WOOD'S REAPER AND BINDER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 541, 25 January 1878, Page 2

WOOD'S REAPER AND BINDER.

This splendid triumph of mechanical skill, after repeated trials more or less satisfactory, is now regularly at work in the district, as Mr. Crawley started to cut Mrs. Chapman's crop on the No. 2 Line on Saturday. The crop first operated on was a field of oats, rather greon, and in soine plages not standing veyy well. The light rain which fell on Saturday morning also militated against the chances of a perfect success, but on the horses being put to and a start being made, it was at once seen that tho machine was doing its work perfectly, cutting a swathe oft. wide as clean as possible, and pitching out some well-bound sheaves at every oouple of yards. During the day the work went on without a hitch, and when the rain came down and put an end to work for the day, the machine had cut and bound seven acres of grain in a manner which left nothing to be desired. A number of visitors from the neighbouring farms and Wanganiji were on the ground during the day, and were all delighted with the way the midline did its .work, Mr. Robert Hume, of Fordell. who is well known as a thoroughly practical farmer, was also present, and stated that the machine is the long-desired farmer's I

safety, as, by its means, crops can be saved surely and economically, and not; left, to ;risk the fluctuations and caprice of the labour market. With such machines at hand, farmers need have no fears now about the saving of their crops, and wo hope to see tho plough going all over tho district this winter, as it is a great reproach to a rich agricultural country like this to see vessel after vessel arriving, laded with breadstuffs and other grain, all of which can bo produced here at a profit cheaper than they can bo imported, to say nothing of tho money they cost being retained in tho place. We are glad to see the success achieved by Mr. Crawley's plucky speculation, the more so as some of his quid nunc friends pooh-pooh'd it, and prophesied its failure. Mr. Crawley deserves tho support and good wishes of the farmers, as ho has now plainly demonstrated to them that tho high price of labor need not stop tho sowing of cereals in the district. wanganni Herald.