Smyrna times., 1882-06-28
For The Smyrna Times
The Trial of Wheat Rea-
perS at Dover.
DOVER. June q. 1SS:

DOVER, June 81, 1882.
MR.. EDITOR This afternoon about
two hundred persons assembled at the
wheat field of MIR. David Hancock,
about one-half mile from town, to wit
ness the contest between the several
self-binding reapers, sold by agents of
this town. The wheat was in excellent
condition for cutting, and in that direc-
ton the reapers experienced no trouble.
The judges were Chief Justice Comegys,
Albert Curry, Esq, of Sussex county,
and 7. B. COursey, Esq, Spring Mills,
this county.
Three o'clock was the hour for
starting, but it was nearly half-past,
when the Woods started on her first
round. The judges followed on after
her in a large twO-hOrse carriage, and
carefully noticed her every movement
After finishing her second round she
withdrew, to let another one in. The
Wood, was entered by Mr.. Thomas I.
Kellum, of this place, and driven by a
Mr.. Scott. She cut six and half feet,
binding tight and tied bow knot.
The Buckeye followed the Wood, and
after cutting two rounds withdrew. She
was entered by Messrs. Stevenson &
Slaughter, of this place, and Mr.. Thos.
! Willis, driver. The Buckeye had several
friends, and this afternoon works made
them think more fher. In making the
rounds she experienced no trouble, cut
the wheat clean, a space of 81 feet, and
tied her bundles tight, with bow knot.
The Osborne, was the third to follow.
She had her friends, also, who looked
upon her with admiration, and so
! anxious were they to see how she made
out that several of them went with her
| on her rounds. She like the two which
! proceeded her, gave general satisfac-
! ton. Some went Sc far as to say that
she Outworked the etheFs, while the
| less enthusiastic shook their heads in
silence. She was entered by Mr.. Geo
w. Baker, and driven by Mr.. G. A.
Smith. The width cut by her was I
feet, clean, tied tight, with bow knot.
While the Osborne was on her trial
trip, the Mccormick, was in another
quarter of the field, cutting the wheat in
her usual good way. When the Osborne
withdrew she took her place and cut
her two rounds, when she gave way
for the Esterly. ! don't know that
she did any better work than the Others
but can say she did as well. She
was entered by Mr.. John Hopkins anC
driven by Mr.. John Wright. The
width of her cutting was 81 feet, and
tied her bundles in a hard knot.
The Esterly was stranger to those
present and it was not until after she
stopped that she received any praise, anC
then she got her share. She was enter
ed by i. B. Evans & Co., of your town
Her work gave as general q satisfaction
rs any of the machines, She cut six
feet and tied hard not,
The Deering Marsh Harvester was the
last on the list At first her driver, the
machinist, experienced some little trou
BILE to get her to start, as she had been put
up q short time before he was ready tC
start in the race, but when the machine
got 10 working all right, everything
then went along asnieely as one woulf
wish. She was closely observed jbN
the Judges, and think made fayora
BILE impression upon them. The CON
test did not end until after six o'clock
The Judges followed each reaper arounC
and examined the bundles very closely
The premiums will not be awarded
until The meeting Of the State Agricul
tuFal Fair, and it viii nof until thel
be known who the fortunate one vii
be. OF course eaeh' 9as eSpepts to ge
The premiums.