250 Report on the Trials of Rcaping-Maelrincs at Leamington, 
For ascertaining the weights of the machines, and the dis- 
tribution of the load upon the wheels and pole, a platform was 
arranged, with an overhead framework ; and each machine in 
turn was suspended by spring-balances specially made for the 
purpose by Messrs. Salter and Co. In this way were found and 
recorded in each case, as given in the Tables accompanying 
this Report, the total weight of the reaper, and the loads on the 
main driving-wheel and on the off-wheel respectively, together 
with the load on the end of the draught-pole, held 36 inches 
above the ground — a driver weighing 168 lbs. being mounted 
on the seat in position as when at work. It will be observed,, 
on referring to the Tables, that the weight of the sheaf-delivery 
machines in Class 1 ranged from 1055 lbs. (The Johnston 
Harvester Company) to 1231 lbs. (one of Messrs. Hornsby's six- 
armed machines). With the driver mounted in position for 
work, the load on the driving-wheel was made nearly as great as. 
the whole weight of the machine ; actually exceeding this in one 
case, namely, in Messrs. Hornsby's reaper just mentioned, in 
which the weight, empty, was 1231 lbs., while the load on the 
driving-wheel, giving bite on the ground when in work, was 
1235 lbs. At the same time, the load on the off-wheel in this- 
machine was a minimum, namely, 168 lbs. — tending to lessen 
side-draught. The weight on the end of the pole ranged from 
nothing in the case of one of Messrs. Hornsby's six-armedi 
machines to 20 lbs. in that of The Johnston Harvester Company. 
But when in work the weight on the horses' neck was increased 
in some proportion to the power required for driving the 
machine. 
A minute inspection was made of each machine ; notes were 
taken of the strength and design of framing, quality of mate- 
rials, excellence of workmanship, arrangement and proportions- 
of gearing, modes of adjusting the height of cut and for altering 
the position of the fingers, the construction, dimensions, and 
speed of the cutting apparatus, with the depth of knife-section 
for effective cut and the distance advanced at each stroke, the 
mechanism for actuating the gathering and delivery rake-arms,, 
and for controlling or adjusting the rate of delivery of the 
sheaf- bunches, the provision made against undue friction, ap- 
pliances for lubrication, replacement of wearing parts, facilities- 
for easy management, position of the driver's seat, and other 
features of mechanical construction to be taken into account in 
settling the relative points of merit to be awarded under the 
several heads formulated by the Society. 
The trials on the Earl of Warwick's Heathcote Sewage Farm r 
near Warwick, commenced on Monday, August 14th, every 
necessary arrangement having been made, all contingencies pro- 
vided for, and the greatest possible attention being devoted to 
