer. The set of knives, like M'Cormick's and Hussey's, is easily 

 removed, and the price of a spare set, I understood, was 35s. I observed no 

 tendency to choke. There was no under-growth, however, of consequence in 

 the wheat to occasion it. But there were- parties present on the ground, in- 

 cluding one of the judges, who assured me they had cut the greater part of 

 their crops this season with this set of knives applied to Crosskill's Hussey of 

 1852 without experiencing choking. The draught on the whole appeared as 

 much under as it before appeared beyond the jjower of a good pair of horses. 

 As the draught is lessened, so it is considered that the weight and stoutness of 

 the implement may be reduced, which is being carried out in those that are in 

 progress in the workshop. I learnt that Mr. Bell has seen and is quite satis- 

 fied with the alterations. 



In regard to advantage gained in the simplicity of the cutting apparatus there 

 appears now no art needed in hxino- and removins: it, while the shears, it is said, 



2 c 2 



