IMPORTANT TRIAL OF HARVESTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2239, 28 January 1897, Page 6

IMPORTANT TRIAL OF HARVESTERS.

The most important field trial ever held in the Russian Empire took place during the months of July and August 1896. The M'Oormick Harvester and Binder won the highest award — the most important gold raedel ever given in Russia — and the Daisy Reaper won the highest award for reapers — a diploma of merit. This trial was continued for 17 days. The first seven days wera given up to the so-called " Theoretical IVsbs," which were made before ths Committee of Judges and the students «.t the Mechanical College at Moscow. These theoretical tests cors.sled in working the machines for three full days iv difficult crops, and then taking them completely apart before the students of the College, who figured the strength oE the materials used, the .*peed of the parts, and generally examined and compared the oousfcructiott of the machines. After this, tho five binders were shipped to a very difficult growth ot long rye on the Prince's estate, near Saratov, aad there they were operated before the committee during a period of 10 day*. They flrßtr followed each other about tho field, and then fields of about 10 acres were allotted to each machine, and the time that it took to harvest these allotments, the amount of cord that was oon«vmed in binding, the number of bundles that were missed, and the condition of the work dona vrere carefully examined. Then the coaditionß would be again repeated. Djnamometar tests were made of draught when the machines followed each other, and a canvas was hung beneath the machines to catch the shelled grain, which was afterwards cleaned and weighed. The M'Cormick Simple Binder aud Patented Knotter made a saving in cord over its competitors, on an average throughout the work, of lib of twine in 20ib. It shelled less grain, and it drew lighter when tested by the dynamometer — a big saving throughout the lifetime of a machine.