OSBORNE'S HEAPING AND BINDING MACHINES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 556, 12 February 1878, Page 2

OSBORNE'S HEAPING AND BINDING MACHINES.

A trial of one of these machines took place to-day at the farm of Messrs. Paton Brothers, near the Awamoko Junction. During the first portion of the trial the weather was most favorable, and the crop operated upon was of a very fair sample. Notwithstanding that the groin" was somewhat uneven, the machine 4 )e " rated most effectively when in ge al '- But it appears that during its journey from Timaru to Oamaru it traversed a piece of rough metalled iW eight miles in extent, which had the ofect of deranging some of its parts In addition to this, the "goose-neck,' which acts upon . the sheaf, and whic* w made of steel, by ; some unfortunate .m-cuinstance,got broken before the mivr/iine arrived here, and, although ever/care was taken to repair the damage so that the machine might work according to- announcement today, it could be seen from the commencement that this portion of the maohino occasionally refused to do its duty, which had the eifeot of leaving a sheaf here audi thew unbound. The machino, whei. | every part was in operation, did its w-Wj I well. Our opinion is, after observing ufif", .vorking of the Woud and Osborne machines, that one possesses but little, if any, advantage over the other. There are some points peculiar to both machines we admire, and which, if comprised in one machine, would secure almost perfection ; but, as in the case of Wood's, and, we suppose, all other machines, the Osborne is prone to get out of order. The wear and tear is considerable in both, and it is absolutely necessary, in order to ensure successful working, to start well and have the machines oupor 'intended by a competent hand. The Osborne machine is capable of being adjusted to suit any crop—high or low, thick or thin ; the crop cannot possibly be aflected by wind on, its road to the binder, for it is seourod between two sheets of canvas which pass ovev volleys; it cuts a width of about four and a half feet, and leaves but little waste ; in fact, it resembles Wood's machine as v regards utilising every portion of the crop. The Osborne machine saves at least one and a half bushel to the acre, which would be lost under the'„6-ld system of harvesting. It is to be rpgrjgljted that the Osborne ; machine was so out of gear that a more favourable opportunity was not afforded of its efficiency, but what wo have seen satisfies ua that it would be difficult to find any other fault with it than that it fails to throw the sheaf, and sometimes drags it. Throwing the sheaf, however, has its disadvantages as well as its advantages. It is capable of reaping and bindingan acre per hour, which may by considered good work, and will greatly increase the farmer's profit in addition to securing to him other undeniable advantages.