334 Report on the Exhibition and Trial of Implements 



complaints to be prevalent, as to this machine, that the work is too severe for 

 a pair of horses for the whole day, which necessitates either more bein^ 

 applied or the horses being changed, which of course increases the expense. 

 M'Cormick's, on the contrary, was driven by a man seated on the machine, at 

 the ordinary pace of cart-horses (say 2:^ miles per hour), a rate at which a pair 

 of horses might work a whole day, as at plough, and with as little distress ; 

 for this machine appears not only to be lighter in itself, but to work with more 

 ease to the horses than the other, being so balanced as to throw a very slight 

 pressure upon the horses' backs, while the weight on the pole of Hussey's is 

 very considerable. We did not test particularly the quantity of work done by 

 each machine in a given time ; though, in the accounts recorded by Mr. Val- 

 lentine of the performances, it did not appear that there was much difference 

 between them in this respect, each cutting between 5 and 6 roods per hour 

 on the average. We consider, however, that if M'Cormick's machine, which 

 clears a foot wider space than the other, is the lighter and less distressing to 

 work, it must cut the greatest quantity, moving at that steady ordinary pace 

 which we deem not only most desirable for the sake of the horses, but also ibr 

 securing the continuous delivery of the sheaves with precision and regularity, 

 and that any increase to be obtained by driving the horses beyond that speed 

 would be dearly purchased. We are therefore of opinion that of the two 

 machines thus tried, M'Cormick's has the advantage in lightness of draught, 

 security of cutting, and clearing itself under adverse circumstances, and in the 

 more convenient delivery of the sheaves. We think it right to state that 

 M'Cormick's machine was under the management of Mr. Burgess, of the firm 

 of Burgess and Key, the patentees, during the whole period of the trials, being 

 worked by C. Stewart, their foreman ; that the machine, having been sent 

 down in a state unfit for use, required a considerable time and much alteration 

 before it could be made to work properlj^, after which the only accident to 

 which it seemed subject was the slipping off of the driving strap, which hap- 

 pened several times. This, however, Mr. Burgess states is prevented in all 

 their new machines by placing a rim on the wheel. We were given to under- 

 stand by Mr. Burgess that the machine we saw was an old one sent from 

 America, and not of their own workmanshij), to which they attribute the 

 accidents which occurred ; not having seen any of those made by Messrs. 

 Burgess and Key, we cannot speak as to the efficient state in which they are 

 sent out, but, unless they are free from the liability to such accidents as 

 occurred at the commencement of these trials, we should consider such risks to 

 be the most serious drawback to the machine. We may add also that we do 

 not see any reason why the cost of this machine should be so much greater 

 than Hussey's. The Hussey machine was purchased by the College from 

 Garrett and Son, and was worked by farm-servants, under the direction of 

 Mr. Vallentine, the able manager of the College farm, under whose super- 

 intendence and direction all these trials were conducted with great care, and 

 at an expense of much time and attention, for which we consider the public are 

 much indebted to him and to the College. A slight accident happened to this 

 machine at the conclusion of our trials; but it was the first, we understood, 

 which had occurred to it throughout the harvest, during which it has been 

 pretty regularly employed. 



" We cannot conclude our report without stating that we consider each of 

 these machines to possess many merits, and to be capable, even in their present 

 state, of doing much service to the farmer; hut that they are both susceptible 

 of very great improvement, especially in providing for the cutting and proper 

 delivery of heavy and laid crops, and for working without the risk of wheels 

 clogging in wet and soft ground ; points in which they are as yet defective. 



" J. Curtis IIaywakd. " John Barton. 



" William Slatter. " John Lane. 



" Thomas Vaisky. " James Keaesey.'* 



