CHEAP HARVESTING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2301, 21 May 1886, Page 2

CHEAP HARVESTING.

, The Colusa (Oalifornian) Sun says that improved methods of harvesting, mostly peculiar to California, are making it possible to grow wheat at less cost than ever, Tho combined harvester (an improved header and thresher) is declared to have proved a success; but the Sun is of opimonthat the bestmachine is ncombinod steam harvester. The Sun adds :-"Tho horses simply pull thia along, and tho engine keeps up the regular motion. Ono of these machines has beon kept at work at J. S. Gibson's for sevoral days, and has given entire satisfaction. It saves all the gram, turns out go»d clean wheat, and is the cheapest machine yet invented. Ten horses, five men, and about forty gallons of crude petroleum constitute the running expense; and the machine puts about thirty acres of wheat » day in the Back. This nnkes the actual expense about eighty cents an acre. Of course more than this has to be charged, because interest, wear-and-tear, breakage, Ac, must be added. But it is cheap harvesting.". The machine appears to be a header and thrashor worked by steam but drawn by horses. '

Having got so far, it is only a step to the application of 'steam to the draught as well as to the cutting and threshing. After that, we may expect to see Bteam superseded by electricity, compressed air, or some motive power not commonly applipd at present.