M'CORMACK'S REAPING MACHINE

Otago Witness, Issue 48, 17 April 1852, Page 1

M'CORMACK'S REAPING MACHINE

A trial of this machine was lately made on a field near Carlisle in the presence of nearly 1000 persons, and which is thus described in the " Ayr Advertiser :" — We will not attempt minutely to describe the machine, as we could scarcely make our readers understand its construction without the aid of diagrams. The grain is cut by a finely serrated blade, 5 feet 10 inches in length, which works rapidly by a crank motion from the wheels. Over this a reel with four arms revolves slowly, and presses the grain slightly against the blade, over which the corn, when cut, falls upon a platform. A man is placed upon this platform with a rake, and, as quickly as the sheaf is gathered, he drops it off behind by a rapid motion. Every farmer will at once understand that considerable dexterity must be requisite for the neat performance of this part of the work ; for if the grain be not cleverly divided when the sheaf is removed, it would, of necessity, be disordered. The machine is worked by two horses ; and the usual method, when the grain is mostly standing, is first to cut a swath completely round the field with a scythe, to make a path on which the horses travel along the side of the standing grain, and the machine is then drawn round and round the outer edge of the grain until the whole field is reaped. If the grain be leaning considerably in one direction, it is necessary to work the field against the inclination of the corn ; and in such a case it would require, each time that the field is crossed, to be taken back to a starting pomt — lessening, of course, the rate of speed at which the reaping is performed. When the grain is much lodged, it is better to take it up with the sickle, as the machine is apt to skip over portions of it. Neither, the field, nor the crop on which the experiment was made, was very favourable to the machine. The field is laid off into pretty high ridges, and the crop had a light, meagre appearance — something like thirty bushels per acre. In making the circuit of the field, the machine worked both along and across the ridges, and both ways it gave complete satisfaction. The stubble was left lower than it commonly is with the sickle, though it was not quite so close shorn as with the scythe, and scarcely a single straw or ear of corn was left. The sheaves were very neatly gathered, with fewer ears in the lower end than is seen in the work, of the best shearers. After witnessing the trial, the Ayrshire farmers are of opinion that threefourths of the grain in the county may be cut up by the machine, and the work performed generally itt a ratfe- .effiewat manner thaa' at

present. Before they left the field, about two acres had been cuti The horses were driven at various rates of speed, and the work was equally* well performed. The usual rate may be a little faster than plough horses go with us. At such, a rate, as any of our readers may prove by calculation, about one Scotch acre will be reaped in an hour. This is quite a sufficient rate of speed. The " Carlisle Journal" says : — As to the general result of the experiment, we heard but one opinion expressed. The way in, which the Reaper performed its work greatly exceeded the expectations of every one who saw it ; and it was admitted by all hands that the machine was calculated to be of immense service to the agriculturist. Doubtless there may be defects in its construction, which the ingenuity of mechanicians will speedily remove ; but even taking it as it is — a crude American " notion," rather clumsy than elegant in appearance, it can distance every competitor — cutting as much as ten or twelve acres a day — while one acre is as much as a man can mow in that time. To farmers generally, therefore, but especially to those who live in districts where labour is scarce and dear, it will prove of great service — reducing their harvest expenses, and enabling them to cut their grain when it is ready for cutting. A certificate signed by Sir James Graham and others, bears " testimony to the admirable manner in which M'Corniaek's American Reaper has just operated in cutting down oats in two fields on his farm," and, further, " that the operations of the Reaper gave general satisfaction to th» company present."

A singular encounter took place a few days since on the new road betwixt Lairg and Scourey, which has been recently opened up to the public. A labourer named Ross, a resident in the parish of Lairg, while on his road homeward one evening from Shinness, where he had been at work through the day, was crossed in his path by a pet deer belonging to Mr. Gilchrist, Ospisdale. As the animal, whether out of frolic, or animated by a malicious intent, does not appear, manifested what seemed rather a pugnacious disposition, and as the man had no weapon of defence, save a small whip, he, with a prudent regard to his own safety, judged it expedient to beat a retreat. Accordingly, he took to his heels, making for a wood close by him, and clambered up the nearest tree with wonderful agility, a feat which he was enabled to accomplish ere his swift pursuer overtook him. The deer, however, was not to be thus

easily baffled. Setting to work in right earnest, he dug all round the tree with his antlers, endeavouring with much sagacity and perseverance to tear it up, provoking thereby the most grievous apprehensions in the mind of the perplexed object of his fury. The sufferings of the latter were protracted for a long period, and became momentarily more and more acute as the chances of his rescue seemed to wax fainter* He shouted desperately for assistance, and at length was fortunate enough to attract notice. A party of shepherds heard his cries at a considerable distance off, and immediately repaired with their dogs to the place to discover their origin. By their aid the deer was beaten off, and the poor man delivered from his plight, but in such a state of terror was he that the perspiration was dripping from him as if he had been thoroughly soaked in the nearest river. — iNTFyRNESS AdVEKTISEK.

Editors. — " How seldom it happens," remarked one friend to another, " that we find Editors bred to the business !" " Quite as seldom," replied the other, "that we find the business BREAD to the Editors."

Influence of Scottish Music. — An American paper says,— " If the Scottish bagpipes be played occasionally for a few days in any plaoe infested with rats, they will immediately quit the premises and never return." .' ' . The cKmax of superfluous politeness* his beei declared to be that of holding an Umbrella 1 dveir -C « duck io- fed isifi. - " ■ ■"•.-'•' - L -> ';