The Trials of Self -binding Harvesters at Chester. 70S 
and the second to Messrs. J. and F. Howard, of Bedford (see 
Yol. XXI., 1885, p. 1 et seq.). 
In view of the fact that it is now nine years since the 
Shrewsbury Trials took place, and that various improvements 
tending to greater perfection of work have been effected in the 
interim, no justification was needed for the decision announced 
by the Royal Agricultural Society, in March 1892, of its inten- 
tion to offer prizes in connection with its Chester Meeting of 
1893 for “ Self-binding Harvesters, using other binding material 
than wire.” 
For the three prizes of 501., 30 1., and 20 1., twenty-three 
machines had originally been entered by nine firms, and tho 
great majority of these had been exhibited in the Chester 
Showyard. On one ground or another, however, fourteen of 
these machines were withdrawn by their makers between the 
period of the Show and that of the trials, leaving only nine, 
shown by five exhibitors, to be tested by the J udges (Dr. Ander- 
son, F.R.S., Mr. Mason Cooke, and myself). 
The names of the exhibitors and details as to the weight, 
width, &c. of the machines (as ascertained by the Judges at the 
time of the Trials) are given in the table on the next page. 
It will be noticed that the advantage of lightness is consid- 
erably in favour of the Key worth machine, No. 2403, and that, 
with this exception, there is no great variation. The next column 
shows the marked advance that has been made in the last few 
years in the ease and quickness of shifting from work to road 
and the reverse. I think I am right in saying that the Massey- 
Harris Co. were the pioneers of this advance, and further, that 
ten years ago the double shift, which now occupies on an aver- 
age about five minutes, would have taken one hour. 
In the Table all the times are seen to be good, but an im- 
portant fact must be noticed — viz. that the Massey-Harris Co. 
and Messrs. Hornsby operated with one man, and all the rest, 
with two. In cases where the machine is sent by road to cut a 
field a mile distant it is evident that this is a great saving and 
convenience. The last column shows a slight advantage in favour 
of Mr. Kearsley and Messrs. Hornsby. 
The Trials. 
Early in June we were wondering whether there would be 
any corn to cut, and feared at least that, in consequence of 
the severe drought, it would be so light, so straight, and so 
VOL. IV. T. S. — 16 3 A 
