REAPER AND BINDER CONTEST.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 186, 1 February 1878, Page 3

REAPER AND BINDER CONTEST.

(Canterbxmj Times).

The much 'talked of trial of reapers and binders took place on Jan. 24. in a paddock on the Riccarton road belonging to Mr Deans. The contest, it will be remembered, was arranged by the Committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, who, aa an inducement for competition, offered a prize of £25 for t)ie best machine. The object, a highly laudable one, was to enable fanners to see reapers and binders of various construction working side by side, so that they might be enabled to form a good opinion of the relative merits of ihe implements. No greater stride in agricultural operations than that which will be accomplished by the general use of these machines has ever been made in Canterbury. The contrast between hand labour and that performed by the machines anp«ars most star tii no;, and those who see such appliances in operation for the first time may well .regard them with wonder and admiration. Professor Bickerton has been explaining to our farmers how they may best treat the soil of Canterbury to produce good crops, and now the inventors are demonstrating* how the crops, when raised, may best be gathered in. Even in comparison with the ordinary reapers these newer machines, which dispense altogether with the need for attendants to bind up the corn, are an immense advance in constructive science, and it is stated on good authority that the saving effected by their use will average about 12s per acre.

The weather of Thursday was all that could be desired for the purpose, and undoubtedly largely increased the attendance. People came and went continually during the day, the highest number present at an}*- one time being about 500. A large number of ladies visited the ground during the afternoon. The judges were Mr W, Boag (I'endaltown), Mr John Maofarlane (Hangiora), Mr C. Bourne (Southbridge). Mr J. Osborne (Leeston). and Mr G. Croll, the Government Inspector of Machinery. The following members of'the Association Committee were also present : — i>iessrs W. Norman, Henderson, R. Wilkin, J. R. Hill, Walls, J. Anderson, jun , Garforth, J. Deans, J. M'llraith, John Ferguson, and A. Duncan. Mr Makeig, the Secretary, was on the ground for a short time, but being exceedingly unwell, he was not able to discharge his duties. His nlace was therefore filled by Mr A. Dnncan, who kindly consented to act. The m-ichines competing were as follows : — The M'Cormick, entered by Messrs Morrow, Bsis-.ett, and Co., this particular machine being the property of Mr Hock, who also supplied the horses. The driver was Mr Beaidslev, the irrepressible and übiquitous agent, and it need scarcely be said that he " ran the concern " to the best possible advantage. The Osborne, entered by Mr Robert Wilkin, was also driven by the American agent, Mr Cave, who had provided himself with an excellent team. The Wood, entered by Messrs Wood, Shand, and Co , was driven by Mr Blake, the owner, during the earlier part of the trial, but his place was afterwards filled by Mr Heath, the American agent. The paddock contained crops both of wheat and oats, and was therefore specially suited for the work in hand. The ground was fairly level, but on account of ihe recent heavy rain it proved very heavy, although not sufficiently so to interfere materially with the work. The wheat showed a nice average crop, which would yield perhaps SO bushels to the acre. The oats were very heavy in the straw, which looked fit for a 50 bushel yield, but so busy hud the sparrows been that the light colour of the cleaned out heads was only too plainly visible all over, and the result would give from 30 to 35 bushels to the acre.

The preliminaries having been arranged, each machine opened up its work, so as to leave a patch of about two acres -for each, the wheat, beingfirst operated upon. The Osborne was started first, to.be followed in quarter of an hour by the Al'Oormick, the Wood coming "last. Tn a short timfCVi'he numerous visitors were pretty .-'fairly divided aboit.the machines^ antlevinced the utmost determination 7-to examine

every part minutely. So closely did they press at times that it-was impossible for the driver to proceed, and therefore there could be no satisfactory lest of the time occupied by each one. It may, however, be stated that the M'Cormick finished first, and the Osborne second, the Wood be.iDg a long way behind. During the. forenoon the judges tested the cuts and pull of each machine, a dynamometer by Howard, of Bedford, being used. The measured single cut of the Osborne was sft Sin and sft lOin, the average width of the double cut being lift Sim Tlie M'Cormick measurement were oft 9in, single cut, and 10ft 9in, double cut. The Wood, single cur, oft Tin j double cuts, 10ft 4-in and lift Sin.

By this time it was 2 o'clock, and there was a general adjournment for refreshment. Each of the firms interested had an erected tent, in which light refreshments were dispensed gratuitously, and under such circumstances their patrons were numerous. The Association also had a small tent for the committee and judges, in which v slight luncheon was served. Mr Rolleston, who was present, took the advantage of the occasion to propose the health of the judges, whom he considered men well qualified in every respect to discharge the duties which were that day required of them. He regarded such an occasion as an era in the history of the Province, and felt that the exhibition of such machines would be the means of accomplishing a vast amount of good. Messrs M'Farlane anil Bourne responded, pointing out that while the judges would do their best to give an impartial opinion, the public had an opportunity of estimating the work of each machine for themselves, and would naturally do so

After luncheon the machines went to work upon the oats, the judges following them from time to time, and in every possible way testing the work done. It was, not, however, until halfpast t=ix o'clock, long- after the cutting had been accomplished and the waiting had become very wearisome, that they were enabled to come to a decision, and even then, so close were the merits of the machines, they decided to givp their opinions by ballot in placing the implements. As it turned out, they were unanimous in awarding the prizeto the Osborne, and in giving the second place to the M'Cormick, the Wood, in consequence having to occupy the lower position. In arriving* at this conclusion they were influenced by the facts that in the Osborne machine the driver has the power, in case of a breakage of the wire, of re-threading the revolving needle without having to stop; that the fan conld be instantaneously altered to suit any variation in the crop j that the machine was capable of cutting a larger width with equally good work, while the draught was decidedly lighter, and that it was altogether more simple in construction than the others. At the same time the judges were exceedingly anxious to make it known that in their opinion each machine had worked splendidly, and that the difference in merit, which had gained for the one a higher position, was not great. Mr A.- Duncan, on behalf of the judges, announced the decision to those who were present, and stated that this decision had only been come to after very close scrutiny, and after taking many points into consideration. The Association was much obliged to those who had competed, and would have them to understand that the committee did not wish to depreciate either of the machines, so very little difference was there as to their relative merits. Mr William Miles proposed a vote of thanks to the importers, which was heartily accorded. The same gentleman then proposed a vote to the judges. This was seconded by Mr Beardsley, the M'Corm.ck agent, who created loud laughter by dryly observing that he didn't agree with the decision of the judges, but that, as a machine-man, he was undej* a great obligation to them and to the Association. It can scarcely be said that the opinion of the judges was a popular one, the majority of those who were present evidently in favour of the M'Cormick, upon the work of which we have already commented. Of this machine alone 150 have been ordered up to the present time, a fact which proves how readily the farmers of Canterbury embraces the opportunity of availing themselves of machinery which has been shown to be very good. In connection with the work of the Osborne machine, the prize-winner, it may be remarked that the driver, without being required to leave his seat or to stop his team, has many operations under his entire control. He can instantly raise or lower the fans to suit the variations of a crop, which may have alternating* patches of long and short straw. He can instantly- throw the •machine in or out of gear. He can j adjust: the binding apparatus for long | or short grain, so as to. place the wire round the sheaf at any point he may desire. The cutting knives, which, by the way, have serrated or sickle edges, can be at once raised or lowered. If by accident the wire breaks, he can ret bread the needle without trouble. If >he bands are found to; be top. loose or too tight, the tension can be. adjusted, and the sheaves are deliverecl at any desired interval, or_ot any given size. Another advantage in the Osborne undoubtedly is the fact that the sheaves •>■• - - *• ?<;.

are dropped g-eutly to the ground, upon I tlieir butt end?, a.matter which would [ be of considerable importance in over- | ripe crops. The mechanism of the binder is extremely simple, and all the motions appear to be very easy, while the adjustments are well adapted to ensure precision of movement and uniformly g-ood work. The mechanism for twisting the wire is so contrived that the fastening can be made with any number of twists from one to seven, and the manner in which the crane is made to swing, to deliver the sheaf, has also some good features. The Wood machine, which we have not space to notice at length in our present issue, was unfortunate on Thursday. Both in the wheat and tbe outs it had the worst piece, a portion of the oats especially being badly laid. It was also noticeable that there was no comparison between the work done with it during the morning and that done during the latter part of the day, and it was evident that for it to he used to advantage, a man well accustomed to its working would be essential.