Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-06-11
A BOON TO THE SOUTH.
I0HNSTON'S SELF-RAKINe REAPER.
A Description Of this Excellent invention.

The great SUCCESS of the farming inter-
est in the West Mas been due to the very
large number of 1abor-saving machines
which have from timeto time been intro
duced through the inventive genius of
skilled mechanics. Conspicuous among
these machines has been the Reaper, "
which is now to be found on every farm
throughout the great Western country,
and Is gradually and most efectually being
introduced into the Southern States,
tuBl. During the past few years many
great improvements have been made in
the peculiar machinery appertaining to
:" Reapers." and in this respect, perfection,
if that were possible, NAV almost be said
to have been attained by the manufac-
turers of Johnston's Selfraking
Reaper, "nOw being extensively intro
duced into this section ofthe country, and
which promises in time TO work quite a
revolution among the farmers of Tennes-
see, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and
adjoining States.
The e~nterprising farmers in Mississippi,
especially, who have already procured
this King of Reapers," as IL has justly
been named, are loud in its praise, and
their encomiums are most hearty in their
character in regard to the ann in which
this machine performs its work, and the
great ease with which it is operated,
whether on level prairie or irregular
ground. The admirable construction Of
this triumph of skill in h Reaper lii Is
50 complete nat on any kind of land it
works with equal precision. It Is indeed,
a boon of the first magnitude to the
| Southern farmer, and we heartily COM
| mend this most excelleE machine to our
| agricultural friends in all sections of the
"Sunny South"
The above remarks are more particu-
larly called forth by a severe trial Ofthis
genuine self-raking reaper, which we had
| the pleasure of Witnessing a few days ago
| on the farm of Mai. /. n. Davis, at Oak
Lawn, near Como, Miss, in the presence
of a large number of the leading farmers
and planters of the vicinity, all of whom
were highly delighted with the very ex-
cellent and complete manner with which
the reaper performed its work. 1t may
simply be said to have created quite SEN
satiOn throughout the entire section from
the praises which were sounded on every
side in regard to this really wonderful
machine. \ pair of light horses were at
tached to the reaper, and everything
being in readiness, an intelligent colOred
boy mounted the drivers seat, and soon
the machine was in motion in a field of
fine wheat which fell gradually, but rapid
Is, before the knives of the machine, the
swath being six feet in width. All adj
mired the "sweetness," to use a mechan-
| ical term, with which the machine worked.
| The ground was uneven and in many
places very rugged; but this proved no
impediment TO the working Of the reap
err" The inventor seemed 10 have pro-
vided for every emergency, and by the
slightest movement of the foot on the part
of the driver. the "Esvels" were controlled
and regulated so thai bundles Of grain of
any required size were raked and neatly
laid alongside the reaper ready for the.
hands of the binder. Another great and
certainly most deSided improvement is
what NAV be described as the filter
movement" which is brought into play
on all kinds of irregular ground, and
by the very slightest effort on
the part of the driver the ma
chine is raised or lowered in an instant.
This proves particularly beneficial where
grain has been beaten down by a storm of
wind or rain, and when il has become en-
tangled on the ground. When the at
tempt has been made by other reapers to
cut grain while in this condition it has on
nearly all occasions resulted in the grain
being chopped into a mess" or passed
over untouched, while by the filter
movement of JOhnstOn's Self-Haker all
this is obviated, and q swath is cut as
evenly as If the stalks were all perfectly
erect. The inventor OF this Reaper, by
the most simple machinery, has overcome
a difficulty which has long prOvcda STUN
bling block in the manufacture Of other
Reapers, and has, in this respect, placed
the Johnston " in the van Of all others
and given it the precedence 70 which it is
so Justly entitled.
All present at the trial on Major Davis
farm acknowledged that the Johnston -
is indeed and in truth a triumph of me-
chauical skill. and superior in every par
ticular to every other machine of the kind
ever introduced into the Southern eOun-
try.
For the information Of our nun eroils
farming friends, a brief description Of this
truly useful and practical invention Will
no doubt prove very interesting, more
especially at the present time, when har-
vesting is about To commence.
This self-raking Reaper cuts "a Six-feet
swath with less draft han a light four
feet mOwer-such is the perfection of the
machinery. Only two horses or mules
are REQUIRED, as there is no side draft
whatever. In construction this machine
throughout is most simple, pinions and
c~og-wheels taking place Ofchains and pull
leys so that any ordinary col0red farm Ia
borer can run it. The seat for the driver
is placed most a~dyantageOusly outside
the driving wheel, and while acting as an
entire balance TO the Reaper the driver
has at all times full command Of his team.
and Of the entire machinery. Fnthc older
Reapers the 'sHeel" has W. held a most
conspicuous position, but in the John
stOu" five revolving rakes have
usurpCd their place-a most decided
improvement, as they work equally
well in tan or short grain.
1t will be observed thai from the ease
with which the entire cutting apparatus
of this Reaper can be raised and lowered,
the stubble can be left from two to twenty
inches from the ground, as occasion may
require. Farmers viii be able TO duly APP
preciate all these improvements, as the
platform is continually kept clear, and the
bundles of grain are, as has been previ-
ously said, laid clearly and evenly, ready
for the hands of the binder.
Mr.. Samuel Johnston Is the inventor of
this most excellent Reaper, and can lay
claim to all the new improvements which
it possesses. 1t is now manufactured by
Johnston, Huntley & Co., of BrockpOrt,
New York, and agencies for the sale of
the machine are being establishedin every
State Ofthe Union, the Northwestern de-
partment being II No, p, South Canal
street, Chicago.
During the past three months Mr.. John
+, Fullen, the indefatigable agent Of this
valuable reaper, has made an extensive
tour throughout the South, and re-
ceived a very large number of orders, He
has exercised the most excellent judg-
ment in selecting Messrs. A. J. White 4
Co., No. 234 Front street, Memphis.
importers of hardware and general
dealers in agricultural implements, who
have at present on hand everything suita-
Bile for the farmer and the planter. This
firm has been well and favorably known
as merchants of the s~trictest integrity for
the past quarter of a century, and Will III
future be distinguished as the agents of
I" Johnston's Self-Haking Reaper" for
the Southwest.
PERSONAL.
John Zent, Esq, left the city yesterday
f0F a short pleasure trip nOrthward.
Jesse W. Page, Jr., returned home yes