54 Report on Sheaf-Binding Machinery at Shreioshury. 
position, but it broke several times afterwards, causing many 
stoppages and about twenty-two untied sheaves. The binding was 
not good, although the cut was fair. Time to plot, 50 minutes. 
It is only fair to add that, though the draught was apparently 
very heavy, the horses were of rather a light build, and not well 
driven. 
Plot 7. Mr. Kearsleys Machine, No. 381, began by cutting 
too high ; the stubble was left from 6 in. to 10 in. high. After 
going five rounds the cut was lowered, and better work made. 
The platform elevator and butting webs of this machine travel 
at a great speed, which gives a good delivery, but increases the 
wear and tear, and also adds to the draught. The plot was 
finished in 26 minutes without a stop ; only one sheaf was untied 
and three small sheaves made in the last cut. This machine 
finished with one round less than any of the other competitors, 
and in much less time than most of them ; but the horses, which 
were driven rather too fast for holding out, were very hot. 
Plot 9. Messrs. Samuelson^s Machine, No. 255. — Worked well, 
making in all only three untied sheaves. The cutting was 
just a little uneven, caused by the swing of the machine. 
Time, 34 minutes. 
Plot 11. Mr. McCormick, No. 217. — The sheaves made by 
this machine were a little uneven and rather fan-shaped. The 
cutting was low, the knife-plate occasionally catching the top 
of the ridges and causing a stop. The knife-points swung up 
and down a little. Time, 46 minutes. 
Plot 13. Messrs. Howard, No. 45. — This machine and Nos. 47 
and 49 were drawn by a pair of Biddenham chestnut mares, said 
to be crossed from the Suffolk. These mares were both active and 
powerful, two qualities almost essential to the successful working 
of horse-power machinery. This machine made a level cut 
and an even sheaf, and got through its work without a bitch 
until the finishing cut, which was a breadth of less than 2 feet 
of standing corn. This, when cut, refused to be carried up by 
the elevator, and therefore accumulated on the platform until 
it choked the machine, and had to be cleared out by hand. 
Except this, there were only three sheaves untied ; a sheaf- 
carrier attached cleared the corners. Time in cutting of plot, 
29 minutes 10 seconds. 
This machine is similar iu outline to the ordinary harvester, with canvas 
jjrain-elevators and sheaf table. The binding ajiparatus being on the Appleby 
system, with single knotting hook, combined with a strong gripper. 
Plot 15. King and Evans, No, 228. — The horses stopped in 
the second round, out of wind. The sheafing was very irregular ; 
a large sheaf was often followed by a small one, with a shearer's 
