FARM WORK IN HARVEST.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 730, 12 August 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

FARM WORK IN HARVEST.

A very complete and elaborate lecture on this subject was recently delivered before the London Farmer's Club, and we extract from the account thereof contained in the Agricultural Gazette of the Bth April last, the remarks made in reference to Hood's Self-binding Harvester. The lecturer, 3lr. T. Rose, said—.Mr Walter Wo oil's machinn npjir-p.rs t'» b»> trie lif-st a.id most prac'icd yet intr->-di!<-."i. It. is said .'>')oo of thfiu wer>: at v.irk in America, Atntndia, and New Zealand, during the late harvest. I believe I am right in saying however that only two of these machines were in use in the United Kingdon, one on the farm of the late Lord Kinnaird, at Maggotland, Inchtiire, N. 8., the other on the farm of >lr. It. IS'eilson, Halewood, Liverpm-l. Thirf gentleman speaks most highly of it, and says the machine does its w>>rk at the rate of an acre a little under the hour, picking tip every* straw fr<nn the ground, and firmly tying every ahcaf, so that not one came loose in carting from the held, nor afterwards in taking them to the threshing machine where, with the hold-' fast nippers, the wire was cut, held securely, drawn from the sheaf, and dropped safely behind the man with the nippers, without a single piece being carried forward with the sheaf, which could only occur from wilfulness or gross negligence. He further says, he considers ; that the binder save 3 the labour of at least six hands, if not more. And in a letter I received from the late lamented Lord Kinnaird, dated Itossie Priory, October '2',}, itijii, he mentions, " having imported from Amenta 3 machine which cuts and lifts and binds at onee a very perfect invention, not liable to get out of ordiir, The sheaves are bound up with wire, whu.b js twisted at the end and cut by a simple cotitfjyance, the end being left ready for the nes.t »h<3af. Provision is made for the different length* ~{ and size of sheaf, which lattar is regulated at the will of the driver ; and they cau be bound either tightly or loosely—but better loose, tfce wire not slipping off. The machine being iiyhi of draught is worked easily with a pair of h»rces—which, in the ease of our fast-stepping; Clydesdale horse 3, can cut, of standing corn, from 10 to 12 acres per day v£ it)' hours. ;