Trials of Self-binding Reapers at Aighurth. Ill 
less canvas apron, which elevates it over the wheel to the binding 
table. The binder-arm with the needle, having the wire passed 
through it, passes the wire around the sheaf and carries it down 
to the twister which is below the binding table. There the two 
ends of the wire are taken in the twister, which performs its 
work as the sheaf is moved away from the next sheaf; thus- 
wliile the sheaf is being removed from the table the wire is 
twisted and cut off, and the sheaf, securely bound, drops gently to 
the ground. The end of the wire is returned in the twister, and 
the operation is repeated at the will of the driver : Mr. Coleman 
speaks well of this machine in his Report. He says, " I much 
regret that I am not able to give a drawing and detailed descrip- 
tion of the binder shown by D. M. Osborne and Co., inasmuch 
as this machine made decidedly the best work at the trial, cutting 
a considerable area without the wire breaking or a stop of any 
kind. The apparatus consists of an ordinary harvester frame, 
with linen travelling-belt and elevator, furnished with teeth. 
The peculiarity consists in the binding-arm being placed on the 
near side instead of the end of the binding platform, and having 
a swan-neck motion, so that, drawing the wire from the spool, 
it twists it round the grain and forces the straw together whilst 
the tying takes place underneath. The sheaf is pushed off by 
the needle as it rises to repeat the motion. The mechanism by 
which this elegant movement is obtained is both simple and 
ingenious." 
I have been fortunate enough to obtain the following sketches 
of different elevations of the machine (Figs. 5 and 6, pp. 112 
and 113). 
The following is a general description of the working parts of 
the machine, and the mode in which they act, taken from the 
specification of the patent : — 
The invention has reference to a combination of devices for controlling the 
gathering mechanism, devices for receiving the severed crop and carry ing it 
to the driving-wheel end of the cutting apparatus, and elevating it above the 
same, and dischargin<; it on a receiving platform outside the wheel. It also 
lias reference to an automatic binding mechanism for gatherin.: the goods, and 
passing the wire round the same and twisting the ends together to hold the 
bundles, and discharging the completed bundle from the platform. 
It has also reference to an arrangement of devices by which the (hiver can 
in his seat adjust the binding mechanism, so that the band will surround the 
bundle at the proper point, between the butts and heads of the grain. 
It also relates to the mechanism for controlling the action of the binder to 
adapt it to the formation of bundles of uniform size, in grain of varying stout- 
ness. It also relates to the devices for tilting the cutting a[)paraius for cutting 
higher or lower, ami various details of construction in tlie several operative 
parts of the binder, and the gear-.shifting mechanism. 
In the construction ol' the harvester a framework (B, C, D) is provided for 
npporting the operative |)arts of the machine, 'i'liis framework is supported 
"U a main driving-wheel (A), on which the major part of the framework is 
carried, the other end of the framework being supported by a wheel at the end, 
