Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-02-05
REV. p. HARRIsON,s LETTER.
ELK Hill, Dec. l3, 1,

ELK TILL, Dec. l3, 1915.
Dear Sir-I cheerfully comply with your re-
quest TO give you Tor publication my opinion in
regard to your "Reaper." / do this the more
readily, because l believe its introduction into
general use would be great public benefit.
In the commencement of the last harvest,
put two Reapcrs in operation i'm Elk Island in
field of ITO acres: at the same time, started Ii
cradles in highland field, at this place, of the
slmo quantity of land. The Reapers on the
Island and the cradles on the Hill finished their
work at the expiration of six days. There was
not hours difference. If the cradles had
been on the Island instead Of the highland, do
net think they could have performed more than
two-,hirds of the work. On the fairgrounds,
therefore, where the harvest is generally heavy,
consider the "Reaper" to be equal to 10 cradles.
| found one cradle sufficient to open the way for
the two reapers. This, with the addition of the
drivers, the rakers and five picAeSnlp, stationed
around the field to each rtapeyI - ]Aied a force
OF 10 hands-not estimating the shockers. The
Ii cradles on the Hill were followed BY an equal
number OF pickers up-making % hands. Ifmy
estimate Of the comparative labor of cutting with
the scythe on the highland and low-orounds be
correct, 1t would have required 40 hands 10 cut
and pick up the crop on the Island in the same
time that the work was done by Is hands with
the reaperS. i have not estimated the labor of
the horses, which were changed three times
day, as, in the time Of harvest, they would other
wise be idle. The labor of the hands, except
that of the raker, is easier than in the harvest
field where cradles are employed. And even the
raker, when he becomes accustomed to the oper.
alton OF the machine, and learns TO be deliberate
waiting Till the apron is pretty well filled with
wheat before he rakes it out, finds this work very
practicable. by changing places occasionally
with the driver, the labor of both is comparative
ly easy.
The reaper cutting across the beds on low
grounds, does far better work than can he done
by cradles. never saw low-grcund field cut
so clean as that on the Island There is far less
loss, too, by scattering. The wheat being thrown
In piles OF three or four sheavcs, there Is saving
OF one-thlId Of the number Of pickcrs up. 1t
has been customary TO pay on this estate 5000
harvest hire. In the last harvest, paid only
$50. Another item of expense, by no means in
considerable, which Is saved by the use of the
reaper, is the feeding OF larger number of hands
l have seen it stated, that the actual saving in
wheat, was half a bushe to the acre: and
should think it a moderate estimate.
The construction Of the reaper is simple. The
knives did not require sharpening just begin
ming TO be rather dull at the close OF the harvest
think we saved more than the cost of the reap
ers, which are uninjured, except that the knives
VIII require sharpening. We have besides two
new knives to begin the next harvest, each reap
er having an extra knife.
have confined my remarks to the operation
of the "reaper'' on low grounds; but, from an
experiment of days cutting they perform equal
iy we'll on highland where the wheat is good,
and the land free from stumps and stones.
am SO well satisfied Of the utility of your
reaper, that shall want another on the other
side of the river before the next harvest.
am, dear sir, very respectfully, yours, &c.
p. HARRISON.
Mr.. G. III. McCoRMIcK.
have now cut two haTvests with McCormick's
Reaper, and have the same opinion of its value
as labor and grain saving implement which
was expressed in my certificate Of last year, and
can therefore recommend il TO the farming COM