REAPER AND BINDER CONTEST AT SPRINGFIELD FARM.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 571, 1 March 1878, Page 2

REAPER AND BINDER CONTEST AT SPRINGFIELD FARM.

Mr. Orr's paddock at Springfield presented a busy scene yesterday afternoon, tlie occasion being the contest of reaping and binding machines for the gold and silver medals offered by the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society. The following gentlemen were appointed a Committee of Management by the Society : —Messrs. P. Orr, Morton, Maelennan, Hedley, and Church (Secretary). Three machines were entered—M'Cormick's, "Wood's, and Reid and Gray's, the Osborne not being represented because there was unfortunately not one available for the purpose. This was regretted by many of those present yesterday, who would have preferred to see a reaper of each description arrayed in the contest. The attendance was very large, taking into consideration the distances to be travelled by many of those present, there being not less than 300 spectators on the ground. The weather was greatly in favour of harvesting operat ions, and could not have been better for the effective working of the machines. The crop was varied in quality—the straw being small throughout, with a good show of grain ; thin in patches, and uneven in ripeness. Three patches of grain, each three acres in extent, were set apart for the machines, and lots were drawn for choice. The contest commenced fairly shori.ly before halfpast one, the three machines being kept at work with a fair promise of no serious interruption occurring ; but shortly after starting the M'Cormick machine gave way, and, although two attempts were made ti> repair the damage, the accident was fatal to the success of the machine, as the delays were such as to render it impossible for it to complete the patch allotted it before the Committee of Management were compelled to leave the field. We are of opinion that, in their anxiety to show the capabilities of the machine, and to finish the work allotted to them with as little delay as possible under the unfortunate circumstances, the machine was driven beyond its capacity, especially taking into consideration its crippled state. The "Wood machine went through its work uninterruptedly, and the same may be said of the Reid and Gray. It will be scarcely necessary to comment upon the "Wood machine, with a view of pointing out its peculiarities, as they are already we]! known to our readers ; but. a few words about the Reid and Gray will not lie inappropriate. It has been advanced by some as an objection to this machine that it is a copy from the others. This is just what it professed to be from its very inception. Messrs. Reid and Gray have been to the fore in making agricultural implements, and they are as enterprising in the matter of manufacturing reapers and binders as they have been in the construction of other farming implements. It is a decided advantage to have a firm in our midst that is equal to manufacturing farmers' requisites, not only for the sake of convenience, but with the important object of keeping the money in the country. Jf they have made use of the brains of others they have not thereby done that which will render them blameable, for the same thing is done every day. It must be confessed that their machine is somewhat rudely constructed as compared with those imported, and we believe that this is where the cause of failure lies. If they fail to produce equally efficient machines to those imported they will fail to meet with a sale for them. TUB M'COK.VTIOK MAi'UIXE. .As we have previously stated the M'Cormick machine was less fortunate than the Wood. It had scarcely started when it succumbed, the connecting rod having given way. This portion of the implement seems unnecessarily fragile, and when it is known that the machine mowed and bound 300 acres of oat crop at Treleaven's farm near Christchurch, yielding nearly 100 bushels to the acre, it will be seen that the machine was an old one. Whilst working, however, its operations were most successfully performed. It cut exceedingly clean ; there was little or 110 waste : and it dropped the sheaves lengthwise beside the machine, leaving a neat line in its wake. B\ r some this is claimed to be an advantage over the Wood delivery, which projects the sheaf a distance of about three feet from the machine, by which an over ripe crop may suffer loss. On the other hand it is urged that the M'Cormick is liable to drag the sheaf, and lose as much thereby as it would if the sheaf were thrown clear. Roth are about as good in this respect as it is possible to make a machine, provided it is admitted that the sheaf must fall without anything to break the fall. The connecting rod having been patched up temporarily, the machine resumed work, but almost immediately gave way in the same part. The machine was again mended and made ready for work, but at too late an hour to admit of finishing its three acres without inconvenience. There is another peculiarity about the M'Cormick, which, to our mind, possesses no utility, and that is the wire around the sheaf is in two pieces, and there are therefore two chances instead of one against its retaining its grip : but it seldom missed a sheaf, which is decidedly in its favour. It is calculated that if it had worked uninterruptedly, it would have finished its three acres in two hours and a quarter. Cutting capacity, sft. 6in. ; draught (per dynamometer), Sicwt. Mr. Morrow, of Morrow. Bassett, and Co., Christchurch, agents for New Zealand, was present. "We learn that the N.Z.L. & M. Agency are agents for Oamaru.

To tlie casual observer the three reapers and binders that have been introduced into this district are almost similar in construction. They are so in the main, but not in detail. Wood's machine worked exceedingly smoothly, but it should be mentioned that it was a perfectly new one. It cut and bound its three acres without interruption, excepting those unimportant ones which will occur in all machinery. For instance, it had the misfortune to be apportioned the greenest portion of the field, and the elevators occasionally became choked. It bound the sheaf as securely as anyone could wish, and missed but few. As is already known the slieaf is thrown clear of the

machine butt first, which, to some competent judges, is said to be an objection, as it would shake the grain out of an over ripe crop. But the stubble helps to break the fall, and it has not yet been demonstrated in actual practice that this peculiarity is a tenable objection any more than that which is urged by some against the M'Cormick because of its tendency to drag the sheaf. It finished its three acres in two hours twenty-five minutes, so that the M'Cormick and the Wood may be considered about equal in speed, and we see no reason why they should not be. Cutting capacity, sft. (>in.; draught (tested by dynamometer), 3cwt. The m.-iker's representative (Air. Grifiin) superintended the working of the machine. The Ota-go agents (Messrs. Broderick and Carter) were also present. TUB 11EID AND OKAY MACHINE. We have already explained that this machine professes to be a copy of the best pointsof the three imported machines, with a Locke's binder attached ; but it is stated that some of its under gear will be an improvement upon that of any of the other machines. The machine was not in good working order, and was too hurriedly rushed into competition with other well-tested machines. Strange to say, the tying gear seemed to get out of order, and to cause all its troubles, and this was the only portion of the machine that was not made by Reid and Gray. A considerable number of sheaves were thrown off untied, but those that were secured were perfectly tight. This machine will, no doubt, lie greatly improved upon in time to execute orders for next harvest. It finished its three acres in three hours twelve minutes. Cutting average measurement oft., capacity oft. Gin., draught (per, dynamometer) 4cwt Air. (Jray, of Dunedin, and Air. Raid, of Oamaru, superintended the working of the machine.

THE BALLOT. The ballot was taken, only agriculturists being allowed to vote. Voters were reminded that the following points wen* to be considered : ''Neatness of sheaf, clean cutting, tightness of binding, time and breadth of cut to bo taken, draught, of machines, simplicity of the binding mechanism." The following was the result, : M'Cormiek ... ... ... HU Wood 50 Keid and Gray ... ... 7

The M'Cormiek. therefore, won the gold medal, and the Wood the silver medal. Considerable misapprehension, however, existed amongst those present with regard to the exact position of the M'Cormiek machine in the contest, many voting for the Wood because the former had broken down and was considered by them tr> be out of the contest, .lint, the Committee were very properly of opinion that the same misfortunes might have befallen any machine, and desired that it should not be taken into consideration what she had done, but what it was only reasonable to expect she would have done had she not broken down. But we should also state that three votes were given in favour of the Wood machine which, being informal, were not reckoned. Thanks arc due to Mr. Orr for the hospitality extended to the visitors.