The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-29
MeCQrmlek,a Reaper.

We have already adverted to the perform.
ance of this celebrated machine. We witnessed
its operation, and were struck with the precision,
leased the human race from the most arduous
labors of the harvest field, and given bread to
the millions of mankind with more cheapness
and abundance than ever before. 1t has obvi-
ated one of the great difficulties Of agriculture
in the North, the dearness and uncertainty of
labor, and has rendered slave labor more valua-
bic in the grain growing districts of the South
1t has thus facilitated the application of capital
to agriculture and rendered the country more
attractive to wealth. taste and fashion.
We subjoin the testimony of several gentle.
men who were also eye-witnesses of this ma.
chine.
WASHINGTON, June 26, 1852
Messrs. Editors Some account of the ex.
hibition of Mr.. McCormick's reaper on the farm
of Mr.. Geo. w. Young, pursuant to noti6e;,
through the city papers, may be expected.
The attendance and remarks of the members
of the Agricultural Convention lately assembled
here, were prevented by the threatening appear
ance of rain on the day they were invited by
Mr.. Mccormick to attend his operations.
We beg leave to say, through your columns
that we vera highly gratified in witnessing the
reaper in op grafton, far excelling that of the
No estimate Of the speed of the machine wa,
made. 1t cuts swarth of about six feet il
width, and il moved forward at a>brisk walk Of
the horses, showing itself capable of cutting
from Is to 20 acres per day; estimated by those
who have used it.
The machine is drawn by either two or three
horses, and the whole operation of the cutting
is directed and executed by two men, one who
drives the horses, the other who, carried by the
machine, rakes the grain from the platform.
The machine leaves no stalk of wheat un-
cut, nor after cutting, strews any of the stalks
or heads upon the earth--no straw cut short
with heads attached, so common in grading,
which are usually lost in binding or after haul.
ing. All is placed upon the platform, from
whence it is thrown by the raker in convenient
quantities to bind into sheaf, and in form favor
able to good binding; the butts Of the straw
being laid together in square form. II any por-
ton of the crop is lost in this mode of taking it,
it is from negligent and incomplete binding
alone.
Being ourselves, most of us, farmers, and hav-
ing carefully witnessed the operation of Mr..
McCormick's reapng machine, it is with pleas.
ure, not unmingled with pride, that we thus
testify to the success that has at length awaited
his long and perseverng efforts to aid the great
interests of agriculture.
]. NJ. H. Beall, NJ. c., Va. Truman Smith,
of the Senate; ]. w. Bradbury, do. Charles
Sweetser, Ohio Eben Newton, M. c.; John D..
Freeman, M. c., Miss. B. D. Nabers, M. c.,
Miss; d. X. Cartier, NJ c. Ohio; j. d. Colmes
nil of KY; Thomas II. Averett, M. c., Vs.. Jno.
Johnson, NJ. C., Ohio; G. II. Busby, M. c., Ohio.
Joseph Lane, Delegate from Oregon; Thos. IL.
Bayly, M. c., Va; Chas. Il. James, Senator from
Rhode Island; w. K. Sebastian, Ser ator from
Arkansas; Edmund Burke, ex-commssioncr Of
PATENTS; H. s. Walbridge, NJ. C., N. Y; F. Far
reilly, Arkansas; G. H. Pen6eld, N. Y; A. P
Edgerton, M. c., Ohio: Robert Beale, Wash
ington, Beverly Tucker, do.