Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-08-28
TRIAL OF MACHINE HARvEsTERs.

The exhibition of machine harvesters at the farm
of Mr. 7. 7. January, before the St. Louis Agricu-
tural and Mechanical Association, and which was
commenced on Friday, terminated on Saturday The
last day devoted to testing the capacity of the
harvesters, as reapers. There were four machines
enterted for the contest, as follows:
Atkins Mower and Reaper manufactured by Jno.
S. Wright Co., Chicago
Kentucky Harvester, manufactured by Miller,
Wingate & Co., Louisville, Ky st. Louis agent
Messrs. Landreth & Co.
G. H. Riggs, square draught Reaper and Mower
manufactured at Ottowa Illinois.
y Manny's Reaper and Mower manufactured by W.
N. & N. H. Purse, Ashley, Pike county, Missouri.
Essterly's Reaper and Mower, manufactured at
Heart Prairie, Wisconsin.
In consequence of the absence of portion of the
necessary machinery the ''AtkiLs' Machine was
Withdrawn.
The field selected for the contest was of such
character that it was matter of impossibility for
any one machine to have advantage over another so
far as the nature of the ground over which they
were to travelwas concerned, and the density the
sparceness of the grain they were to cut. As in the
trial for mowers, was allotted to each
chine. The Easterly Machine and the Kentucky
Harvester, were first put to work, the former per-
forming its task in thirty -four minutes and the lat
ter in thirty minutes; the Harvester losing three
minutes time by breaking of hame string. Both
machines completed their labor in ahighly satisfac-
tory manner, but in consequence of the Easterly
Machine working badly, it scattered the straw
than did the Harvester.
The Square Draught Reaper and Mower of Mr..
Rugg, and Manny's Reaper and Mower were next
put in competition, the former moved by mules
and the latter by horses. In twenty nine minutes
from the time of starting the Atkins Machine
finished its last swarth, and in thirty minutes the
Rugg Machine completed its work .'
The committee, which consisted of Messrs Web
ster President of the State Agricultural Society of
L
Lanham Oily Williams, G. B. Allen, George Hall
and VIM. P. Fem of St. Louis, now proceeded to
re-measure the ground cut by each machine, in
order to be that one had not performed more
less than another, and also to examine each
chine in detail in order that their various and COM
bined qualities or defects might be fully known.
The scale for the awardal Of premiums the
same as that adopted at the Fair held in Henderson
county, Kentucky-300 being the maximum num-
Der of points. We wish to remark here, that the
labOrs of the Committee of Awardal were arduous
in the extreme but were performed with cheerful
ness and good will highly commendable, and we
sure gave the most entire satisfaction to every
one whose interest wss represented. After they
had completed their examination of the machines
they adjourned to the mansion of Mr.. January,
where after computing the number of points credit
ed to each contestant, 1t was announced that the
premium for the best Mower (the contest for which
took place the previous day. due to Mower
entered py Sigerso & Co. of st. Louis. The premi-
um awarded is one hundred and fifty dollars.
For the best Reaper, and the best Reaper and
Mower combined, the Kentucky Harvester was
awarded the premiums-one hundred and fifty
dollars for the latter and three hundred for the
former. This machine appeared to be very
general fayorite, not only with the Committee but
with the farmers who witnessed the competition
In its construction, in every instance where
practicable wrought iron has been substituted for
wood and cast iron, and the machine combines
strength and durability with lghtness Of draught.
st Louis Republican, July u.