Report on Sheaf- Binding Machinery at Shrewsbury. 59 
■of the balance of the machine when cutting on a hillside, for this purpose the 
•old form of binder is quite unsuitable. In Samuelson's new machine this is 
sought to be obviated, all the weight is between the large road-wheel and the 
wheel at the far end of the finger-beam ; in fact, this principle is neither more 
nor less than the same as that adopted in the ordinary self-delivery reaper, but 
-with the exception that the wheels are placed farther apart to allow for the space 
necessary for the delivery of the sheaf, and the apparatus for binding it. The 
•crop as it is cut falls upon an endless moving apron, which conveys it under 
the bottom edge of another apron placed vertically and at right angles. It is 
then gently moved forward by the conveyers to the packers, which take the 
grain, and after sufScienthas been gathered to form a sheaf, the tying apparatus 
■comes automatically into operation and ties the sheaf, which then slides on to 
the ground by the inside of the travelling wheel, the fall being one of a few 
dnches only. 
Plot 10. Mr. McCormick, No. 216. — This machine has a 
•6-feet cut, and retains the wooden connecting rod worked from 
behind and attached to a lever in the centre of the back of 
the platform, and this lever drives the knives. 
The cut was level, but the divider on the off-side shoe which 
separates the cut from the standing corn did its work in- 
'differently. An attendant had frequently to relieve this article 
of a handful of loose grain, which it persistently collected. 
Only two sheaves were untied, but the attendant had three 
sheaves to drag off. Time, 28 minutes. 
Plot 12. Messrs. Hornsby, No. 4569. — A large tree was 
standing in the centre of this plot, around which animals had 
•evidently been accustomed to congregate when the field was in 
pasture, as the crop was there green and tangled, and part 
of it much laid. A stop in the work was caused by two large 
stones. I find in my notes : " Cut beautiful, delivery good, 
binding capital." There were no untied sheaves ; but in the 
laid portion, sheaves were three times delivered in pairs, owing 
to this tangle. 
This machine differs but little from No. 4.568 ; the driving-wheel is smaller, 
and the whole weight of the machine is considerably less ; the delivery of the 
sheaf is also lower. The arrangement for raising and lowering the machine 
•consists of a worm and wheel instead of an endless chain. 
Plot 14. Mr. McCormick, No. 215. — The cut was very low 
at the start, but a halt was made and the cut raised. This 
machine delivered a nice sheaf, well bound, and not one was 
left untied. The sheaf-carrier was not a success ; it was cum- 
brous and rather spasmodic in action. Time occupied, 34 
minutes. 
This machine has been much improved and simplified since the Derby 
Show in 1881. In the binding mechanism several of the motions which 
fthen depended on the action of springs are now made positive cam- 
actions. This is the case with the plunger-bolt, which has also been 
£tted with a screw adjustment to regulate the position of the string-holder 
