Beport on Slicaf-Binding Machinery at Shreioshury. 49 
step. Whatever credit may be due to Marsh, the Illinois 
farmer, for the inception of harvest-binding machiner}', it 
was left to McCormick, who took up the manufacture of the 
Marsh-harvester, and other makers to complete the work. This 
has been a work of time and costly experiments. The repre- 
sentative of a firm of competitors at Shrewsbury stated that it 
had cost no less than 20,000/. to bring out their machine in its 
present form. After a certain degree of excellence was attained 
by makers in the use of wire as a material for binding, it 
was urged on all hands that wire was a dangerous and unsuitable 
material to use for the purpose ; it was therefore forthwith 
discarded. The fresh appliances since brought into requisition 
have furnished us with that degree of perfection of mechanism 
which turned work out of hand on Montford Farm in August 
last, that excited the wonder and admiration of all beholders. 
The Judges carefully inspected those machines exhibited 
that were entered for trial. All that were on exhibition were 
considered to be qualified to go to the trial-fields ; and the 
competitors were allowed to retain their machines, but were 
required to give an undertaking to pay 25Z. in the case of each 
machine, that it would be produced on the trial-field at the 
proper time. 
Arrangements were made by the Stewards that the trials 
should begin on Wednesday, August 6th, at Mr. Hawkins's 
farm, Dinthill, about four miles from Shrewsbury, on the 
Welshpool Road. 
When the Judges arrived on the scene of operations on the 
morning of the 6th, they found the competing machines parked 
in a meadow adjoining the trial ground. The weather was all 
that could be desired. The ground was dry, and in fine condi- 
tion for carrying the machines. The field to be cut was almost 
rectangular. It was divided into eighteen plots of three roods 
each by avenues previously cut with the scythe, and the sheaves 
had been removed from between each plot. 
Lots were cast for the plots, with the result as shown in the 
appended plan (Fig. 17, p. 50), 
The field was laid up in 12-yard ridges with shallow furrows : 
it carried a full standing crop of Webb's Prolific Black Tarta- 
rian Oats, which looked like yielding about 7 quarters per acre. 
There was an entire absence of undergrowth, and all the condi- 
tions were favourable for good work. As the machines could 
not pass each other in the avenues, every alternate plot had to be 
left. The machines to whose lot fell the plots with the odd 
numbers were put to work first, two being worked at one time. 
Messrs. Hornsbys, No. 4568, entered the field at 9.40, com- 
menced work at 9.55. After working a time round without any 
VOL. XXI. — s. S. E 
