TRIAL OF REAPERS AND BINDERS AT CAMBRIDGE,

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2435, 18 February 1888, Page 3

TRIAL OF REAPERS AND BINDERS AT CAMBRIDGE,

As briefly announced in our Thursday's issue, a trial of reapers and binders was held on Wednesday last, upon Mr James Taylor's farm at Cambridge. Messrs T. and S. Morrin and Cα, the New Zealand agents of Messrs Hornsby, having received a pattern machine of tho description that will be offered fur sale during the present year; and being aware that the Waikato farmers are going in largely for cereal crops, decided upon giving them an opportunity of judging of its merits, before soliciting their orders. The local agent (Mr Thomas Wells of Cambridge) having secured the assistance of Mr James Taylor, who has hitherto been working one of Messrs Hornsby's machines, it was arranged that tho trial should -ake place on his farm, and an advertisement was inserted m this journal asking the public to witness it, and also inviting the owners (if harvesters_ to bring their machines and compete with the new one. To this invitation three responded, namely, Mr Ed. Allen of l'ukekura with a McCormick ; Messrs Cridgmau and Neil, wiHi a I'eid and Grey; and Mr J. R. S. Richardson sent :i Hornsby of 188 U. The trial took place in a paddock about half way between Cambridge and the Hautapu station, cm the samo side of the railway as Mr Taylor's house, and was attended by quite a concourse of people, among whom we noticed several ladies. Indeed it reminded us of the old cattle show days, when every one turned out; and tho town must have looked deserted nt the time the trial was proceeding. Among a host of fanners we noticed Messrs It. Reynolds, E. Allen, Vosper, Bridgman, T. Hicks, (who we are glad to see has recovered from his accident) Cowan, H. Hicks, J. Fisher, J. Forrest, U.E.Clark, G. Watt, Ewen, Pickering , , J. li. >S. Richurdson, J. Allwill, D;ily, Perrot, Grant (Waitoa) and in fact all the neighbouring districts were well represented. The wheat that Mr Taylor had left for the trial was a nice even piece, that wo should think would yield about -10 bushels to the acre, about 10 acres in extent and dead ripe. It was, however, good upstanding grain with a little fern in it and calculated to give a good, fair test. The trial was to have commenced at 2 p.m. and shortly after that time the owners of the machines met and appointed the following gentlemen as judges.—Messrs G. E. Clark, J. Fisher, G. Watt, R, Reynolds and D, Richardson. The four former being farmers and the latter a machinist, it was thought if there were any defects in the work done, or in the working of the machines it would speedily be found out. The next business was to lay off the ground into sections of about an acre each, and while that was being done many partook of Mr Taylor's hospitality that was dispensed from a heavily-laden buggy which he had kindly provided. The arrangements being completed, lots were drawn for position ; but as the crop was very even and tho ground level, it was of no consequence, none of the machines having any material advantage.

As Messrs Hornsby's reaper and binders are wall-knuwu throughout the Waikato, we do not think it necessary to give an explanatory article on the construction of their new one, but shall content ourselves by pointing out where it differs from thn.se sent out by the firm last year, and also the additional attachments. The first thing that attracted our attention was that the new machine was very much lower than the old ones; and upon comparing it with one that stood in the paddock we found that thu height to which the i»rain has to be elevated to reach the binder is more than a foot less than in the earlier ones. The elevator has been lowered, so that it only just clears the main driving wheel, and is consequently shorter, thereby saving power. The reel or shaft with beaters upon it for keeping the corn well up to the knives is driven by a pinion wheel instead of by a chain as forinerly. This is not only a more simple method, and therefore not so liable to get out of order, but it does away entirely with one of the endless chains, works with much less friction, and is almost noiseless. In addition the reel is composed of much lighter material, and therefore takes less power to drive it. Ajiother great improvement is the placing of a roller just where the grain leaves the canvas on its way to the binder. We have often noticed that in all harvesters, 11 quantity of grain will occasionally fret jammed between the return canvas and the plate over which it should slide clown to the tying apparatus. This roller has been specially placed to obviate that, and we believe this make of machine is the only one that has anything to assist the corn after it leaves the elevator. An auxiliary packer has been added, that not only makes the sheaves tighter, but also makes them round, which we should imagine would be preferable for stacking purpose?, to the very square ones that most harvesters make. The tying apparatus is very similar to the old one ; (he knotter we were told had been improved; but we must confess, that to us the binding part of the /«•machinery in all harvesters that we have up to the present seen, the same method — with perhaps some very trifling alteration —has been adopted. A self-adjusting wind board has been placed so that the heads of the grain are kept in a line on their passage from the elevator to the binder, and adds to the neatness of the sheaf. The fingers through which the .knives work have been altered in shape, we think by the points being turned up a little more—which enables the operator to literally shave tho gMund if he thinks n't to do so. We do not believe a mowing machine could cut closer. (Query—Would not this be useful for harvesting grasses for seed.) Tho part that attracted most attention, was undoubtedly the sheaf carrier. This is a. very neat and simple contrivance, suspended to a light framework, and is situated just outside the binder, which, instead of throwing the sheaves on to tho ground, deposits them in the carrier. It is worked by the driver, who keeps his foot iipon a treadle ; and when tho carrier is full, by lifting it up, or ralher by allowing it to coma up, the sheaves aro deposited gently upuu the ground. The manner in which the tnachino did this part o£ tha work won

the admiration nf everyone who witnessed it, and must be a great saving of labours Indeed, Mr Taylor estimates that it save, the labour (if two men in stocking, and we can quite believe such to be the case, sheaves are left in thick rows, which must save an immense amount of running about, as is the case when they are dropped singly. Among tho minor improvements that Messrs Hornsby have made to their h sir testers is (me that would escape the notice of many ; but one that is nevertheless a very important one. We refer to the facilities for oiling. Many machines often break down for want of a little oil, and we do m-t wonder at it, for in some of them it is next thing to impossible to tret at the parts that require it. In Messrs Hornsby's ISBB harvester every part that it is necessary to nil ia easy of access, so there will be no excuse for worn bearings. We omitted to mention that tho gear for adjusting the reel to the height of the crop has been improved, and that a light wind-board has been placed to prevont the grain being displaced, as it falls on to tho canvas immediately after it has been cut. The travelling pear is very easily put on. Messrs Morrin's representative (Mr W. H. Leonard) who was presnnt, undertook to put tho machine in travelling order in ten minutes by himself. Wherever any metal or wood could be sacrificed without affecting strength Messrs Hornsby have not hesitated to do so, and consequently the draft of it is, we should estimate, nearly a third less than in their old machines. This is borne out in the manner in which Mr Taylor's two horses drew it, while each of the others had three.

The McCormick used by Mr Allen was the one that we noticed in these columns at the commencement of the harvest, and since that time it has been in daily use. The Reid and Grey used by Mr Bridgman is also a new machine that ho purchased through the agent (Mr W. J. Neil) at tho commencement of the season. Mr Richardson's liSSfi Hornsby had done two season's work. Tho order in which the machines finished working was: Mr Richardson's, first (a considerable time); Mr Allen's, second ; tho new Hornsby, third ; and Mr Uridgman's last. The judges found it a difficult task to decide which was the best on all points, but ultimately gave their award as follows :—The new Hornsby, first; Reid and Gray, second ; MeCnrinick, third; 188(i Hornsby, fourth. The part taken by the new machine looked by far the neatest, which was attributable, in a great measure, to the sheaves being placed in rows. The Reid and Grey tied the tightest, and the old Hornsby did not miss tying a single shief, but tied them badly. As soon as tho judges had given their award, there was a general clearance for home.