A STRAW BINDER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2048, 20 May 1890, Page 3

A STRAW BINDER.

The most important topic of the week says the Leader, perhaps is the news from America that a reaping machine has heen invented which binds with straw. The state Grange of Illinois recently offered a premium of £2OO to secure a practical machine, or reaper attachment, for binding grain with straw instead of twine. Forty inventors, representing nearly every State also Canada and Scotland, competed. A full size working model was finally accepted, but its owner declined to sell his interest for the sum named," A report issued by the awarding committee says :—" We have seen this machine bind grain, and it does the work much finer and better than can be done with straw bands by hand. It has an extra attachment for short straw or grain, that can be set in motion by the foot of the driver. This binder seems perfect in all its parts, more simple aad easier to operate than the twine binder. We consider this a matter of great importance to all grain raising farmers, for they will not hereafter be subject to the trusts and combines of the twine men having plenty of binding material right at hand on the farm. The patentee is arranging to bring out his machine in February, 1890, and will enter the grain fields of the Seuthera fetatea, thence following the harvest north."