Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-06-26
Season Talk.

Wheat-growers appeared to be content
with the Incompatible reaper, as it is with
the twine-binder attachment. DouDtless
the machine would have remained at that
stage of progress SO far as it is employed in
the wheat belts subject to rains in harvest
time, but for the grasping spirit of monop-
olists who have succeeded in forming
twine-trust, and thus more than doubling
the price for it above its real commercial
value. The trust has overstepped the
bounds of reason, and now the spirit is
abroad in the land for securing the grain
without the use of Irvine or even binding
the straw in sheaves.
On the Goth May, we referred to the Of
fered prize by the Illinois State Grange of
$40, 900 to successful inventor of an at
tachment which would twist the straw into
a cord at the same time the cutting process
was going on, and with that bind the
sheaves. We thought that such an inven-
ton was no more difficult than the progress
made by Mccormick and by others who
have added Improvements to special parts
of the machine-none of them comparable,
however, to the achievement of the origi-
nal idea in the serrated sickle, without which
the machine would be nNeless, and upon
which there has been no improvement. we
furthermore held up the offend prize to
view and expressed the hope Mat some
genius in the Valley, if not from aSaid his
native hills where Mccormick toiled with
brain and hands to work out the problem,
would be found equal to the occasion.
The twine.trust has positively been the
instrument in melting inventive genius to
efforts thai are casting designs very far
ahead, and for the purpose of dispensing
with binding altogether.
The Bovee Harvesting Machine Company
of Tama City, Iowa, tackled the problem
of gathering from the field without bind
ing, and their machinery is pronounced
upon favorably by committees from the
Farmers Alliance of several States Full
and complete trials of the machines will be
made this harvest IN the West, after
which we shall know more of it. The COM
plete set consists of three machines, the
reaper, the rake, and the stacker.
The grain is cut by the reaper when in
proper state for that purpose and laid in
two swaths, side by side. When cured, and
ready for housing, it is taken up by the
loader and deposited on the wagon, and
then with the stacker is placed in shed,
barn or stacked, or still better threshed in
the field as may be desired, and all done
by horsepower. 1t is claimed that the
cost of cutting and housing or stacking,
compared with the mode now practiced with
our most advanced machinery, is not one
half. The machines now in operation and
passing the ordeal of final test are con-
structed for level land, cutting swaths
twelve feet wide. They can Of course be
constructed for less width, and therefore
the better adapted to rolling land.
We have confidence in the practicability
of machinery Of the character described
Whether this particular machinery sue
ceeds or not, it is only a question of time,
and not long at that, when grain will be
cut, cured, and housed in this way. But
throwing doubt and conjecture aside, oul
faith is strong in the success of the present
effort. We shall watch its progress, and
in due time, we feel assured, we can an
nounce its triumph.
We have read the accounts of the Bovee
machinery as they appeared in that excel
lent journal the Prairie Farmer, and shall
look to it to furnish the results of the trials
to which the machines will be subjected
With its success a new relief will have
come to the wheat-growers of the world,
Tightening their tolls and lessening the
anxieties of harvesting and housing the
crop, of all others the most precious in the
sight of the Creator and His vicegerant or
earth.