Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-08-05
file Reaper Tfal al Dixon.

Thursdays Proceedings The trial Of
reapers was the great feature Of TharscaE.
Ihe weather was fine, and more modern
ton characterizsd the progress Of work,
with no less interest 10 those present.. "A
ne field of wheat Of between 200 and 500
acres was selected fer the trial. Some Of
the grain was light and some heavy; some
ofitlodged and some stood straight. The
trial Of mac, iaes entered rs reapers oceu-
pie tie first part Of re day,and q portion
.of those entered as combined machines
were tried as reapers towards the close
The seli-raking reapers were tried first
McCornick's, Woads, and Seymour "
Morgan's were tried in the morning. Each
Of these machines did good work, 50, for as
cutting is concerned. McCormick's first
trial was with his four horse machine,
!. hich cut six feet SIX inches wide. The
self-raker was the great feature and attrae-
ton Of this mashine. It is att,che.l -
reel bar, ard its motion IS ike IL. ITO
liyers the grain at ere side ard in gavels,
and very nicely. The grain although some
what spread, is laId evenly so chat the
bundle is made without extra exertion, and
all the grain saved. The side draft is
heavy IN This machine, and this is the main
objection among farmers, who commend
its work ii all respects The machine IS
also durably, that is, substantially made,
and from this cause is growing in favor
among that class Of farmers who do not
Gaze for and properly protect costly ma
chinery.
Woods frrker does quite as good work
in cutting grain as il did in grass. Its
self-raking attachment isingenious AMI eff
Gent, but it does not lay its gayels off IN
quite as good shape as MeCormicks; it
has a side delivery, but the gayels are laid
on so that the binder ia following the
reaper to bind, comes directly to the top
or base Of tie grain. IF Unnecessary to gath-
er it all he must take extra steps, and it
gives him extra work; be finds the grain
more compact than McCormick's. This
machine was worked by two horses instead
Of four, but the cut was not 50 wide by a
foot, and The Il ae ofcutting the aPportion-
ed field was greater; 5at because Of its
light craft, efficacy DC, it loses nothing
among farmers when compared with cost
" machines.
Seymour & Morgan's self-raker was
tried alongside these two machines. The
cutting was wei dome. The raker deliver
Cd the grain in the same relative position
to the machine tlat MeCormIca's did.
Seymour q Morgan's machine is in good
aepute among farmers. High commenla-
ton has been awarded it by farmers who
have used It.
Cline, Seiberling & Co, have novel
way Of getting the grain from the plat
form without the aid ofany soft ola raker.
The grain falls upon a skeleton platform
which holds it until the dryerliits bis foot
from lever and leaves or drops it upon
the graqad behind the machine. The
quality of the work is splendid in all res
poets, but unfortunately when 50 many
brave men, with strong muscles, are going
to the war, it requires more help than is
always at the disposal Of the farmer 70
take UP and bind the gayels which are
left directly in the path Of the team. Then
there were the Buckley, Esterly's Wisconsin
machine and Curtis machine il operation.
Some Of them lad time to complete the
work allotted Is hem and some AZ not.
Several other machines entered were
not put into the grain at al On Thursday.
they were reserved for Fridays trial.
There has been butone grain hinder on
trial for the benefit Of spectators, not under
tie direction Of The committee. 1t is Bun-
sons 1t does good work and proves to
be as efficient as the trial and its work
hitherto promises it viii BE adopted by
such machines as it can be attached to.
It is apparent that the days Of haGd-rakiug
machines are numbered, unless binders can
be attached tc them, and the crowd which
gathered about and cheered BuHsons
binder attests the Importance which farn-
ers attach 10 it, and is significant OF the
progress which is demanded Of inventors
and manufacturers. The grain IL which
the work was performed IS spring wheat,
which VII average fifteen bushei TO the
acre, perhaps. The surface is smooth, the
condition OF the ground good, and the
degree Of heat favorable to active exer-
fions.