Trials of Self -binding Reapers at Aigburth. 133 
manufacturers. In spite of this, the American makers have 
obtained the start, and they will take some collaring even should 
this point be in favour, which 1 much doubt, of our native 
invention : — 
" Dimidium facti, qui coepit, babet." 
The experience of these two days' trials seemed clearly to 
point to the superiority of Wood's machine over the other two 
in adaptability to the practical work of the farm. McCormick's 
is especially imperfect in the way in which it divides the cut 
from the uncut corn. It has, however, many good points, 
amongst which is the adjustment of the reel. Osborne's machine 
is the next in merit to Wood. It works with a cloth elevator, 
like McCormick's, and is an ingenious invention with an im- 
perfect dividing and gathering as well as delivery arrangement. 
At present, W. A. Wood's machine is nearly perfect. When 
some alteration and adaptation to English crops have been 
made, viz., in the gathering and the delivery arrangement, it 
will reach, I think, a point of efficiency that will with difficulty 
be surpassed. One point, however, of mechanism will no doubt 
have struck the skilled mechanic who is in charge of it, and 
that is, that the mutilated segment is defective in want of 
continuity of motion, from which arises an amount of jerkiness 
that may with advantage be diminished. I scarcely dare sug- 
gest that the spring propelling the sheaf is too strong ; but what- 
ever be the cause, it is a point that m^' description of the trials 
will have shown to be sufficiently prominent to demand and 
obtain skilled attention. 
As a general conclusion, it is quite clear that none of the three 
machines is an efficient reaper and sheaf-binder combined, on 
the general crops of this country. It has been shown also, that 
in particularly light crops the work of cutting and sheafing and 
binding can be done by two of the three fairly well, and by one 
of them particularly well ; nor should I fail to note, as a corol- 
lary, that the mere operation of sheafing and tying, unconnected 
with the question of gathering and delivering, is undoubtedly 
now an accomplished fact. 
At the conclusion of the trials the Judges placed the following 
Report in the hands of the Stewards : — 
"Tbe Judges report tbat baving made a careful and tborougb examination 
of tbe American Sheaf-binding Macbines, wbich were tried on wheat and oats 
on Mr. Scotson's farm at Aigburth, they are of opinion tbat whilst great credit 
is due to the three inventions, viz., those of Walter A. Wood, D. M. Osborne 
and Co., and C. H. McCorniick, for the considerable efficiency attained, none 
of them have, as regards tbe requirements of English farmers, attained tbat 
perfection which would justify them in awarding tlie Gold Medal of the 
