TRIAL OF HARVESTERS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1842, 17 January 1880, Page 3

TRIAL OF HARVESTERS.

WOOD’S EBAPBE AND SELF ACTING BINDKB. Messrs Wood, Shand and 00., the Nev Zealand agents for the above machine, exhibited it at work yesterday in a field of oats belonging to Mr William Prebble, of Prebble. ton. The crop was a heavy one, with a yield of at least seventy bushels to the acre, and owing to the heavy state of the ground consequent on the late rains and strength and length of stalk, the work was of a nature to tax the capabilities of the machine. Nevertheless, the manner in which it did its work gave satisfaction to every one who saw it, and expressions of approval wore unanimous. The method of working is very simple. The grain is elevated by canvas elevators, and drops on to the binding table, where it is ■carried forward and straightened out by two packers—discs wi'h teeth —which revolve and pack the grain till there is sufficient for a aheaf. No wind can reach tbe straw as it comes out of the elevator, and the sheaves are discharged straight and compact. Over the front of the table, where the sheaf is discharged, a lever projects, and against this lever the packers compress the grain. This lever, ■when the sheaf has attained a certain bulk, puts the binder arm into gear and the packer out of gear. The binder arm and kicker are worked on eccentrics, and, when stationary, are underneath the binding table. The whole of the binding mechanism is above the binding table, so that it is impossible for any grain to clog the cogs, and the knot is tied on the tipper side of the sheaf. After the knot is securely tied, the binding arm recedes under the table, and the kicker, a forked arm, working on a crank, thrusts the securely-bound sheaf off the table, and retires till another sheaf has been formed. The machinery for tying the sheaf is as simple in construction as that of the wire-fastening machine, and not likely to get out of order. The string for binding is placed in a small wooden box at the rear of the binding table. The sheaves are all made of equal size, and in shape are flatter than those generally made. The binder is strictly automatic, the bulk of the sheaf acting on the lever, thus doing what in some of the other binders is done by the driver’s foot. There is also a crank lever for regulating the height of cut, so that a long stubble can be left it desired, or the grain can be out within an inch of the ground. A raising and lowering lever is also attached to the fan. Although the sheaves are all delivered of a uniform size, the size of sheaf, if desired, can be increased or reduced by lengthening or shortening a set screw controlling the binding mechanism. Mr Beaumont, of the firm of Wood, Shand and 00., was on the ground, and, in conjunction with the American representative of the Wood machine (Mr Freeman), gave practical explanation of all pertaining to it. The implement was worked by a pair of horses, driven by Mr Prebble, jun. The width of cut of the machine is 5 feet. THE JOHNSTON HABVESTBE COMPANY’S BTBIN& BINDBB. Messrs Morrow, Bassett and 00., the New Zealand agents of the above company, gave a working trial of the Johnston String Binder, at the farm of Mr John Overton, of Prebbleton. Tbe paddock chosen was a field of oats, very heavy in crop on the upper side, but somewhat lighter in the lower part of the field, thus affording a practical teat of what the machine could do under different circumstances. Its draught is light, and that advantage told in its favour, as the ground was very soft, owing to the wet weather of the past few days. It did very good work, turning out a nice, round sheaf, which Undelivered on its butt. The tying apparatus is simple and does not get oat of order, and the string can be tightened or any tension given it by the driver. The knot is a close or overhand one and tied tightly. The width of cut is five feet, and the grain when cut is laid upon an elevating web and lifted inside the twine on the binding table, through which the needle containing the twine, having two motions, descends to a point where the string is held by a jaw beneath, where the cord, then completely encircling the grain, is drawn together and the knot is tied. The knife immediately following outs the string. The sheaf is then quietly pushed off the platform by the succeeding sheaf, and thus the work goes on. Unlike other string binders the size of sheaf made by the “ Johnston ” is entirely under the control of the driver. When he considers there is sufficient grain cut to form a bundle, the progress of the unbound grain is arrested by his pressing the foot trip, and the bundle is tied. This, it is contended, is of great advantage in thin patches of crop. No confusion between the bound and unbound straws can possibly arise, as a distance of from fourteen to sixteen inches is created between the bundle in process of tying and the unbound grain. In making the knot, this machine differs from others—the strain being to the bundle instead of from it, as in other cases. The machine was driven by one of Mr Overton’s men with a pair of horses. Mr Morrow, of Morrow, Bassett and 00., and also Mr Wilson, the manufacturer’s agent, were on the ground, and explained the working of the machine to those present. One feature in this exhibition was the substitution of twine of local manufacture for the imported string. The former broke after tying a couple of sheaves, when it was replaced by the imported article The grain platform can be folded up alongside the machine so as to give it easy access into narrow gateways, &j.

THE DEEBIN& TWINE BINDEE AT BANGIOEA. Yesterday a field trial of Deering’s twine binder took place in Mr John Luxton’s paddock of oats on the Oxford road. There was a large attendance of farmers during the day, and general interest was manifested in the trial. The crop of Polands were well headed, and the straws as straight as arrows, to a height varying from 3ft. to sft. The crop is expected to yield from forty-five to fifty bushels per acre. A start was made with the harvester at 11 a.m.; Mr Luxton, jun., driving the team, under the guidance of Mr Deering’s expert, Mr Ellithorpe. The width of cut taken was sft., and with a full knife the grain was cleanly reaped and bound, leaving a stubble of Gin. Not a single straw was missed, but they were evenly bound in square sheaves, which for handiness in stocking, carting, or stacking could not be surpassed. The binding process has been already explained. Several tests were made to ascertain the security nf the tying, but the strength of the twine, the completeness of the knot, and the hold which it obtained over the sheaf were eminently satisfactory. Practical men who were present considered this machine the neplus ultra. A crop such as this could be reaped and bound at the rate of sixteen acres a day with one man and two pairs of horses, at a cost of 30a, twine 16s ; or, with the cost of stocking the crop added, these sixteen acres were harvested ready for the thresher at a cost of £3 2s. With a side delivery reaper the expenses would have been, for horses and man, about 28i; stocking and tying, £6 16s—total, £8 4s. The cost of a twine binding harvester is £75 ; of a side delivery reaper £4O. Not only, however, does the former speedily pay the extra cost, but it ensures dispatch with the harvest, which in doubtful weather is of paramont importance. Furthermore, whether the corn is green or very dry, the binder deals with it and passes in even the thistles, where there are any, without the slightest demur or stoppage. In doing its work it is a perfect “pig starver.” The twine binder now on exhibition having removed the objection to the wire where the straw is used for fodder, practical men are under the impression that no increased benefit wonld be obtained from a etraw binder. The machine which could be perfected to (ye with straw is looked upon as likely to be a bulky one, and the difficulty with straw in excessively dry weather could never be overcome. It has become an established fact that grain, machine tyed, dries better in the stook than when hand tyed with straw; and the twine binders not only get over the objection to the wire, but threshing will be improved by the fact that the lumps from straw bands are thus done away with. During Friday a sample of twine made from the phormium fibre by Mr Seed, Southbrook, was tried and found to answer admirably, standing all the pressure that could be put on it, as well as going well through the needle. This is expected to be saleable at 6d per lb. The binder uses 21bs. per acre. After the trial a letter was handed to Mr Mason, of Mason, Strothers and Co., the importers, expressing the approval of over fifty farmers of the machine. The local agent for the Northern district is Mr John Anderson, Eangiora.