A NEW REAPER AND BINDER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 15, 17 January 1880, Page 5

A NEW REAPER AND BINDER.

We take the following Recount of a trial of the Wood string binder from Melbourne Argus : — Though numerous attempts were made to use string in the place of wire, none have stood the test of actual work till the Wood's harvester and selfacting string binder appeared on the scene. This machine is the most perfect piece of agricultural machinery that has yet been oonatracted even by the skilful inventors of America. In construction it is much more simple than the wire binders we have eeen at work, and the draught is much lighter. One of these machines waß shown a& work on the farm of Mr Allen Cameron, of Janefield, on Deo 29, in the presence of a number of farmers residing in the district. It was tried on a small piece of wheat estimated to yield about 35 bushels to the acre. The patch was about three-quarters of an acre in extent, and though much time was lost in turning so frequently, the whole was cut down in 25 minutes. The work was done admirably, the sheaves being tied firmly and well, and those present satisfied themselves by actual experiment that they could be thrown about without any danger of the string becoming untied. A pair of ordinary farm horses walked along at the rate of about three and a half miles an h">ur when cutting the crop, and at that rate did not seem to be unduly exerting themselves. The machine used was taken from America to England a few months ago, and exhibited at work at Cheshire, where it cut about 60 aorea of grain in October last. The work was very difficult owing to the great growth of weeds in the crop occasioned by tha extreme wetnes3 of the season. The corn wai cut in a highly satisfactory manner, and without the slightest accident happeuing to the machine. It waa then packed up nod shipped to Melbourne by the s.s. Orient. The expressions of admiration by those on the ground on the occasion of the present trial wera unanimous. It was admitted that at last the problem had been Boived, and that a reaper aad bio--der had been produced entirely free from the drawbacks attending those which have preceded it. The me* chaoisna ia bo arranged that each sheaf is made exactly the same size, no matter how much the crop may vary, and the size of the sheaf may bo regulated by a very simple contrivance. In delivery the sheaf is thrown on the butt end, so that ia v.jry ripe grain as little shock as possible is given, in order that no loss of graia m*y occur. The sheaves are all laid the same way, and the land has thus a very ceat oppenranco when the grain is cut. The corn on being cut falls on a revolving apron, which carries it to the elevator, whence it is conveyed to the binding table. Here it is caught by revolving rake fiagers, which bring it down the table against a compressor, which acts as an automatic trip to throw the binder in gear. As sooa as a .sufficient quantity of grain n thus brought together, the pressure tarows the trip forward so as to put the binder in gear. The binding arm then coiao3 forward from beneath the table, carrying the striug round the sheaf; at the same lime the antomitic trip, which has juat acted to put tha binding machinery in geir, is now moved back to not as a compressor, to give the deaired cornpreßsioa on tha sheaf. After the knot is 39ourely tied, the binding arm reoades under the table, and a fos^d t>rm working ouacrank t Jhrua B the now Becurely bounti eheaf < ff the table and recedes till another sheaf I as been fortr»er l f The, cnachina for tying (h,d sheaf ia shut tod ahqvo th,o &Vttia, auJ consists of threo pje<)33. It ia as simple in oinsuuetion as that for listening with wire, und ?v» little likely to get out of or let. The eiriug for binding io carried on v small wooden case at tb.3 renr of the binding-table, Kboqt hajf a day'a work being put in at a time, Tuo cos* qf (ha string ia abouH onethird loea th^a ihat qf oinvJing wire. In ahap3 tho shades pre somewhat flatter than it ia usoal to make them. There is no strain on tho string till the eheaf ia set tree, ami thus such - a thing aB a break in ihe string uevar ooours. The new machine h*s bean extensively tried ia the United Stales a.aJ Oanads, and übb always yivon groat satisfaction.