Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-06-26

LEWIS, near Nashville, on Friday, June 18th. Six
machines entered in competition and took their
places in the fOllo~ing order:
LIST, New York Reaper
ID, New York Reaper, Combined MschiEe,)
Sd, Kirby's American Harvester,
4tb, Whitely's champion"
9Th, Easterlys Harvester (self- Raker,)
9Th, Pelrs Mannys Self-Raker.
The weather was delightful, and the graiu in good
condition for making fair and complete test, and
the Committee disposed to demand an exhibition of
their full capacity. The Southern Homestead gives
the following account of the trial
We have witnessed many trials of ReapiDg Ma
Chimes both private and public, and never saw the
equal Of this days work There was not machine
on the ground that did not do good work, in light
and heavy grain, and on hillside end level
ground.
The first examination by the Committee was upon
the New York Reaper. This is an old and reliable
machine well known to the farmers Of the country.
1t even excelled its former reputation, and was
found by the Committee doing its! sbor almost ike
| a thing of life" with and beauty that at
once made it q favorite.
The next was the Kirby Harvester. This is q
new importation into Tennessee, this being its first
season Of introduction into our State but it has
! at once by its "good works" become a powerful
and successful competitor for the Prizes, and the
more substantial tokens in the shape of the dollars
| Of those buying machines.
| Il possesses several new improvements of vital
Importance to a good combined Machine for Reap
ing aud Moving, which we shall describe in future
numbers of the Homestead in connection with suit
able eugravings to illustrate the different parts.
Next comes the Whitley Machine, well known at
| the prize Machine of last year. both as q Mower
/ and a combined Machine As usual it was doing
in etv he al tn
took fright and away, breaking the reel AID
| otherwise injuring the Machine. 1t was, however
| again put to work, subecting the raker, however
to the double task of Keeling The grain to the sickle
and di charging the cut grain from the pa form
both OF which it succeeded in doing in a credtabl
and satisfactory manner.
The Committee passed on to the Essterly Har
vester which they found not only cutting its grain
but delivering it in moderate sized gaVels ready TO
the Binder. This is much larger Machine thar
either of the others, but arranged that its Graf
is comparatively light.
The sixth Machine is PelPs Msuey's Self Raker
somewhat similar in size and appearance to tn
Eastery Machine, though somewhat better, anC
with less draft and friction than that machine.
Self-Raking Reapers, Ehsve not yet been intro
duced to any extent in this country, AMI at THU
time public opinion is set somewhat against them
owing perhaps, to the prevailing opinion that the
are not well adapted to all kinds Of land and grail
as hand rskers, which We judge to be true, fror
various observations We have made of them unde
| different circumstances.
The Committee then proceeded to re-exsmin
each machine, and interrogste the exhibitors upo
the various parts of their machines asking descTI
tiOns, etc, which necessary to enable them {
make an accurate and reliable decision. After seJ
eral hours spent in examination, tests, So, the
awarded the Premium for the best Reaper
, Whitelys Champion mschine, S. Weller, ST
Agent, Nashville, and the Premium for the bes
Combined Reaper and Mower, to Kirby's America
Harvester Armstrong & Co., Agents, Nashville.
Much credit is due Maj. LEWIS for the kind an
O5gng manner in which he placed every thing
the disposal of the Committee necessary for a CON
plete test Of the machines and for the sumptl
Gus manner in which he entertained the large cor
psny present