The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-18

shears These teeth had smooth edges.
The defects of the machine were its
great weight and cumbrous wheels, and
the smooth edge of its teeth It was
faithfully made machine, but too heavy
especially when there. was dew on the
wheat, or grass was mixed with thu wheat
1t had, up to the time of the reaper-trlal,
proved moro efficient than any other
reaper previously used. The trial was, at
the invitation of Capt. William Allen. OF
Claremont, appointed to be held at his
Curle's Neck farm on James river, about
fifteen miles below Richmond. There
could not have been n better place found
in the State. The crop was magnificent,
and the field was one said to contain
thirteen hundred acres. A great crowd
was in attendance from many parts OF
the State. Such feast as was spread IN
the new barn on the place, for one thou
sand or more guests, was never seen IN
the State and will probably never be
seen again. It was royal In both style
and profusion.
The Hussey and the Burrill reapers
were early on the field. The Mccormick
was late getting in place. When it came
il was attended by Leander Mccormick,
the brother Of the inventor, VINO d1eu
few days since.
L
r1olsly in favor of the Hussey reaoer5
befort the trial commenced, as many of
the James-river farmers had been using
that machine fora year or more, some
CT whom had cast aside the Mccormick.
The trial was conducted in a very order
Il manner and the five judges We're
given every opportunity to test the merits
of the three competing reapers. They fol-
lowed them from the start to the finish.
49, ,I/> Of No. dow
the machines while cutting wheat, wet
with dew the trial was continued next
morning at sunrise.
After testing the machines in every
way practicable. the judges made their
award. Two were in favor of the HusseE;:
two of the Burrill CHussey in1proveD and
one OF the Mccormick, and the writer of
this vas that one.
My reasons briefly for thus voting were:
Mccormick had to his one point of adj
vantage, the sickic-edge. this season,
added the angular cuttins-tooth, or section
j of the blade. Any one who has ever cut
bundle of wheat with an old-fashiOned
sickle; knows the superiority of the saw,
edge over the smooth edge. The COM
hination adopted by Mccormick was the
browning point of success. This is proven
by the fact that the MCCORMICK has had
a world wide success since, while the
all but the Oldest farmers in the STATE.
1t is true that with continued s:,ecess
giving large means and extended facili-s
: ties, many other improvements were
made by the Mccormick, making itHeil-s
nigh perfect. ~
81 we'll recollect how Z was taken to
task by some Of my friends for throwing
mygtvote in favor Of the Mccormick ma
chine But, having watched the operation
of the raaner very closely. and Observing
the advantage of the angular section of
the blade, now made with the sicyle-S
edge, I was convince ed that the ,conbtna-
ton gave it superiority over the others.
1t has been a gratifying fact TO me that that.
my opinion has been approved by the aerl-
fcultural world.
Twenty years after this trial Of resp
ers another was held by the State Soc!e-
sty at Westoyer, the model farm OF the
late Major a. H. DreWry This 4 also
attended. as a member Of the Executive
Committee of the Society. It also was q
great .day.sgBut have not time to tel
about It here and now.
RICHARD IR8T.