Report on the Exhibition and Trials of Implements at Leeds. 4G1 
Theso Reapers possessed various deforces of merit ; the result, liowevci-, left 
no doubt that the most efficient machines were those of Messrs. Burgess and 
Key, and of Crosskill's Trustees ; tiieso two were therefore again brought out 
in competition with each other, and every means was taken to ascertain their 
comparative value. They were also subjected to a dynamometrical test, and 
after a careful review of all the circumstances of the trial, and a full discussion 
of every point relating to crop, situation of land, draught required, ease of 
working and adjustment, simplicity, durability, first cost of machine, delivery, 
cut, waste made, and work performed, the prize was divided in the proportion 
of 14?. assigned to W. Crosskill's 'J'rustees, and C?. to Burgess and Key. 
The tabular statement of the results obtained by the dynamometer is appended 
to this report, and it is needless to say that this statement materially iufiuenced 
the decisions arrived at ; it will not be requisite to enter mimuely into the 
other scientific considerations which were rightly included in this inquiry ; 
this could only lead to a disquisition which, though tending in some degree 
to rescue the judges from the charges of ignorance and incapacity sometimes 
brought against them, would be of little importance to the farmer in search 
of the best implement. 
Great progress has undoubtedly been made towards perfecting the Reaper ; 
more may possibly be done to secure lightness of draught, simplicity and dura- 
bility of working parts, with continuous action. As it is, it is difficult to 
conceive how any operation can be more exactly or beautifully performed. It 
may, perhaps, be urged that the requirements of every crop, or the vicis- 
situdes to which it may be liable, are not yet thoroughly met ; but crops, in 
such a state and of such a bulk as the Reaper is best able to deal with, are 
precisely those which all farmers desire to grow, for when quantity and quality 
are united in the crop, then alone does good husbandry meet its reward. 
In using the Reaper it should be remembered that should bad weather come 
on, the risk of damage to the crop is quite as great as if it had been reaped 
with the sickle, and every precaution that can be devised, consistent ivith con- 
dition, should l3e taken to reduce this risk. Means also should be at hand to 
repair any trifling accident or breakage in the gearing of the horses, or in any 
of the working parts of the machine itself. 
Mechanical invention, as applied to agriculture, has attained no greater 
triumph than in the production ot the Reaper ; and when we contemplate the 
l)robability that year by year a greater portion of the harvest will be brought 
down by its use, the labourer may rejoice at the prospect of a respite from 
some portion at least of those continuous and excessive efforts which are required 
of him in mowing a heavy crop of corn. Without instituting a comparison 
between the cost of hand-labour and machines for cutting corn, we would 
remark that every practical invention in mechanics has a direct tendency to 
increase the leisure of man, and enable him to provide for his wants more 
completely, and with less laborious exertion. Those who recognize this truth 
will not be slow to admit another of not less importance, viz., that in spite of 
temporary and accidental derangements, duty and profit generally go hand in 
hand, whilst a selfish policy is generally a shortsighted one — considerations of 
importance, both to farmer and labourer in respect of the changes introduced 
by new machinery. 
Nothing now remains for us but to express our obligations to the exhibitors 
for the kind assistance afforded us by explanations of the working parts and 
minutije of their respective machines ; to Mr. Caldwell and Mr. Torr we are 
most particularly indebted for several valuable hints in the right conduct of the 
trial. Mr. Amos also was indefatigable in his endeavour to obtain accurate 
results with the dynamometer. 
The weather interrupted our proceedings after 1 p.m., on Thursday, but 
A\ e found a most hospitable asylum from the rain under the roof of Mr. Fox, 
the President of the Parlington Farmers' Club; and the few hours spent 
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