8 Report on Miscellaneous Implements at Shrewsbury, ^c. 
The safety feed apparatus is of very great importance. It positively 
prevents the possibility of accident to the attendant, and at the same time 
ensures a much more regular feed than tlie ordinary method — consequently 
fewer stoppages occur and more work is done. 
It is fitted with reversing gear, by which the attendant can stop or reverse 
the action of the machine at pleasure. 
The cutter is mounted on four travelling wheels, which is far preferable to 
the ordinary two-wheeled machine — being much easier for the horse and also 
mucli steadier when in work. 
Messrs. F. and J. S. Bust. — Art. No. 4331. — '^h\s machine has afive-knived 
cutter, to the rim of which 5 blades or paddles are attached, which by 
creating a current of air blows the cut stuff on to the elevator ; or delivers 
it into sacks. The bagging apparatus consists of a delivery-hopper, with a 
movable division in it, so that with 2 bags fastened to the hopper the stuff 
may be delivered into either of them at will. Or in filling a sunken silo 
the cut stuff would be delivered through this hopper. 
The feed table in this machine is very large, so that waggons may unload 
direct on to it. 
A special feature is made in this machine of the self-releasing safety lever, 
which, as in many other machines, is placed in such a position that should a 
man get his hand caught in the rolls his body would engage against the lever, 
which in this particular machine acts on a clutch on the fly-wheel shaft, the 
action of which is claimed to be quicker than any other method. It appears 
to act satisfactorily, but is open to the criticism that an efficient guard to 
jirevent the possibility of a man getting caught in the first instance would he 
an improvement. Special facility is arranged for taking ofl" the knife-wheel 
and replacing it, which is a matter of some importance where a machine 
having to do a heavy day's work would require to have the knives sharpened 
two or three times. The cutting edge of these knives is concave. It is 
assumed that such form of knife tends to draw the stuff to be cut towards the 
centre of the knives, and does not drive it out as is sometimes the case wheu 
knives are made with a reverse curve. The facts, upon which anj' premises 
can be based for such an argument, will prove to be that the convex-knife is 
blunt when the above defect is attributed to it, or that it is not properly set 
against the mouth of the feeder. The draw with a convex knile is greater 
than with a concave, and this materially assists the cutting. 
The elevator consists of an endless band with paddles attached crosswise, 
mnning in a covered trough. This trough is supported at the required incli- 
nation by means of wooden raking struts ; this appeared somewhat deficient in 
lateral stiffness, requiring some diagonal bracing. 
Three drawings and a good description of this machine 
are also given in Mr. Jenkins's Report (page 229), to which 
previous reference has been made. 
The elevator of this machine is 22 feet in length, and dis- 
charges at a height of 20 feet. The fan-blast delivers the cut 
material into a covered elevating trough at the top of the cutting 
machine, a height of 5 feet. The length of cut with a five- 
knife wheel, was three-eighths of an inch : this can be changed 
to three-sixteenths or three-quarters of an inch by putting on 
other cog-wheels. 
The trial in grass was got through without any hitch ; the 
feed and delivery were regular. The oat-sheaves were put in 
unloosed, and went through with great regularity. 
Previous to commencing with the tares, a two-knife wheel 
