REAPER AND BINDER TRIAL AT FENDALTOWN.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1534, 17 January 1879, Page 3

REAPER AND BINDER TRIAL AT FENDALTOWN.

Yesterday the interest manifested by the farming community in the trial of harvesting and self-binding machines, held under the auspices of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, was very much gr-inter than that taken in the similar contest at Eiccartou, attributable to the facts that the competition was expected to be very close between sis machines, as against three last year, and that there was the additional novelty of the exhibition in full work of the machines made available for band-binding. In consequence of the reported scarcity of straw in the country, and the fact that straw of any kind will this season command a high price for winter feeding and chaffcutting, and the general aversion to using the wire, owing to a prevalent, though somewhat mistaken idea, that the use of the wire is bound to be injurious for these purposes, the farmers have this season exhibited a very keen interest in the hand-binding machines, and numbers came from all parts to witness especially this part of the trial. The contest amongst all the machines was very carefully watched and keenly criticised, and all the wire binders did their work remarkably well, in fact not a single disparaging remark need be made on any of the competitors, some of whom, however, it must be admitted, labored under ceriain disadvantages. The hand binders were not able to cope with their task at the same rate of progress as their automatic rivals, and hence the tycrs, seeing in what manner they were being distanced, lost heart, and gave up before completing the task set before them. So far as the latter proceeded in the trial the result was eminently satisfactory, from the fact that a larger proportion of grain was saved than could have been secured under the former system of using the side-delivery reapers, and it was dearly shown that a sufficient relay of tycrs would have bound the sheaves as fast as the implements could cut the grain and pass it to them. The general results of the contest were excellent, and the committee of the association carried out the details of the same in a manner which entitled them to unlimited praise, and those who wore present must have been pleased with the great service which they were doing to the agricultural population by placing them in a position to judge for themselves, by comparison as well as results, which is the best harvester, and most likely to suit the requirements of tlicir particular districts ; for, as they wore all excellent in many points, the farmers of light and heavy land may select one or the oilier ot those competing, and find that each in its way is a perfect piece of mechanism, capable of saving labour and reaping his special crop iu a manner every way satisfactory.

Glorious weather favoured the day’s operations. Although there had been rain for two days previously, the ground was in no way uncomfortably wet, and the burning rays of tbc sun were tempered with a cooling breeze. A pleasant drive through the roads of Eiccartou and Fendalton brought the town visitors within three-quarters of an hour or, to the Avonhead farm of Mr William Boag, which includes a block of 500 acres of rich alluvia; land, and which, judging by the pasturage as well as corn orors, rnus: iu. regular seasons bear vcy abundant crons. The scene of competition was an eighty acre field of improved Essex wheat crop, opposite Mr Boag’s Burnside estate. To the right was a paddock on which visitors wore allowed to leave their horses, and here there were some scores of vehicles, as during the day n t less than about 2009 persons must have visited the spot. Near the entrance of the wheat field there was a booth for dispensing refreshments, presided at by Mr Morton, and a luncheon booth as well as a marquee, iu which the committee and judges were entertained hy Mr Euag. The ground was level though somewhat onni. The crop stood up well to the height ot 3ft. Sin., was eared out lo about 40 bushels per aero, and pretty even throughout. The wheat has just turned, and was raJior early for cutting, which together with the abundance of Ihg leaf in it rendered the test t > which the harvesters were subjected a pretty severe one. The alio meats had been measured and marked off with Hags, and the machines

about au h-w e.ffev the advertised time having been pi ;c. d .1. i.?i)t>s decided by lot, were were s .-.rt >,i at io am. Mr Win. Norman, | president of the mciatkm, acted as gen-rat | i: arsh.'il, ami to eaeli machine two field marshals were told oft’ in ordev to prevent the public following too closely, so as to interrupt work or get in the way of the judges. The competing reapers and binders were as follows, the names of the mar k da of each and color of flag on the allotment h ing also given : avium iiinokks. 1. Marsh, Messrs Hnice and Henderson; blue, 2. Wood, Messrs O’Callaglian and Gilmonr; light blue. 3. Osborne—Messrs Money and Mcßeatli; yellow. 4. McGoruhck— Messrs ilcllraith and Wiliciu; red. The I.u krye and Massillon machines entered did not compete, a. A the Elward harvester, for the reason assigne 1 by Mr E. Recce in these columns ou Wednesday, was not present. M veiiixns with hano-iiindino platforms. Marsh —Messrs Mann and Holly; green. McCormick—Messrs Cunningham and Marcroft; pink. The regulations under which they all worked were briefly that they were all to start ou even terms at a given hour, no one to he allowed to manage the machines except the owner and two assistants for the hand binding ones. The judges bad to take into account strength of each combined with simplicity of construction, lightness of draught, quantity of ground gone over, and time in which the Avork was performed and the quality of the ovork generally. It rested Avith the judges to settle the height at Avhich the stubble should bo loft. Each implement had four acres apportioned as its share, though, in the case of the Marsh, at the end of the day it was discovered this had, by a nure accident, been exceeded. The prizes offere i were —c£2s by the association, under the conditions named in its prize schedule of the last November show, and j£s added by Mr John Grigg for the best hand binding, if there was any competition. The commission appointed to decide the merits of the machines were Engineers, Messrs W. Conyers and Allison Smith ; practical farmers, Messrs J. Ronnie, Doyloston; J. Goff, Greendale; W. E. Ivey, The Model Farm, Lincoln ; T. Black, Lougbeach ; and W. M. Koss, Kaiapoi Isl.nd.

Coining to a notice of the individual machines; the first Avas the Marsh, under the control of Mr H. H. Hemming, who drove a pair of Mr Hiatt’s bays, a team which, hoAvevcr. was hardly able enough for the work. The width of knife used Avas sft., and the performance of the Marsh, though good, was somewhat marred hy one or tA\o drawbacks which happened to it. As the Harvester King, thelarger size of the Marsh Company’s machines, has been referred to at length in these columns, it need only be added that, in the heavier crops the Marsh has the preference. Mr Hemming was unfortunate in ihe selection of an inferior spool of Avlrc, Avhich caused some sheaves to ho left unbound, and the frequent stoppages to which he Avas subjected, together Avith the fact that he Avas overmatched by about 15 yards extra width in his allotment, excites a hope that the Marsh will, before the season is out, he subjected to a hotter and more faA r orable trial. Wood’s machine was under the control of Mr N. F. Heath, and his horses were sent by Mr Blake. The Avorking of this machine Avas also at some unaccountable disadvantage, in its adjustment to the level of the stubble of 6 inches, and the crop operated upon was a trifle lighter in this section than in some of the others, as the implements had apparently been set to deal with long straw and heavy corn. Since last season the improvements made are in the adjustable reel, position of the driA'cr’s scat, the increased range of tho hinder, which extends 18 inches backAvard or forward Avith one motion of the lever, and the binding has generally been simplified, the Avire spool now regulating its OAvn ten. sion. The sickle knife during the day was found to be not in proper working order. The full cut of swathe Avas Gfc Gin, and the draught apparently light, from the early time in which the machine Avas enabled to finish, being first out. The sheaves aft ere well bound and of a fair size. Osborne’s machine was under the skilful management of Mr H. J. Case, who had a \’cry fine team from Mr Bong’s farm. This harvester made very easy work of it, although the judges put It down as the heaviest in draught. The start made was an excellent one, tho opening showing that the Avidth of cut of swathe Avas sft M»in. The corn Avas avgll received ou the platform, and very comfortably delivered up the elevator on to the binding platform, AA’here the wire was fastened in firm fatyle, and the sheaf easily lowered on to its butt end. This arrangement pleased the farmers very greatly, and there Avas a noticeable improvement in tho arrangement added to list year’s machine, by which the shcflA-cs are quite separated before leaving the platform. The elevator has been improved, so that “huffy” grain and cross straws, no matter how much entangled, are carried forward Avithout delay. To further tost this our reporter sent a whole sheaf through the elevator with the greatest case. The Avronght bar and malleahlo guard and steel pi .te on which the sickle Avorks are important features in this machine. Tho Avcrk done was excellent, the machine being well set down, and leaving its sheaves in fair sizes. The real contest of the match lay hetAveeu this and the next machine in point of work. McCormick’s machine was under the guidance of Mr F. C. Newall, < .'riving apjirof Mr Hack’s horses. In its opening it cut sft. 3in., and in regular work 4ft. fiin. It has been improved since last season in the binding frame, shell crank, tension, end Avire feed. The implement has also been Avidened to take np longer grain. ’I he mediani ,m of the apparatus tho judges consider lers liable to got out of order than in the ease of any other. It has no knife in the AA’ire-cutting part, tho Avire being cut by a deferential wheel, which twists and cuts in the same operation, making besides the connection between the Avire of the first and second spool. Although from the outside it might appear to be complicated in its parts, the judges had no hesitation in saying it was not likely to get out of order, and would prove to be the most durable machine. ( f its work it may ho said there was not a fault to be found with it, the stubble left was not toohigh tbe sheaves made were even and com’enicnt in size, the wire round them being Avell secured. The order in which tho grain was left pleased the judges, and the manner in Avhich the machine Avas Avorked could not have been excelled by the veteran Beardsley. The machines used in tho hand-binding were tho Marsh, managed by Mr John Anderson, Kangiora, and the McCormick, managed by Mr Hack, Avhich, as they are counterparts of those described, need not again be referred to. The judges took great pains in their inspection, and in submitting the machines to the test of the dynamometer. The draughts of each were given as —Osborne, 5 CAvk. ; Wood, 4V cAvfc.; McCormick, 4 cwt; Marsh, Sj cwt ; McCormick ban ibinder, 3 cwt. ; Marsh, 2V cwt. The time in which each machine finished from time of starting Avas —

b. m. Wood 2 40 Osborne 3 5 McCormick ... ... ... 3 8 Marsh 4 35 the hand-binders, as before slated, not completing their task. At the close of the inspection Mr M. Murphy publicly announced the result to be that the machines had been placed— McCormick, first.

Osborne, highly commended. No prize had been awarded to the handbinders, as the judges considered they had not completed the work. The announcement was received with general satisfaction, and it was stated to have been the unanimous verdict of the judges. During the day one of Aveling and Porter’s traction engines was exhibited by Mr J. Anderson, of the Canterbury Foundry, which during the afternoon towed one of McCormick’s sidedelivery reapers through the crop at a good speed, but the real service to which the engine ought to he applied is the removal of threshing machines, or the conveyance of several tons of grain in loaded tracks alo-ig the ordinary roads from the farms to the station.