Agricultural.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 37, 25 March 1875, Page 3

Agricultural.

REAPINGAND BINDING MACHINE. Mr Harvey, of Preston, has recently obtained letters patent for an improved reaping, gathering 1 , and binding machine. Its greatest merit, and that which will be with the farmers its chief recommendation, is its simplicity. The Teriest tyro in engineering may soon learn how to manage it, although it is no easy task to write a description. The machine is drawn by two horses, and requires two men to work it, one driving and the other standing on a platform. The motive power is communicated to the machine by means of ] two driving wheels, the one being connected with a driving-rod which runs along the whole length of the machine *nd manages the reaping, and the other is required for the gathering and binding portion. Between the two wheels runs a thick bar for imparting strength By different sets of running wheel*, •which «an be changed with ease, the wheat can be cut at any height, most farmers preferring to have it cut pretty high up, so as to have good stubble. By two fingers running out through the wheat, the corn is cast back on to iron planks (prepared for it on the body of the machine) as fast as it is cut, while a flap at the side of the knife, which works in unison with the reapingwheel, prevents any stray corn from falling off or getting among the cogs. The corn thus thrown on to the place prepared for it is ready for gathering. This process, together with the binding, is completely under the control of the workman standing on the platform. By means of these shafts, fitted with iron teeth, which work in " slots " let into the iron hand on which the corn falls, it is brought up in sections towards the operator, one shaft bringing it onethird of the way, and then, by an ingenious contrivance of gates or clicks, the ends of the shafts are fastened off from returning the way they came, and must drop to a lower groove, prepared for the return journey. Thus, in going back, the teeth are kept quite free from the corn, and, when ready to come forward again, the gates shut the lower groove, and it must travel the upper. This in itself is an advantage which the farmer will appreciate. When brought up to the third section of teeth, it is slightly raised, and brought under the operator's platform, just high enough to give a form to sheaf, ready for binding. And herein lies Mr Harvey's chief improvement. By a simple but decidedly ingenious adaptation of the sewing-machine principle, the sheaf is readily bound. Underneath the feeder is placed a tape, a narrow strip of canvass (or any other suitable material) of whatever length may be required. This is firmly pressed down by a spring bar, so that the sheaf coming up to be bound passes over the small surface of tape presented. At the commencement of the. first piece of tape three stitches are made in it. By a simple spring and click the needle is raised out of the way of the coming corn ; this then presses against the spring, which, held tight by a tension of the top, opposes its entrance into the compressor, falls into the compartment behind the platform, and thus actually binds itself; for, as soon as the sheaf has so far fallen over that the string has passed all round it, the needle is let go, six: more stitches are made in the pad, a knife, acting on a strong spring and falling on a ledge of hardwood, is quickly shut down by the operator, the pad is cut at the third stitch^ and the sheaf falls clear off into the compressor, while three stitches are le r t in the pad ready for the next sheaf, which may now be brought up. Thus every sheat has a band round it, with a small pad under it. The needle is with the greatest ease kept out of the way of the coming corn, and the work is cleanly and quickly done. As soon as the sheaf is in the compressor, the bottom rises and the top falls until they meet, while a strong clinch is made to act inside in such a way that the harder it is pressed on the top the tighter the sides of "it "come in. When the sheaf is bound, it is thrown clean- out of the road, so that it isTiot in the way of the_ machine on its return; By ia ftfmjSljp tuHEof a lever, the operator detaches ; tha binding from the gathering, so that j the two operations do ; not," proceed at. once! The , bar of, Mo « sewing^ machine ";is also moveable, so 1 that the" sheaf may be bound'- at any distance from-the head the farmer pleases. Thwgh the operatiorrtakes-a considerable^amounf of time to describe,^ -5F There are a number r bf cog- whews which Mr Harvey intends to do away 1 withy substituting jbr $* em a band or bands. There ate* also*' gdirie parw at present made oj^on^ winch he intends in fiiture wmake oFwoos soa^yer^.ina^ri^te to decrease the 'weight;" anS this Iff very important consideration when the machine has to be drawifcrOver a large farm. Those farmers ana others who have seen/it,T« x P r « ss themselves as tjerfertiy-Wtomshed' at -its-simpliciigr-and? _$lity^ >r : Mr nasi d^v6W Idlfto-ttis patient toil- an&studyvtft his macl^ei, and'may^be congratulated on the, res^lti.^--* Melbourne Argus.'