Report on Sheaf-Binding Machinery at Shrewsbury. 67 
The crop was generally upstanding and very uniform, the 
difference in weight of the crop per acre being due to the fact 
that in some instances there was more grass in the butts of the 
sheaves than in others. 
With the exception of Samuelson's Low-Delivery Machine, 
all the others got through their allotted work. The failure of 
this machine was very unfortunate, as there were special features 
about it which would have given an additional interest to 
further trials, and it was with much reluctance that the Judges 
had to abandon it. The time occupied in cutting each plot 
was noted, but as it was clearly understood that excellence of 
work done in cutting and binding would count for more than 
horse-racing, the observations taken were merely used as a 
check in case of stoppages. Each machine started with a given 
quantity of string weighed out to it, and what was left over at 
the end of the trial was credited against what had been served 
out. The weight of string varied very much, the variation 
being due not so much to any increase in the length of string 
used as to the strength, or weight of a given length, of string. 
The hemp string used was generally heavier and stronger than 
the Manilla ; such, however, should not be interpreted as proving 
any decided advantage of hemp over Manilla, as the latter, used 
in Wood's Machine, No. 407, gave a mean breaking strength 
of band of 137 lbs., which is an ample strength for all purposes. 
The mean girth was taken by cutting the strings off of some 20 
or 30 sheaves and measuring the string. 
The weight of crop per acre was arrived at in a similar 
manner, by weighing some 30 or 40 sheaves, and multiplying 
their mean weight by the number of sheaves per acre. 
The testing of the breaking strain of the bands at once 
showed the great improvement which has taken place in the 
knotting apparatus since the former trials, as it was found that 
out of about 300 bands tested hardly any slipped at the knot. 
Table III. (page 68) gives the results of the various observa- 
tions taken of the materials used and the work done by each 
machine. 
Scarcely a breath of air moved the standing corn while the 
wheat was being cut, and the thermometer stood about 90°. These 
conditions were highly favourable to the machines, but rather 
trying to those whose duty it was to keep watch and ward over 
every machine while it was engaged in doing its allotted task. 
On page 69 is a condensed summary of notes taken while 
the machines were at work on the two-acre plots of wheat. It 
is obvious that the reporting Judge could not be an eye-witness 
of all the work done by each machine ; but it is due to the 
Stewards to say that not a sheaf was put off any one of them 
F 2 
