310 Report on the Exhibition and Trial of Implements 



fall short of the regularity of mechanical action, so that on the 

 whole the endless web adopted in Bell's machine is apparently 

 the best in point of principle that has yet been produced. It is 

 described as having- worked at the public trials in Scotland with 

 remarkable precision, leaving so regular a swathe that the sheaves, 

 when bound up, resembled those gathered after the sickle, and 

 the stubble required no raking. A more extended experience of 

 this mode of delivery must determine whether there is any prac- 

 tical impediment to the uniform action of the endless web which 

 diminishes its apparent superiority over the more rough and 

 ready method adopted in the American machines.* 



From the foregoing facts and considerations the following 

 deductions may be drawn : — 



1st. That the Hussey machines, with the latest improvements, 

 are cheap handy implements, which will be found to work 

 well if used only when corn is dry and where it has little un- 

 dergrowth of clover, so that it may be bound up at once with- 

 out injury. With such limitations, however, it is evident that 

 the partial use of the scythe must form part of the harvest 

 arrangements. 



2nd. That the cutting principle now adopted in the M'Cor- 

 mick machines is simple and efficient, and, if well manufactured, 

 not liable to be stopped by any ordinary difficulties arising from 

 the state of the crops or the weather. 



3rd. That the mode of delivery adopted in Bell's reaper is the 

 best in principle, and this machine has also the advantages of 

 being able to cut its way into a crop, and of laying the swathe to 

 either side. Further experience must decide whether these ad- 

 vantages are sufficient to counterbalance the somewhat greater 

 difficulty of steerage and the awkwardness in turning which 

 appear to be unavoidable when the propelling power is placed 

 behind the machine. The greater cost will also be a material 

 consideration when comparing this machine with others. 



Finally, it may be stated that, though none of the reapers can 

 yet be considered completely satisfactory, the experience gained 

 during the past season will doubtless enable the manufacturers to 

 turn out serviceable machines calculated to render real assistance 

 to the farmer ; and after a long and patient examination of the per- 

 formances of this class of implements, the writer is convinced 

 that no long time will elapse before the great bulk of both corn 

 and hay crops, in this country will be cut by machine. 



The next class of implements deserving of especial notice is 



* Mr. J. S. Wright has lately brought over from America a working model of 

 a highly ingenious piece of mechanism applicable to reaping machines, which is 

 termed by the owner "the automaton raker." As a mechanical invention it 

 -deserves great praise for the ease and precision with which it executes a difficult 

 movement. It would be as yet premature to offer any opinion as to its practica i 

 merits. 



