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Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 42, 14 March 1877, Page 3

An American reaping and binding machine has been imported by a Mr Anderson, of Christchurch, and the results of two trials of it seem to have been very satisfactory. The binding process is thus described m the " Canterbury Times " : — The corn is cut m the same manner as by an ordinary reaping machine, and falls on to a travelling table, by ■which it is carried m the direction of the driving wheel, which occupies the same position as m the old machines. On arriving at the limit of the table the corn i.« seized hv small iron projections on endiess bands which raise it perpendicularly over the driving wheel, and drop it m a species oi trough, m the centre of which the tying machine — a most ingenious arrangement — works. When the driver thinks there is enough corn m the trough to nmke a sheaf", lie liberates a pedal on which his right foot has been resting, and this throws the tying machinery into gear. To explain thisni::chinery m detail would be very difficult, and by no means intelligible to :\]\ ; suffice it to say that the sheaf is seized by two iron arms — one of which, with a circular motion, carries the wire round the corn. The sheaf is compressed by the two arms, the win; is securely fastened and cut off, ar..l the sheaf thrown some four or five feet from the machine, on the opposite side to where it is cut, all m the space of a few seconds. The driver then places his foot on the pedal again, and keeps it there until sufficient corn has collected for another sheaf, when the operation of tying is repeated.