TRIAL OF HARVESTERS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1166, 12 January 1880, Page 2

TRIAL OF HARVESTERS.

THE PEERING TWINE BINDER, Messrs. Mason, Struthers and Qo., and New Zealand agents, exhibited at work yesterday, a Marsh Harvester, with Deer-, ing twine binder, and nothing could be more satisfactory than the work performed by it, which was in faot the very perfect tion of harvesting. The field chosen was one belonging to Mr. John Overton, of Prebbleton. The crop of oats varied from two and a half to, five and a half feet high, and contained a large proportion of-broken down straws by wind and sparrows. But a very clean even stubble was left. The sheaves were turned off all exactly the same size, and with a wonderfully uniform tightness of tie. Each sheaf wa3 so tight that it wa3 impossible to shake anything out of it, and difficult even to draw a straw from it. The knot was perfect, and would not yield to any strain upon it, and would be very difficult to untie. On putting sufficient strain on to break the string it never gave way at the.knot. The sheaves are compressed into a shape not round, but flattened, being about 15 inches through in one direction and seven in the other. They looked very well when built instooks,but werecertainly not symmetrical standing or lying alone, as besides their flattened shape, they looked very waspish, With their drawn-in and highly-compressed waists, and their bulging out butt and tops. Neither by hand nor machine, by straw nor by wire, has there been seen here the whole of a crop so securely and uniformly tied before. The uniformity of size in the sheaves is obtained by a spring, which yields at a given amount of pressure, and which instantly stops the gathering rakes and starts the binder, which completes its work in one revolution, when the binder stops and the gathering claws commence their work again. There is no confusion or imperfect separation between the bound and unbound straw, and absolutely no waste. The whole is performed under conditions that would be unaffected by the strongest winds ; and indeed, after the sirain leaves the cutting platform, no wind could have any: effect on it until quietly pushed off in a lightly-bound sheaf with about one foot drop to the grpund. The trial yesterday large gathering of farmers and in agricultural purgujtg. Punctually at ten o'clock Mr. Overtoil's mtvn, with ft pair of horses belonging to that gentle* man, were attached to the Deering, and after the oil can had been applied to the working gear of the machine by Mr, Ellithorpe, the maker's representative) the word was given and the work began, The first sheaf was eagerly oriticiaed. The knot was tho subieot of discussion, and tho manner in vrnich it atood tho strain that \vj\s put upon it by ono after another gave ovidont satisfaction. Then tho maohino was stopped, and the manner in which tho knot is tied was slowly and prootically explained by tho maker a re« prosontativo. Tho knot tier is in uppear~ anco liko a bird's bill, which Qpona and recoivos tho two ends of tho string at tho moment it is out by tho knifo, which aro thusi. drawn through tho loop by the beak retaining ita hold on them till the knot is made and tho shoaf is gently dvopjiad on tho "round.

Tho width of out of tho machine is Bffc, and the representative claims that in a day of ton hours ho can negotiate a field of fifteen apvea with case. About2oopersona wove pwaont duving tho day, and tho 12cproasions of satisfaction at tho work duuo wore both mnnovoua and unanimous, attomion being called by many to tho doau way in which tho work was ttoue, JNotau

ear of corn was missed by the r*»per and binder in its coarse, or allowed to fail on the ground untied. At a late hour m the afternoon it was suggested by Mr. H. J. Anderson, of Yaldhurst, that all those present who were satisfied with the manner m which the Deering did its work should rire them some tangible proof of the same. Accordingly a letter was drafted by one of the visitors as under January 5, low. To Messrs. Mason, Struthers, and Co., Chratchurcb. Bear Sirs,—We, the undersigned farmers in the Province, N.Z., have this day witnessed a trial of the Marsh Harvester with Deeringfis Twine Binder in a heavy crop ol belonging to John Overton, Esq., Prebbleton, and are desirous of testifying to the excellence of the work done, and have no hesitation in saying that it is a moat perfect machine, ozu! docs the best work of any we have seen in New Zealand, and consider it will be a great acquisition to this Colony and elsewhere. We also desire to thank .Mr. Ellrthorpe, the maker's representative, lor Jjjs Jncia explanations of the machine, and attention to all inquiries. Signed bv over fifty farmers on the ground, including many of the principal in Canterbury. It is worthy of notice that not a single hitch occurred to mar the working of the binder, which is strictly automatic, not even a tie broken. The agents may be fairly congratulated on a trial resulting in unqualified satisfaction to those witnessing it.—Press.