W***e*tS«W* 
MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE AND ART, 147 
nor-General, to which was attached the 
following remark—“ This grass may an¬ 
swer as a hay-grass, but ripens its seed 
very irregularly.” 
Oats, from seed obtained from Mr. 
Wyld, of Spring-street, which he received 
from India; it has a great similarity to 
the black Tartarean oats. 
Lolitun temulentuin, or darnel, supposed 
to be the tare of Scripture, from its nox¬ 
ious properties. 
Kalosantlies miniata : exhibited by 
Messrs. Shepherd and Co.—Prize, bronze 
medal. 
Collection of pinks; exhibited by 
Messrs. Shepherd.—Honorable mention. 
Collection of poppies; exhibited by 
Mr. J. Gay.—Honorable mention. 
Wax flowers; exhibited by Mrs. An¬ 
drews.—Honorable mention. 
MINUTES. 
Minutes of last meeting read and con¬ 
firmed. 
PAPERS READ. 
Agriculture, and the necessity for a bet¬ 
ter system of cultivation ; by Mr. Lewis 
Markham, of Armidale. 
Mr. F. Creswick thought that soaking 
the seed in liquid manure, prior to sowing 
it, would prove injurious, it being contrary 
to the laws of nature. 
Mr. J. Graham stated that it was a plan 
resorted to in Scotland of old date. 
WHEAT AND GRASSES. 
Air. G. A. Bell mentioned, with refer¬ 
ence to the specimens of wheat and grasses 
which he laid on the table, that he did not 
think that labelled as Indian oats to be that 
variety, but believed that it would grow 
very well in this colony. Mr. Bell further 
remarked, that there were several varieties 
of grass at the North Shore, and that they 
were now ripening their seed, and he would 
take this opportunity of suggesting to the 
members the benefit that would arise by 
their collection, and by experiments being 
made on them. 
REAPING MACHINE. 
Paper read from Mr. Lewis Markham 
giving a description of the reaping machine 
invented by him, a working model of which 
was placed upon the table, and its modus 
operandi explained by the Secretary; 
several opinions were expressed by the 
members, as to the ultimate success of the 
machine. 
Mr. Bell thought it would be better to 
have the horse, or propelling poiver,'placed 
behind, in order to avoid the trampling 
down of the crops. 
Some of the members considered there 
was a great point gained by avoiding the 
use of cog wheels. 
A practical agricultural implement ma¬ 
ker, who was present, said he considered 
the machine extremely simple in its con¬ 
struction, and spoke of the number of cog 
wheels which had been sent from the 
country for repairs during the reaping 
season. 
The ingenious inventor of this useful 
agricultural machine has furnished to the 
Armidale Express the following descrip¬ 
tion of the model. We were much grati¬ 
fied by an inspection of it. It reflects 
much credit upon the ingenuity and the 
perseverance of its inventor We earnestly' 
wish that a few men resident in the bush 
occupied their leisure time in similar use¬ 
ful pursuits. Australia would not then he 
dependent on foreign sources for its daily 
bread. 
Tho body of the model is 8 indies in breadth, 12 in 
length, and 6 in height. The model is light, being 
principally composed of framework, and moves on threo 
wheels—two on one side of 1J inch diameter each, and 
on the other one large wheel G inches in diameter, two- 
thirds of the weight being thrown on tho latter. The 
nave of the large wheel is the motive power, and by in¬ 
creasing the size of that wheel and diminishing the 
diameter of the nave any amonnt of motive power that 
may be desired can be obtained. On this nave are two 
grooves for belts; one belt works a flv-wlicel of 21 
inches diameter, the other a roller placed over the 
knives which project in front. From this roller thorn 
extends two-thirds the length of the model a succession 
of rollers, which carry an endless canvas belt across tho 
whole breadth. Hosting on the roller in front which 
carries the canvas belt is a large hollow drum, placed 
in grooves which admit of its rising or lowering. On 
the second groove of the nave above mentioned is a belt 
acting in opposition to the one working the knives; this 
belt works tne roller carrying the broad canvas belt on 
which the largo drum (as a gatherer) rests, and conse¬ 
quently as the belt revolves backward the drum revolves 
forward, drooping the heads of the wheat and bringing 
them on the bolt, where they are held firmly until cut 
by the knives. As the broad canvas belt extends two- 
thirds the length of the model, the other third contains 
an inclined plane thence to the back of tho machine. 
At the end of this incline there is a box swung on axles; 
the mouth of this box extends nearly the whole breadth 
of the model, but is so constructed as to have only two 
inches of an opening at the bottom. As the canvas belt 
brings up all the cut wheat heads foremost, the straw 
consequently runs down the other incline in the same 
position until it is received in the box. The box has no 
bottom, but in lieu of this a fixed board attached to the 
machine answers the purpose required. From this box 
an iron rod extends to the side of the largest wheel, hut 
is not attached thereto. On the inner side of the wheel 
various holts placed at equal distances from each other 
project, and as the wheel revolves they in succession 
lift one end of the rod, whilst the other, pressing on the 
box swung in tlia rear, raises the latter clear of the 
machine, and it having no bottom the contents fall out 
heads together ready for binding, and the box instantly 
resumes its former position until the wheel, in revolv- 
