The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-11
From he New York Herald.


We have published reports of the several trials both
in this country and in England, OF rival eapefs ana
mowers by various agricultural associations during The
present year The Economist London Journal OF high
chaIacter sums up the important tests OF the re-
specve merits OF rival machines which have been made
during the late harvest in Eng Gland as follows;
REAPING MAcHIsEs-We have purposely abstained
from commenting upon the various accounts " the prog
made in reapng corn by machine until the termna
ton OF the harvest should enable 10 form esii.
nate of the OF this class OF instruments,
and 10 ascertain which OF the several competing reapng
machines has proved The most effective Enough has been
done by the OF the reaplDg machine TO prove that
long IL will in great measure supersede hand reap
ing large farms. Even great economy obtained
by using the machine, and there 10 believe
that great improvements will be made in the different
machines before the public TIE following are
ports comparative trials made between rival reaping
machines. The fret trial between Hussey Amcri
can machine as manufactured by Croskll and Mr. Bells
original Scotch machine. The trial took place the
farm Of Mr. Watson. of keilor in the presence OF
numerous party OF distinguished landowners and agr-
cultursls. The award Of the judges strongly in
favor OF Bells machine.
the Dhed Farmers Club in Yorkshire in Trial be.
tween Hussey's and McCormick's machines. in which
the decision was favor of the latter and the following
contains their reasons for that decisions
McCormick's machine IS SIX feet wide, and Hussey $
Ave but it would be impossible always to keep up a
cutting exactly to these widths they conceive that
inches less is all that be calculated upon, and those
Widths viz: five and half aud four and half feet, and
the horses moving al speed OF two and hall
Iecommend.) Hussey's machine would In five aud hall
hours exactly and half acres; while IN the
same time and with full as little horse power, Meteor
mick's machine would do nine and tweny-sx poles
Another matter worthy OF consideration is that one man
only is needed 10 drive the horses in McCormcks ma
chine, the horses being yoked ABREAST while Two are
necessary in Husseys, the horses having draw in a
line. McCormck's machine also possesses another adj
vantage in having wooden reel which, without any In
jury TO the corn, materially assists the man who pulls
away the sheaves, and gives him better opportunity OF
adjusting their size But the greatest superiority OF Nc
Cormicks machine over Husseys, which your committee
have TO notice. s that the sheaves when pulled OF are lad
in such way not to impede lis working, that two
men and two horses may move on uninterrupledy,
leaving the OF the aborers be otherwise employ
ed while in Husseys the sheaves lift behind, and
sufficient number OF kmen il, consequently requisite
10 remove them, so that the machine may on This,
your committee need point out, grave objection,
especially when the crops much mixed with
clover seeds and when is desirable to let the sheaves
remain unbound for a few days Your committee are
further of opinion that from the violent Tevebaiory
ton impaired to every part OF Husseys machine durab-
ty 10 be expected and that the form OF the
ted cutters in McComcks machine is far preferable
the deeply ndented cutters in Husseys and that they
will not nearly often need renewing In giving de-
cided preference TO McCormicks, their opinions were
The report concludes with the following very sensible
remarks the effect produced the agricultural labor
by the increased use OF machinery in husbandry
AS your committee have already stated their opinion Of
the utility OF well. constructed reapng machines the
interests of the farmers not be improper 10 state
what in their opinion, will be their effect upon the
dOn OF that useful and class the farmers Ia
bores. They conceive they would be at no loss for ar
guents to prove that IN whatever branch OF industry
machinery has been the most extensively useful the con-
dlion of the operative (however paradoxical il may
appear) has been improved in a corresponding degree
For proof of the truth OF this assertion, your committee
need not 60 into the Yves, Riding Lancashire, but may
confiDe themselves TO branch OF industry i'm
mediaey under The observation OF every one connected
with agriculture; and fact is worth many nrgu
nents they may call attention TO the effects that thrash
ng machines drills, and many other implements Tor
acating and essenng the necessary operations OF ag
culure, have had upon the condition OF The laborer and
We shall nd that notwithstanding the immense increase
of the laborng poor upon limited surface and their
proved condition, their predicted fears OF the baneiul
effects OF the Introduction OF machinery were altogether
chmerca and unfounded and that instead OF consider
ing themselves likely 10 be injured by the shifting OF
bodily labor 10 animal or steam power, they are
reaping advantage which. properly understood, ought
to be hailed by them boom advantage can be
gained by any class that will not ultimately be spread
over the whole community.
manufactured by Garret, and McCormicks, made by
Messrs Burgess and Key which took place on the Agri
cultural College farm at Cirencester. Here, also, Nc
Cormick's seems TO have been preferred
That, upon exanina tion of the fields in which the
crops had been cut, found the work TO have been
neally we'll and satisfactorily done by both machines
but the stubble left by Husseys appeared, in all descrp
tons OF grain rather the neaestand most even In each
il had been considered necessary TO follow with
the horserake, which had efectuay cleared up all the
waste amounting It was iouna on the wheat siuo9Ie,
CARROTS machine. The wheat fields considered TO
have been favorable for The working of the machines,
being generally level and clean and to have presented
fair average sand-u crops in places much laid such
likely TO have produced, in fair YIELD about
probably thirty bushels per acre, rather The
beans moderate CROP drilled twenty inches apart,
had been principally by McCormick's machine. which
had made very fair work and the small portion upon
which Husseys had been tried was equally well done
both instances, leaving more tidy stubble than the
scyihe which had been applied TO adjoining portion
of the CROP crop OF of about twenty five acres,
which inspected had been by the machIoes and
The living the ground The cut by Hus-
seys appeared the cleanest and best work but
sidered either sufficiently well done We made care
full inspection of the working OF the two machines in
field OF barley laid down with clover and grass The
barley estimated TO produce about four quarters per
the but not equal throughout portion
being estimated at five quarters while other parts were but
only three quarters the clover being regular and very
luxuriant, particularly where the barley was light
est. We considered this CROP from its nature, to be
trial to the machines, though the day being fine
and the clover dry, were points much in their favor.
The work made by each OF them highly satisfactory,
and where the barley stood up point of cutting every
thing which could be desired, and where partially
laid not much TO be found fault with. Husseys cut the
stubble lowest, and left 1t rather the OF the
two but in than one instance during our inspec-
ton il clo9ged require the machine 10 be stopped
in order clear the knves-an accident likely, in
spnon have occurred more frequently, and 10 have
serious obstruction had the crop been wet
even dew damp
From this objection McCormck's appeared to be free
far our observation went the serated cutters al
ways clearing themselves and It's delivery was IN thus
crop very superior, the barley laid out regularly
by the one man the machine conveniently In small
heaps, with the ears generally upward, while the two
men who were employed in Hus.eys TO effect lateral
-. 49, II. II. IL