Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-08-17

pNlECr, Mr.
mick's wheat-reaping machine Fron, accounts whch1
had seen Of that machine particularly one NV nv
valued friend Doctor Braxton, OF King William was
induced foprrchaSc one, and now having tested IFS use i'm
my late harvest. viii candidy state the manner of its
performance.
My 6rst effort with the mschinc was ON a small, s.,,
of wheat Of belonging my nciyhbor General
Richardson The of the wheat was very AL
OF livery much tangled, by portion of II n~ a.
ON the ground. II had also rpencd irrcgularly so ,hat
whilst some quite ripe requiring immediate cutting
another portion green and consequently very hca.
Wy In addition to this, the riders, the rakcrs the pro-
prictor ot the machiue and all concerned
were perfect novcVs in the business. Mr. Mccormick
ON delivering the machine had promised TO TO my
mousse and instruct me IN its parts and But before
his coming, was called TO do the Job mentioned
above And IT gives me pleasure TO state, that notwh-
S'huS our chti ignorance OF the machine, aud to-
tai want of experience in use it performed not only 10
the satisfaction, but 10 the admiration Of twenty or
more gentlemen, who drawn there ON that occasion
In all instances except where the wheat was fiat on the
ground, it did remarkably clean work leaving scarcely
straw behind did moi know till was done b,, w.
then informed that had been working against time and
that had finished my job in hours and a half
which is just forty five minutes TO the
The next effort OF the machine was on field bclopp-
ing 10 another ncighbor, MIR. Ambrose Iutchson Here
also, considerable portion of the wheat was rank and
although much tangled, but little OF it was fiat on the
ground. Mr.. Mccormick was himself present on this
OCCASION and took the direction Of the machine And
here must in candor state, that if the machine did well
at General Richardson's, il did much better at Mr. Hut
chsoo's. On this occasion, there were present. during
the day some thirty forty gcntcncn, who were att
tracicd there by contest with MIR. HuSsey's machine
all Of whom, far as heard expressed themselves in
terms Of decided appreciation, i'll favor of Mr. McCor-
mich's machine On this day, ha, ing good team and
expert managers, the machine cut with great case Sc
vcnecn acres, and retained TO my house some time
before sunset Here, too, the work done great
ncatncsS; an evidence Of which, will state that il
was the concurrent OF the present that
at least thirty bushels of wheat had been saved which
would have been lost had il been cut by the cradle.
think IT also but Just to state that such the favorable
impression made, that this day was offered by two
gentlemen s oaday for the use of the machine, in
ting hoircrops Of wheat; but having got the machine for
my own use and not being able to accompany myself
was constrained to decline these tempting offers.
My machine next called into rcqustion, COM
pete with Mr.. Husscys machine, at Tree Hill-thc
splendid farm belonging to VIM II. Rosnc, Esq. Here,
too IT was under the personal direction Of Mr. McCor-
mick was present but short timc, and only say,
that whilst there il did its work with It's usual neaness
and expedition Much time was lost in starting il in the
morning, and again at dinner, that il cut, Gas was
told,) only fourteen acres on this day.
Thus far, my machine had mostly been engaged in
competition with machine invented by Mr.. Husscy of
Baltimore. As to the merits of these two machines or
which, in fact is the best machine does become me
to say word. But must, in justice TO Mr.. McCor-
mick say, that on one occasion where was present
viz: at Mr.. Hu'chisons, there appointed Commit
tee consisting OF fave of most respectable and perfect
~ dismiereSicd citizens, who, alter carefully inspecting
the operations Of the two machines the field, did
give the preferences to Mr.. McCormcls's.
This contest being over and my oats ripe, next
applied Che machine 10 the purpose for which had
bought It, viz: in cutting my own crop And here will
remark, that | raise no wheat. The only small grain
crop that cultivate is of OATS which dispose of in the
shcal at the ncighboring market Of Richmond. 1t isl
therefore, an object with me TO save much s,rotc
owing TO their having been seeded very late and the
season bad one, they were uncommonly short. Mr..
Mccormick had the kindness to apply small wheel
inc machine and to arrange it IN other respects TO
fit it for cutting at least inches lower than its ordi-
nary height Thus arranged, proceeded to take down
my crop, which done TO my entire satisfaction. My
object being TO the crop il cut, did
day tax the machine 20 the full amount of its powers,
but stopped until the binders nearly caught it. On
the first day Il employed six active young 10 follow
The machine, but found that ii constantly and rapidly
gained upon them. then increased the number to ten
/ i'm had 10
stop II when ii became necessary shock the grain:
How many men the machine will keep employed in the
whole process OF binding and Shocking depends of
upon the hiuncss or rnncss OF the grain, but think
that even in my short oats, it would have given ample
Upon the whole, am much pleased with my machine,
and can confidently recommend II most valuable APP
pendagc TO the labor saving department of the farmer.
an pleased with IT. on account OF the great eTpedion
with which ii operates. On no day, one has my
machine been fully employed; and then there
loss OF two hours at dinner time, and still it
cut, as have already stated II finishing its work
some time before night. Now, need not tell the farmer
how Important may say, now acknowledgement is,
during the busy Of harvest. have seen my
crop suffering and yet afraid urge on my Graders
lest from the heat and excessive draughs of cold water
should endanger their health, life itself But
here is machine which requires cold water does
even utter whisper of complaint on The score of heat
or fatigue, and yet ii does the work of least seven
men.
pleased with the machine further because of The
superior nedfneSs with which it does itswors. Here
the adage, ''hasc makes wastc,' does not hold good
Where the grain stands erect where it is tangled but
tchoe rarely leaving stalk behind In fact the field,
after the machine has passed it, presents; The singu;
lar and beautiful appearance of having been only
rafed, bat Sicept like the machine, further because it
deposites the grain not in hands FULL after manner of
the cradle but in large of from four six bundles
In p'accthus greatly facilitating that tedious process
| OF reducing the grain TO bundles.
AgaIn.-Ihc Temperance Society has done much to-
wards nrprcssng the use OF ardent spirits, but really
think that Mccormick is entitled to great credit on the
same score; for his machine is much Tcctotaer as
Dcavan himself; but then it is somew hat of Lapander
IA eoI
( of train oil.
In fine, here is machine which works with great cx-
petition dspatching its business with great rapy and
at the same time doing its work with neatncss and
ceannes with which the cradle prcends comparison
SAYING as many think, grain enough in crop to
1t must, therefore, be valuable machine
j. II. TURNER.
] The Rev. Lnthnr unnnnhreu. of Edmardshr mi,