THE “NATIONAL” TRIAL OF REAPERS AND MOWERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4295, 25 December 1874, Page 3

THE “NATIONAL” TRIAL OF REAPERS AND MOWERS.

(From the Melbourne Argus, Nov. 25.) _ The competition of the mowing and reaping machines reserved for trial from the late show of the National Agricultural Society, came off yesterday, at Moonee Ponds, in a paddock kindly placed at the society’s disposal by Mr. Hurtle Fisher. According to arrangement, the trial of the mowers took place in the forenoon, and that of the reapers in the afternoon. To each mowing-machine was allotted the task of cutting la. 2r. 25p. of green oats. Abundance of time was allowed, and it had been previously announced that celerity of work would not be taken into consideration in adjudging the prizes. By about half-past ten the signal for starting was made, and nine mowers went vigorously, some of the drivers ignoring the injunction of the stewards against taking their horses faster than a walk. Before mentioning each machine and its performance, it is only right to say that the work of the whole was good ; there was not a single badly-cut lot, and tho work of several was exceedingly close. No. 1, Messrs, Swan and Co.’s mower, performed fairly, and concluded its task in 57 minutes. No. 2, Mr. Joseph Nicholson’s two-wheel machine, with a 5-ft. knife bar (six inches longer than any other in the field) made very level work, cutting as closely as need be for oaten or wheaten hay ; its time was 45 minutes. To this machine the first prize was awarded. No. 3, Mr. Hugh Lennon’s Victorian Buckeye, did its work very well, cutting closely and regularly ; time, 63 minutes. No. 4, Thos. Eobinson and Co.’s light mower of the Buckeye pattern, did its work very satisfactorily in 55 minutes. No. 5, another of Mr. Joseph Nicholson’s machines, of the same pattern as No. 2, but with shorter finger bar, made work quite equal to the other, but occupied a longer time in doing it. Its time was 66 minutes. To this machine the second prize was given. No. 6, an American Buckeye, shown by Lennon, was accidentally disabled just before it had concluded its task. No. 7, the Sprague mower, an American machine, exhibited by Messrs. T. Eobinson and Co., is the smallest, most simple, and most compact that has been seen in this country. The driving wheels are in a box in the centre of the machine, so that clogging is rendered impossible. The cut almost amounted to a shave —• indeed it was close enough for a lawn. The motion is very rapid; but the finger bar not being of the greatest width, 74 minutes were occupied in performing the assigned task. The judges awarded this machine the third prize. No. 8, Messrs. Henderson’s, was their ordinary mower and reaper. The cut was not particularly close, but the work was evenly done ; time, 72 minutes. No. 9, Mr. G. Musgrove’s mower, did some very nice cutting, disposing of its lot in 65 minutes. After an interval for luncheon, the reaping-machines, 13 in number, were marshalled, and about a quarter-past 2 a start was effected. The task of each machine was to cut la. Or. 29p. of over ripe and very weedy rye. The lot comprised 9 back-delivery machines, 2 side-delivery, and one which could be used as a back or side delivery at pleasure ; but we wfil not forestall the description. No. 1 was Messrs. T. Robinson and Co.’s fourwheeled back-delivery light reaper and mower; it made very good work, and finished in 53 minutes. No. 2 was Movers. Hutcheson and Walker’s (Kyneton) four-wheeled back-delivery reaper—an effective machine, which did its work well, clean, and in the short timeof 36 minutes. No. 3, Mr. Hugh Lennon’s “Challenge,” a two-wheeled reaper, also made capital work, and finished in 39 minutes. No. 4, Mr, Joseph Nicholson’s two wheeled, double speed back delivery machine, was set to cut much closer than is usual in reaping ; time, 37 minutes. To this the first prize was awarded. . No. 5, Mr, Hugh Lennon’s “ Champion” four-wheeled reaper, was also sot to, cut very closely ; it did its work very well in 41 minutes, and received the third prize. No. 6, Messrs Thomas Henderson and Co.’s four wheeled combined reaper ..and mower nearly shaved the ground ; its work was good; time, 46 minutes. No. 7, Robinson’s side delivery, perhaps one of the oldest and best known, made capital work: the sheaves were well laid, and out of the way of the horses ; time, 49 minutes. No. 9, Messrs. Swan and Co.’s four-wheeled double speed machine, was, like most of the others, set to cut close ; it did its task in 42 minutes. No. 18, also Messrs. Swan and Co.’s, was Roy’s patent side-delivery reaper. This engaged much attention on account of some novel arrangements. It is the only machine which permits of the sheaves being made of uniform size in every condition of crop. The sheaves are thrown off at tho option of tho driver, who, by the motion of his foot, lowers an arm so as to sweep the platform, or otherwise prevents any of the anna from descending until the proper bidk of crop has accumulated. There are special facilities for raising and lowering tho cut, and the machine certainly performed its task well in 44 minutes. No. 11, Mr. Joseph Nicholson's two-wheeled reaper and mower, made capital work, finishing its lota in 36 minutes. This machine received the first prize. No. 12, also Mr. Joseph Nicholson’s, is the machine spoken of a» convertible into a side or back delivery at pleasure. It was first used as a side-delivery machine, but was subsequently changed; its time was 60 minutes. The judges awarded it tho second prize. No. 13 was Messrs. Thomas Henderson and Co.’s Bodington’s patent. Tho task of this machine was satisfactorily done in 43 minutes.

No. 8 lot was vacant through the non-appear-ance of Messrs. Martin, McGlashan, and Co. The general excellence of the work in both classes of machines was commonly remarked. The judges—Messrs. Smith, of Fulton, Gipps Land ; Alex. Gibb, of Campbellfield ; and Mr. McCaw, of Melbourne—appended no rider to their awards, which, therefore, stand as follow :—; Mowers—First prize, Mr. Joseph Nicholson; second prize, Mr. Joseph Nicholson ; third prize, Messrs. T. Eobinson and Co. Reapers—First prize, Mr. Joseph Nicholson; second prize, Mr. Joseph Nicholson ; third prize, Mr. Hugh Lennon. A trial was slso made of “Nicholson’s Harvester,” a machine designed for use in localities not adapted for the stripper, and where the hands required to bind after reapers cannot be obtained. Each head is cut off with a short portion of straw, and carried back by a reel into the body of the machine, whose contents are emptied from time to time. The machine is likely to prove useful in Gipps Land.