of String Binders at Derby. 
283 
to slip over the curved finger, and be caught by the hook on the 
inner rod. The inner tube then ascends, the end of the string 
being retained by the hook and pulled through the loop. The 
cutting is effected by the rotary motion of the cutter imme- 
diately after the needle has engaged the second string. As will 
be seen from the report of the trials, this machine discharged 
the sheaves so badly, notwithstanding the arrangement for 
dividing the sheaves, that it was soon out of the race. The 
exhibitors explained this great defect by the absence of a 
" kicker," which it was stated had been left in America. The 
mechanism appeared very ingenious and efficient in the tying 
arrangement, but the scatter and waste, owing to the dragging 
of the sheaves, was a defect that destroyed all chance of dis- 
tinction. 
Messrs. Hornshy and Sons {Limited) exhibited a combined 
Reaper and Binder, which comprised many highly ingenious 
arrangements, but, for some reason which we had no oppor- 
tunity of finding out, was not sufficiently successful in its pre- 
liminary trials to stand the tests of public trial. A short 
description will not be out of place. The binding mechanism 
is attached to a Marsh Harvester. The main binding-spindle, 
which runs continuously, carries at its end, which is about the 
centre of the machine, a spur-wheel, 8^ inches in diameter, 
with a clutch-boss. This spur-wheel actuates a pinion on a 
short shaft which drives the packers. These are mounted on 
pivots on two revolving discs on either end of the shaft, and 
the tail-end of each packing-claw is furnished with a T-ended 
piece, which works alternately in cam-paths, first packing the 
sheaf on the outer cam-path ; then, whilst the sheaf is being 
bound, a switch, operated on by a bell-crank, throws the T-lever 
into an inner cam-path, which new course causes the packers 
to run idle, drawing the points within the periphery of the disc. 
The bell-crank is pivoted to a bracket attached to the frame of 
the machine ; the top-end carries a friction-roller, which is 
actuated by a cam on the clutch, mounted on the end of the 
binder-shaft. The machine is automatic in its action. The 
packing-claws, which pack and straighten the sheaf, force the 
corn forward against a compressing-lever, which is forced back 
when a sufficiency of corn is collected, liberating a shipping- 
clutch which throws the binding-gear into m.otion, and at the 
same time arrests the action of the packers. The knotter con- 
sists of a tube with a hook-eye, and a knotting-tube with an 
internal hook. The tube receives rotary motion only by a 
pinion actuated by the segmental gear-wheel. The knotting- 
tube also receives a rotary and endwise motion, and when 
pushed forward locks the string within the hook-eye, rendering 
the making of the knot apparently an absolute certainty, and 
