The times., 1898-11-24
COMMERCE. WITH SCOTLAND.
american Agricultural Machinery Il
In Great Demand.

IN urent demand.
The State Department has received from
Rufus Fleming, consul at Edinburg, the
following report on United States agri-
cultural machinery in Scotland"
American made agricultural machinery
Is widely used on the farms of Scotland.
Most kinds cf machinery for farm pur-
poses manufactured in the United States
nave long been preferred by farmers here,
on account Of price, quality and design.
While the obvious merits of their ma
chimes have been the essential recommen-
dation. 1t is. nevertheless, true that
American manufacturers in this line have
obtained the market by the readiness
with which they met the special require
ments of the Scotch farmer. They adapt
ed their machinery to the market. 1 refer
10 Scotland in particular. but the same
thing may be said generally of the United
Kingdom
The old-style American reaper or har-
Nester cut on the right side This did
not suit the Scotch farmer: he wanted
a machine that cut on the left side
therefore. he would not buy the Ameri-
can machine, and the English-made
reaper was practically without competi-
tor. When the self-binder was invented.
1t commended itself at once as a labor
saving device, besides cutting on the left
side; but 1t encountered difficulties in
scotch fields. There is here a heavier
stand OF grain than in most parts of the
United States. Moreover. the farmers
sow grass seed with the barley so that
altef the barley has been cut the sheen
may feed on the field. This grass is exceed
ihsiy fine and also dense. The new reaper
ar .tts,t
the fact that the underground of grass In
lne barley interfered with its working.
ne blade OF the machine was too liyht
ana the canvases were not properly ad-
Justed. No sooner were these defects
from the Scotch point of view-ascertained
than heavier blade was introduced and
the canVases were altered. In less than
TWO years, the american seif-binder was
an established favorite; it stflI holds
the market. British manufacturers of
reapins machines have not been able to
make any headway against IT,
ne chilled plow was not at first suite,I
10 the needs OF Scotch farmers. They
prefer narrow furrow and do NOT deem
II good plan to throw the furrow over.
they wish, rather. to set il on edge The
Pow vas changed to meet their ideas as
10 ,he proper way to turn up the ground.
ana the result was that the American
American farm machinery of nearly
every description has had to be altered i'm
some important respects. to adapt it TO
the different conditions found here. Most
manufa- turers have been quick to make
the necessary changes, and their enter
prise has been abundantly rewarded. No;
only are there great and increasing sales
annually Of these classes OF machinery
but any new American invention is read
Hy taken up BY the farmers on this sid..
Self binders and chilled plows have
been mentioned as instances wher. a,Ir
manufacturers have captured the Scotch
market by considering the needs OF the
consumer Thrashing machines may b.
mentioned as an instance Of the failure Of
American manufacturers thus far 10 *
acily meet the requiren nents of farmers
In this country. owing 10 the rank
growth and humid atmosphere. the
WEIGHT Of straw land of grass miNei with
~ 10 be thrvEs on J. much greater dian
l. the case in IN" United States 4 much
hea'ier and strong.r machine g. uscs--
sary FOR general use O. has not SEE ben
provided b. American manufacture.