the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. 
17 
attracting attention at Philadelphia, steam-reaping was attempted 
in this country with considerable success. I have an idea that 
the automatic binder might be driven by steam, and that a com- 
bination would be very advantageous. In the Western districts, 
where farming is carried out on a vast scale, the exceeding flat- 
ness of the country renders it highly suitable for steam-power, 
and I look forward to a time not far distant when this mighty 
force will be employed in agriculture, as it has long been in 
manufactures. At Philadelphia four different inventions were 
shown and tested in the field for self-binding, viz., McCormick's, 
VV. A.Wood's, F. L. Osborne's, and D. McPherson's ; and in each 
case wire was the binding material. I am aware that a strong pre- 
judice exists in this country against wire, which I admit to have 
shared in, previous to personal experience ; but which is now en- 
tirely removed from my mind. The objections urged against wire 
are, that being non-elastic, the shrinking of green-cut corn will 
cause the sheaf to become too loose for convenience ; and, how- 
ever carefully handled, portions of the wire must pass through 
the threshing-machine, to its risk and the certainty that sooner 
•or later the obnoxious material will be cut up like chaff, and 
entering the animal system cause death. The wire can be pre- 
vented from entering the threshing-machine at all, by the use of 
a pair of forceps, which, whilst they cut the wire, retain it in 
their clasp. The man who attends upon the feeder has this 
work to do ; he not only cuts the wire, but takes care that it is 
removed clear away from the machine. Unfortunately it cannot 
be used over again ; but its sale would pay for a good deal of 
the cost. Let us hear the opinion of a celebrated manufacturer : 
4 ' There are now," he says, " over 1000 binders on our pattern 
at work in the field, the oldest being six years from infancy ; 
•during the last four years the prejudice against the wire band has 
been wearing off, until now very little is said against its use, and 
nothing said against it by those who have used it. These binders 
<ire used by stock-growers in nine cases out of ten. Some of 
them feel safe in putting the bundles into the threshing-machine 
with the bands on, and they always come through in one piece 
the wire breaking nearly opposite the twist. Others, whose fears 
are not all removed, use such shears as have been alluded to, 
and are particular to put the wire in a large box ; all agree that 
it is less work to handle bundles for the threshing-machine 
l>ound with wire than with straw." With regard to the first 
objection, as to tightness, the wire, owing to the tension to which 
it is exposed, and which can be regulated, makes the sheaf closer 
to start with than is possible with straw ; and allowing for con- 
siderable contraction, I do not believe the sheaves would become 
inconveniently loose. It is undoubtedly true that straw contracts 
VOL. XIII. — S. S. C 
