at the Carlisle Meeting, 1855. 
527 
excessive draught, and too high speed in tlie horses. The steerage is also very- 
laborious, and does not give ample control over the machine. The machine 
requires two men to manage it ; and it is the most expensive machine ex- 
hibited. 
ilfcC'o?'m/c^-'s??i<ic7r/ftp, improved by Lord Kinnaird, and exhibited byBurry, 
— This machine cuts a space of 5 feet 6 inches, delivers in a swathe at the 
side by means of an endless web similar to Crosskill's, but lighter of draught. 
Its power of cutting is, however, greatly inferior ; and in cutting barley it 
frequently choked. The machine is weakly constructed, and throughout the 
trials was the least successful machine exhibited. 
Hiissey's machine, improved and exhibited by Wm. Dray and Co. — This 
machine is described as capable of cutting a space of 5 feet 4 inches, but 
in the trials seldom took more than 3 feet 6 inches. The merits of the 
machine are its extreme compactness, simplicity of arrangement, and economy 
of price. It cuts standing com very efi'ectively ; but having no collecting- 
reel, cannot cut corn leaning in the direction in which the machine advances. 
The com, by a tilting islatform, is easily delivered in a neatly-formed sheaf 
in the rear of the machine, but requires removal before the machine can 
return. In reaping wheat this does not appear so objectionable, but in barley 
and oats it is disadvantageous, because these crops do not always require bind- 
ing, and will seldom admit of binding immediately after cutting. The draught 
of the machine is heavy, not so much from the weight of the machine as from 
the speed required to prevent choking. It appeared to the Judges, that if the 
length of stroke of the knife, whicli is now only 3 inches, was increased to 
5 inches, the cutting power would be improved, and the speed of the machine 
might be reduced ; at present, unless the horses move at a speed exceeding 
three miles per hour, which is distressing to farm-horses at such work, the 
cutting is imperfect. If these alterations were made, and a side delivery could 
.be added, this would become a most valuable machine. Even in its present 
condition, the Judges had great pleasure in highly commending it. 
Mccormick's reaper, improved and exhibited by Burgess and Key.— This 
machine cuts a clear track of 5 feet 6 inches ; and in every operation in 
which it was tested exhibited a decided superiority. It cut with gi'eat pre- 
cision both wheat and barley, standing and partiallj^ lodged ; and in cutting 
through weeds and grass, showed no tendency to choke ; the delivery is pecu- 
liar to this machine, and is the principal and most important improvement 
effected since last year ; the corn, on being cut, falls on a series of rollers, 
fitted with Archimedian screws, by which it is delivered in a continuous and 
well-formed swathe at the side of the machine. This delivery being effected 
by the machine dispenses with the attendant necessary in Dray's and Palmer's 
machines ; and it was proved to be cajjable of cutting wheat and barley with 
no other attendance than a boy strong enough to drive a pair of horses. The 
draught also w-as much lighter than any other machine ; and the horses were 
not required to travel faster, or to exert greater power, than would be neces- 
sary in ploughing in land of medium strength. 
The superiority in cutting in this machine appeared to be the result of a 
larger stroke in the knife, equal to inches ; and the reduction in draught 
and speed the consequence of a more correct calculation and distribution of 
power. 
The Judges had no hesitation in awarding to this machine the Society's first 
prize of '601. ; and they feel assured that all who witnessed the trials will 
concur in that decision. 
Forhush and Co.'s reaper, improved and exhibited by John Palmer. — 
This machine has a cutting space of 4 feet G inches. In its compactness, 
portability, and general arrangement, it is very similar to Dray's machine ; 
the peculiar difference is in the delivery, which in this machine is two-fold ; 
2 M 2 
