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CC c c <: cc c c cr: cc_:c «:: cc - c . c:c ■■■:-' c: c ^ ( CC" -1 ' C(- o ^^ ' cc "C C C ^c c cc "^ < • cc C ^1 c cc < J ccc «r :.-c^c^ :C:;C:ccc-.cc C^i£::Cc..ccc ,C^^' ^"'C CC::. ■■c''''^rc ;'<£.;«C;<|-C ':*S-< C :^:^c^'c c-r-^c -c ■ :^V\ wi?-T " fC 1 . .^manlike manner, in a given time, in the i \ Zv! V, y'^I^^J-e^V /'^^ r"""';. most economical way. (e.) Which has the least side draught. J (f.) Which does the most work in the least time. (g.) Which does the best work. (h.) Which is managed with the most facility. In determining the last question, they will consider (i.) Which is the most portable w^hen in operation, or otherwise. (j.) The arrangement for throwing in or out of gear. (k.) Accessibility of parts for convenience of oiling, tightening nuts, &c. (1.) Convenience and safety of the driver. (m.) Eeadiness with which the machine may be brought into perfect operation from a dead stand, and quality of work with slow motion. (n.) Time and room occupied in turning, — avoiding abrasion of the turf. (o.) Adaptation to uneven surfaces, cutting at different heights, and to cutting different kinds of grass. When the judges have determined these questions, they will proceed to decide which of the machines is best adapted to the use of the farmer, by having the greatest number of merits and the fewest defects. . 5th. In case two or more machines should approach very near to each other in merit, the judges will give such machines new trials as in tangled clover, on soft bottoms, on stony surfaces, and such other places as seem best adapted to settle their relative merits. 6th. Only four machines shall be in operation at once, and each machine shall be attended by a member of the time commit- tee all the time that it is in action. 7th. The machines will be tried in the order of their numbers. Lot No. 1 will be cut first. No. 2 next, and so on. 8th. The trials will commence at 8 A. M., and continue until 6 P. M., with an intermission of one hour for dinner. 9th. Each competitor will furnish his own team and driver. 10th. It is of importance that each machine be put in complete running order before coming on to the ground, and the knives should be perfectly sharp before the dynamometer trial takes place. No allowance will be made by the judges should this precaution be neglected. Competitors should be well supplied with oil, wrenches and duplicate parts of the machines. 11th. A lot will be i^rovided in which competitors may try their machines previous to entering upon the regular trial. 12th. No person will be permitted to go upon the grounds while the trial is proceeding, except competitors and judges. 13th. The police w^ill prevent all persons handling the cut grain, except the owner and his men. 10 14th. The chairman of the judges will tabulate the reports of the sub-committees, and will draw up a full report of the trial. 15th. Exhibitors shall present no other machines for trial than those which they habitually furnish from their shops to their customers. The object of the society is to furnish for farmers the best machines in actual use, and they do not wish to counte- nance any other, and they desire none others for trial than those in market for farmers use. Trial to be held at the city of Auburn commencing July 10th. Entries to be made at the secretary's office at least one week previous to the 10th of July. After the Programme was printed, it was deemed expedient to add the following points to the observations required to be made and reported on by the Mechanical Committee: 1st. Can the machine be backed, with ease and safety, without raising the finger bar? 2d. Can the driver get on and off his seat with facility and safety, and are the parts he must necessarily tread or put his feet upon, made rough, or otherwise so formed that he will not be likely to slip when the soles of his shoes become slippery? 3d. What provision is made for properly securing the lines and whip of the driver, when he gets off the machine? 4th. Are his clothes, or the lines, liable to be wound up by the revolving parts? 5th. How many bolts are there in the machine? 6th. How many sizes of wrench are required to adjust them? 7th. Will the bolts turn when being tightened or loosened? We experienced considerable inconvenience when one maker entered two or more machines, in identifying them in the trial. For the future, we would recommend that exhibitors be required to give the marks by which each machine can be identified, and that such marks should be placed upon the entry lists. Another difficulty arose from changing lots, which had been drawn. Sometimes this was done by the exhibitors, and some- times by the judges, when the exhibitors were not ready to take their places when called upon. For the future, we would recom- mend that competitors be required to cut the lots, which they have drawn, without exchanging. A programme, showing the machines which will be called upon, 11 and the order in which they will be called, should be posted on the preceding day. If then competitors are not ready to take their places when called upon, they should lose their chance. These regulations would, we think, prevent any necessity for chang-ino; lots. No machine should in future be allowed to enter upon the trial, until the committee on weights and price have taken all the min- utes that they are required to. For want of this regulation, some of the machines left Auburn without these facts being ascertained. PROGRAMME FOR HORSE POWERS. Endless Chain Poivers. 1st. All the machines will be set at an angle of 13o exactly. 2d. They will be tested by Batchelder's dyamometer. . 3d. They will be required to pump an amount of water equal to the capacity of the power, and to raise it a given number of feet high through a tube of sufficient diameter; the power raising the greatest amount of water in a given time, will have the pre- ference. 4th. The horses will move at the rate of two miles per hour. The rate of travel will be ascertained by the speedometer, and the stroke or capacity of the pump will be increased or dimin- ished until this speed is attained. The trial for the time required will not take place until this adjustment has been made. 5th. When a horse travels for a given time, at a known speed, on an endless chain horse power set at an ascertained angle, it i« equivalent to walking progressively up a fixed incline plane, the exact length of which can be computed from the above mentioned data; this length will be the hypothenuse of a right angled tri- angle whose perpendicular can be ascertained by trigonometry. The power exerted will be ascertained by the weight of the horses falling through this perpendicular space in a given time. The power transmitted to the dyamometer will be exactly mea- sured by that instrument. The difference between the power exerted and the power transmitted, will represent the friction and inertia of each machine. The weight of water raised to the prescribed altitude in the same time, will be the measure of the effective force, which, wheu deducted from the amount of force transmitted through the dyamometer, will show the aggregate 12 of friction and inertia of the pump, and the friction of the water in the pipe. In case it is found by experiment to give equally satisfactory results, a Prony's break will be substituted for the pump. 6th. The judges will carefully record the weight and price of each machine, noting the extra pieces, if any, that are sent with the machine and included in the price. The points to be observed by the judges are the following: (a.) Effective force, or the ability to exert the greatest amount of force in a given time with a given power. (b.) Easy control of action. Arrangements for stopping or starting quickly without injury to the machine or horses. (c.) Portability of machine. (d.) Firmness. Arrangements for preventing the alteration of the position of the machine when in action. (e.) Permanency. Absence of rubbing, sliding or grinding. Action of the parts by which it is liable to wear out quickly. Adjustment of the strength of material to parts where the greatest strain comes. Much importance is attached to this point. A machine is undesirable for the farmer, whatever may be its merits in other respects, if it is liable to break down frequently, involv- ing the necessity of transporting it to a mechanic's shop for repairs. (f.) Facility of working. Accessibility of parts, so that it can be easily oiled, or nuts tightened, or any other thing can be done to it easily, which may be required in the process of working. (g.) Excellence of workmanship and material. . (h.) Cheapness. Not the smallest cost, but the greatest amount of good qualities for the lowest price. (i.) Convenience of getting horses safely on and off the ma- chine. Adaptation to teams of different sizes and of different habits of traveling. (k.) The best and most substantial manner of fastening the band and gear wheels to their respective shafts. 8th. All machines must be placed on trial just as they are ordinarily sold to farmers. No machines will be allowed to com- pete which are specially got up for the purposes of this trial. 9th. Full descriptions of the machines will be given, and the 13 points of excellence which are claimed as constituting the indivi- duality of each machine will be clearly stated. 10th. The judges will avail themselves of the tests provided to determine, as far as possible, all contested mechanical questions which have been mooted between rival builders. To powers on the Endless Chain principle, it will be a point of merit, if the principle of the machine is adapted to different number of horses. The size for trial will be for two horses. Circular Powers. The same tests will be applied to Circular Horse Powers as are applied to Endless Chain Powers. The speed of the horse will be ascertained by counting the revolutions of the sweep. The friction of each machine will be determined by the appli- cation of spring balances. PEOGKAMME FOE HAY PEESSES. The best Hay Press is that which compresses the hay into the smallest bulk without mechanical or chemical injury to the culms or leaves, with the greatest economy of time, force and labor while in daily use, and with the least liability to get out of repair. The judges will observe and report on the following points: 1st. The density of the pressed bales; which will be ascer- tained by a comparison of the weight of hay and the cubic feet occupied by the bale after pressure. They will ascertain the temperature of the bales before and after pressure. 2d. Portability and convenience of working. Other things being equal, that press is preferable which has the least altitude. 3d. Compactness of the machinery. 4th. Economy of power. The judges will observe and record: (a.) The diameter of the circle in which the horse walks, where his motion is circular, (b.) The number of revolutions that he makes while running up a bale, and the time that he is in motion; also, if he is needed to run down the press, give the number of revolutions and the time occupied in running down. If his mo- tion is rectilineal, note the distance that he walks and the time occupied in performing the distance. 5th. Eapidity of operation, (a.) How many men are employed 14 in filling the box? (b.) How long are they in filling it? (c.) How long does it take to press the bale after the box is filled? (d.) How long does it take to open the box to make it ready for hooping? (e.) How long does it take to hoop it? (f.) How long to take out the bale? (g.) How long before it is ready for re- fiUino- with hay? (h.) How long can this rate of speed be con- tinued? 6th. What is its cost? Does this include the windlass, chain, hooks, and all the apparatus necessary for hay pressing? If not, what articles are omitted? 7th. What is the material of which it is composed? Is the workmanship good? Is the strength of the material well dis- tributed? Is it liable to get out of repair? Is it attended with danger to the workman? 8th. The decision of the judges on the hay presses will be withheld until the State Fair, wlien the bales will be opened, and the quality of the hay inspected and the award made. These programmes having been distributed, the president and secretary were appointed a committee with full power to make all the necessary subsidiary arrangements and to select the o-rounds for the trial and the time for its commencement. After a careful examination of several places. Auburn was finally selected as the place, and the time of commencement was fixed for the 10th of July. LIST OF JUDGES. John Stanton Gould, Hudson, N. Y., Chairman; B. P. Johnson, Albany, N. Y.; Sanford Howard, Lansing, Michigan; E. K. Pot- ter, Kingston, R. I.; Benj. Pierce, Cambridge University; Elisha Foote, Washington, D. C; Henry Waterman, Hudson, N. Y.; Ezra Cornell, Ithaca; Samuel Campbell, New York Mills, N. Y.; A. B. Conger, Haverstraw, N. Y.; T. L. Harison, Morley, N. Y. Chief Marshal — ^H. W. D wight. Auburn. Committee of Reception on the part of the citizens of Auburn : Hon. Christopher Morgan, David P. Wallis, Esq., Col. Charles C. Dwight. 15 LIST OF MACHINES TO BE TEIED FOR PEEMIUMS. MOWEES AND REAPEES. Each exhibitor was charged an entrance fee of $25 for every implement entered, in each of the several classes named. Class. No. 1. Mowing machine for two horses. No. 2. Reaping machines — hand rakers. No. 21. Self rakers. No. 3. Combined mowers and reapers, hand rakers. No. 4. Combined reapers, with self-raking or dropping attach- ment. No. 5. Combined reapers for use as self-rakers, or hand-rakers as may be preferred. No. 6. One-horse mowers. OTHEE IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINES. Class. No. 7. Horse-powers on the endless chain principle. No. 8. Sweep powers. No. 9. ThreshiDg machines. No. 10. Combined threshers and cleaners. No. 11. Hay presses. No. 12. Fanning mills. No. 13. Horse rakes. No. 14. Hay tedders. No. 15. Machines for gatheriiig and loading hay. No. 16. Horse-power hay forks. No. 17. Portable steam engines. No. 18. Hay and straw cutters. . No. 19. Grain separators. Entries. Entries to be made at the secretary's office, at Albany, at least one week previous to the 10th of July. Prizes. In each of the nineteen classes above given, the Society's large gold medal (costing $75 or more) is offered as the first premium for the best machine. For the second best, a cash prize of $25. But in any class in which only a single machine is offered for 16 competition, this macMne may, after trial, be recommended to the executive committee to receive the gold medal, if in their opinion worthy of the award. And in no case are awards to be made by the judges except upon machines, in their opinion, possessing . adequate merit. IMPLEMENTS NOT INTENDED FOE TRIAL. Implements not intended for trial in the above list may be placed on the show grounds for exhibition only, if so desired, on payment of an entrance fee of $5 on each implement. MOAVING AND REAPING GROUNDS. The lots selected for trials in mowing clover were, thirty-one on the farm of Mr. Wheaton Leach, about three miles from Auburn ; seven on the farm of Mr. Partlow, three on the farm of Mr. Copeman, and five on the farm of Mr. Reed, all in the town of Aurelius, each lot containing an acre of land. The trials for mowing fine grass were on the farm of Mr. Monson, near the Sennett depot. Thirty lots of an acre each were staked ofi" in the standing wheat on Mr. Leach's farm and three lots on Mr. Hunt's farm. The trials in lodged wheat were on Mr. Sheldon's farm in Sen- nett ; Eye was reaped on the farm of Mr. Heiser, and Barley on the farm of Mr. Bunker, the two latter being within one mile of Auburn. The entries which had been made at the office of the Secretary on and before the 3d day of July were as follows : Glass 1. D. M. Osborne & Co., Auburn : No. 1, one mower : No. 2. one mower, (large.) This is also entered as Nos. 27, 37, and 48, and 19. C. C. Bradley & Son, Syracuse: No. 3. One "Hubbard" mower. E. F. Herrington, Valley Falls, N. Y.: No. 4. One Eagle mower; same as entry 29. J. D. Wilber, Poughkeepsie : No. 5. One Eureka mower ; No. 6. one Eureka mower (large.) Peekskill Manufacturing Co., Peekskill : No. 7. One Clipper mower, (invented by R. Dutton.) Walter A. Wood, Hoosick Falls : No. 8. One mower. Dow & Fowler, Fowlersville : No. 9. One Yankee mower. 17 4 Adriance, Piatt & Co., Poughkeepsie: No, 10. One No. 2, Buck- eye mower. American Agricultural Works, 620 Broadway New York : No. 11. One Columbian junior mower. Dodge & Stevenson Manufacturing Company, Auburn: No. 12. One No. 2, Iron mower, Ohio and Buckeye Patents combined, (Dodge's Pat.) C. Wheeler, jr., Auburn : No. 13. One mower, (A) ; No. 14. One mower, (B) ; No. 15. One mower, (C) ; No. 16. One mower, (D). W. H. Halladay, Auburn : No. 17. One Aixierican mower. Ehode Island Clipper Mowing Co., Newport : No. 18. One two-horse Harvest Clipper mower, (invented by E. Dutton) C. R. Brinckerhoff : No. 18 1. One mower. Class 2. D. M. Osborne & Co., Auburn : No. 19. One reaper (hand rake). C. Wheeler, jr., Auburn : No. 20. One reaper (hand rake.) Class 2 J. C. R. Brinckerhoff, Rochester : No. 21. One reaper, (self- rake.) C. C. Bradley & Sou, Syracuse: No. 22. One Syracuse (self- raking-) reaper. Walter A. Wood, Hoosick Falls: No. 23. One reaper self -raker (chain rake); No. 24. One reaper, self-raker, (sweep rake), same as entry No. 40. Stephen Hull, Poughkeepsie : No. 25. One reaper, (self-rake); withdrawn. N. A. Dederer, Greene : No. 26. One reaper, self-raker ; did not arrive. D. M. Osborne & Co., Auburn :• No. 27. One reaper, (self-^ rake) ; Seymour, Morgan & Allen : No. 27i. One reaper, (self- rake). Class 3. D. M. Osborne & Co., Auburn : No. 28. One combined mower and reaper. E. F. Herrington, Valley Falls, N. Y.: No. 29. One Eagle 2 18 combined machine ; same as entry No. 40, except that it now has a pinion changed. Walter A. Wood, Hoosick Falls : No. 30. One combined mower and reaper, (hand rake.) Adriauce, Piatt & Cc, Poughkeepsie : No. 31. One No. 1 Buck- eye combined. Autman, Miller & Co., Akron, Ohio : No. 32. One Buckeye combined. Dodge & Stevenson Manufacturing Co., Auburn : No. 33. One combined machine (Dodge pat.); No. 2 wood frame. C. Wheeler, jr., Auburu : No. 34. One combined machine, (hand rake), G; No. 35. One combined machine, (hand rake,) H. Class 4. D. M. Osborne & Co., Auburn : No. 36. One combined machine. Walter A. Wood, Hoosick Falls : No. 39. One combined ma- chine, (self-rake); No. 40. One combined machine, (self-rake.) Autman, Miller & Co., Akron, Ohio: No. 41. One Buckeye Combined, (self-rake.) Williams, Wallace & Co., Syracuse : No. 42. One No. 1 Hub- bard machine, (Syracuse self-rake); No. 43. One No. 2, Hubbard machine, (Syracuse self-rake.) Seymour, Morgan & Allen, Brockport : No. 44. One New York Combined machine, (self-rake.) C. Wheeler jr.. Auburn : No, 45. One Combined machine, self- raking attachment; No, 46. One Combined machine droppmg attachment. W. H. Halladay, Auburn : No. 47. One Marsh's Combined machine, (self-rake;) No. 47i. Marsh's Valley Chief. Class 5. D. M. Osborne & Co., Auburn: No. 48. One Combined machine; No, 49. One Combined machine; No. 50. One Combined machine. American Agricultural Works, 620 Broadway, New York ; No. 51. One Columbian machine, hand and self-raker. Dodge & Stevenson Manufacturing Co., Auburn : No. 52. One Dodge's patent combined machine, self or hand raker, wood frame. No. 1 ; No. 53. One Dodge's patent combined machine, self <^r hand rake, iron frame, No. 1. C. Wheeler, jr., Auburn : No. 54. One combined machine, self 19 or hand rake, (K) ; No. 55. One combined machine as dropper or hand rake, (L). Class 6. D. M. Osborne & Co., Auburn: No. 56. One one-horse mower. E. L. Allen, New York : No. 57. One one-horse mower, "Po- ny Clipper," (invented by R. Button.) C. Wheeler, jr.. Auburn : No. 58. One one-horse mower, F. E. Dutton, Brooklyn : No. 59. One one-horse Gleaner mower, (invented by E. Dutton.) Class 7. E. & M. Harder, Cobleskill, Schoharie Co.: No. 1. One two- horse pow^er, endless chain. , Horace L. Emery & Son, Albany : No. 2. One endless chain horse power ; withdrawn. Wheeler, Melick & Co., Albany: No. 3. One endless chain horse power ; withdrawn. Class 8. Dow & Fowler, Fowlerville : No. 4. One lever or sweep horse power. Class 9. Dow & Fowler, Fowlerville : No. 5. One thrasher or separator. Class 10. A. Draper, 53 Nassau street, New York : No. 6. One Excelsior wheat cleaning machine. E. & M. Harder, Cobleskill : No. 7. One thresher and cleaner. Horace L. Emery & Son, Albany : No. 8. One thresher and cleaner, withdrawn. Wheeler, Melick & Co., Albany: No. 9. One thresher and cleaner, withdrawn. Class 13. Ives & Bostwick, Ithaca : No. 10, Sharp's Independent, steel tooth, wheel horse rake. Barber, Sheldon & Co., agents. Auburn: (Wanzer & Crom- well, 60 West Lake street, Chicago.) No. 11. Sulky horse rake, Hollingsworth Pat. S. B. Whitney, Coxsackie : No. 12. One revolving wheel horse rake. A. B. Sprout, Muncy, Penn. : No. 13. A. B. Sprout's patent steel tooth horse rake. 20 Buckeye Mowing Machine Co., West Fitcliburg, Mass.: No. 14. Bay State horse rake. P. S. Carver, Honeoye Falls, Monroe Co.: No. 15. Carver's improved one handle horse-rake. H. N. Tracy, Burlington, Vermont : No. 16. Warner's revolv- ing vyheel horse-rake. Class 14. Craven Tedder Co., 53 Beekman street, New York : No. 17. Craven's hay tedder. Silas C. Herring, New York : No. 18, BuUard's patent hay tedder. Class 15. Niles & Gillett, Little York, Cortland County : No. 19. Load- ing attachment to hay wagons. Class 16.' G. W, Prout, Ashland, Greene County : No. 20. Apparatus for unloading hay. A. B. Sprout, Muncy, Penn.: No. 21. Hay fork and knife for unloading hay and cutting down hay in the mow. Chapman, Hawley & Co., Utica : No. 22. Hay and straw fork, Eaymond's patent. Wheeler, Melick & Co., Albany : No. 23. Walker's improved horse hay fork. D- Hinkston, Le Eoy : No. 24. One horse hay fork. J. L. Mansfield & Co., Clockville : No. 25. Gladding's horse power hay fork. Class 18. Dow & Fowler, Fowlerville : No. 26. One power hay cutter ; No. 27. Sanford, Wasson & Co., Cumming's patent hay and straw cutters. ' On Tuesday, the 10th of July, 1866, the implements were arranged on the show grounds of the Cayuga County Agricultural Society, and the day was spent by the judges in a careful inspec- tion of the several machines. PRELIMINARY ACTION OF THE JUDGES. In the evening the competitors and the judges met in the Su- pervisors' room, in the court house, in Auburn. Lots were drawn according to the programme. The president delivered an address explaining the construction of the dynamometers, the mode of 21 conducting the trials, and stated the mechanical problems "which the society intended to attempt the solution of. The judges were divided into committees as follows : Committee on Mechanical Arrangements. — Hon. Ezra Cornell, Hon. Samuel Campbell. On the Dynamometer Trial. — Prof. B. Pierce, Henry Waterman. On Dimensions. — T. L. Harison. Time Committee. — Hon. E. R. Potter, Hon. A. B. Conger, Sanford Howard, Esq. On Grain and Grass. — John Stanton Gould. On Weight and Price. — Col. B. P. Johnson. '' On Quality of Work. — Sanford Howard, Esq., Hon. E. R. Potter. On Description. -Judge Elisha Foote. TEIAL OF MOWEES. On Wednesday, July the 11th, the trial was begun by the mowing of clover on the farm of W. S. Leach, in the town of Aurelius. The field was laid out into acre lots as in the annexed diagram. w lO o CO ^ ^ cx> 16 VI 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 a l-H 1 X w ^ i 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 31 Headland. East. The lots measured 8 chains and 50 links from north to south, and 1 chain and 18 links from east to west, except No. 31, which measured 17 chains by 59 links. The field rolled gently from east to west. Lots 7, 8, 9 and 10, and 22, 23, 24 and 25, occupying the crest of the hill, the lots lying west of it sloping to the west, while those on the other side sloped towards the east. The average length of the clover was ■22 two feet six inches. Besides the clover, the following grasses were found on the lot in small quantities : Kentucky blue grass. [Poa prafensis.) Eed top. {Agrostis vulgaris.) White top. {Agrostis alba.) Chess. [Bromus secalinus.) And the following weeds : Erigeron canadense. Erigeron strigosum — sweet scabious or flea bane. Enigeron annuwn. Hypericum corymbosum. Hypericum perforatum — St. John's wort. Cirsium canadense — Canada thistle. Cirsium lanceolatmn— Common thistle. Rmnex crispus — Dock, Potentilla Pennsylvanica— cinquefoil or five finger. Potentilla canadense — cinquefoil or five finger. Agrostemma githago —corn cockle or meadow pink. Verbascum thapsis — Mullen. Plantago major — common plantain. Plantago lanceolata — ripple grass, English plantain. The erigeron was very thick and tall on the west side of the lot, especially in Nos. 16, 17 and 18, where it grew 3| to 4^ feet high. The other plants were not in sufficient abundance to in- fluence the cutting appreciably. The clover was closely matted down, and was much inter- twined and tangled, making very difficult cutting. It was not rough nor stony. Lot No. 1 was cut by Adriance, Piatt & Co's. Buckeye mower, entry No. 10. The west side of the lot was very much trodden down, and in several places there was a good deal of dry brush. The erigeron was thick at the north end. Three slight stops were made to clear brush. The acre was mowed in 55 i minutes. The mark for quality of work affixed by the judges was 40, which signified perfect work. Difficult as was the task, the whole lot was evenly and neatly cut without combings or anything with which fault could be found. It was indeed a piece of model mowing, and was justly admired by the whole body of the spec- tators. Bearings and journals cool. 23 Lot No. 8 was cut by Aclriance, Piatt & Go's. Buckeye Com- b^'^ied machine, entry No. 31. It was situated on the crest of the hill where the weeds were neither tall nor numerous, nor Avas the clover as rank or tangled as in many others. Lot No. 1 was mowed by Mr. Adriance himself. Lot No. 8 was mowed by another driver, who, instead of starting for his own corner, cut diagonally into No. 7, which had been drawn by Mr. Osborn. The lot was mowed in 51 minutes. Two or three times he was arrested by the gatherings on his finger bars, and was compelled to back up. There were no combings, but the lot was ill cut. The judge's mark for quality of work was 30. No part heated. As this machine was so nearly identical with that which cut No. 1, the great difference in the quality of the work would seem to indicate that the results in the field were very greatly modi- fied by the skill of the driver. Both machines ran steadily and noiselessly, showing very slight lateral vibration. Lot No. 29 was cut by Aultman, Miller & Co., with their Buck- eye jr., entry No. 32. The lot was thickly covered with erige- rons, many of which were 5 feet high, and from half to five- eighths of an inch in diameter. There were two or three stumps of trees upon the lot, but the clover was less firmly matted to- gether, and not quite as long as it was in lots 13 and 14 directly in front of it. The machine was noisy and vibrated considerably, showing the imperfection of the gearing. The weeds piled up once or twice upon the fingers, which made it necessary to stop for a moment; but the cutting was very close, and would have been good if there had not been so many combings left between the swaths. The mark for quality of work was 38. The time was 51 minutes exclusive of stops, amounting to two minutes. Bearings cool. This machine in its plan and arrangement was nearly identical with No. 31, but finished with much less care. That it should have done so much better work on a more difficult lot can only be attributed to the skill of the driver. Lot No. 18 was situated in the northerly tier towards the east- ern end of the Leach field. There was a o-ood deal of erifi^eron and St. John's wort, and the clover stood up better in this lot,- which had smooth, firm bottom, than any other where the Buck- eyes mowed. It was cut by Aultman, Miller & Co. with their 24 Buckeye senior, entry No. 41. There was some combing, but the cutting was very close. Its mark for quality of work was 38. The time occupied in cutting was 55| minutes. Pitman joint somewhat warm. Tlie four Buckeyes above mentioned, all leave the grass in good condition for drying. Lot No. 12 was situated on the hill sloping towards the east, in the southern tier of lots. There was a good deal of erigeron and dock, with some thistles upon it. It was mowed by Dodge, Stevenson & Co., with their iron mower No. 2, entry No. 12. The time employed in mowing was 61i minutes, exclusive of 2| minutes used up in stoppages. The stubble was long, jagged, and irregularly cut. The mark for quality of work was 29. Bearings cool. Lot No. 30 was the northeastern lot in the Leach field. It had one or two stumps in it, but had no other unusual difficulty to contend with. It was cut by Dodge, Stevenson & Go's. Com- bined machine with wooden frame. It cut two or three pretty large pieces of brushwood which lay in its path without diffi- culty, but the stubble was not cut close or even, and there was a laro-e comb to several of the swaths. Time 42 minutes, 50 seconds. The stops consumed 15 seconds only. The mark for quality of work was 35. Crank and bearings hot enough to burn the hands. Lot No. 21 differed but little from lot No. 30, except that it had more weeds, and lay on the slope of the hill facing the west; whereas No. 30 was tolerably flat. It was mowed by Dodge, Stevenson & Co., with their wooden frame mower, No. 52. The stubble was not well cut. The time was 55 i minutes, and the mark for quality of work v/as 29. Pitman joint rather warm. Lot No. 42 was next to the most southerly of the rear row of lots in the Partlow field. A very considerable proportion of the herbage consisted of timothy, and the clover stood up better than it did in any of the Leach lots. It was mowed by Dodge, Stevenson & Co., with their iron machine. No. 1, entry No. 53. The time was 43 minutes. The mark for quality of work was 32. Pitman joint warm. The machines made by this firm combine the patents of the Buckeye and the Ohio mowers, having the gearing of the former and the movable shoe of the latter. Both of these are well ap- proved instruments in every section of the country, and both 25 have clone as good work as ever was clone in a meadow. It is not easy to understand why a machhie, which unites the best features of both patents, should make so poor a record as these have done upon this field. Thinking it might be caused by a poor cutting edge on the sections, we examined them, and found them well tempered and as sharp as any others. They were certainly noisy, and were unsteady in their motions, owing to the imperfection of the gearing, but this does not fully account for the imperfection of the work. Lot No. 7 was similar in its character to lot No. 8, already described. The driver of Buckeye, No. 31, had mowed into this lot in starting, considerably embarrassiiig the driver on No. 7. It was cut by D. M. Osborne & Co.'s large Kirby mower, entry No. 2. It was necessary to back occasionally on account of the grass, where it had been cut into by the Buckeye. The time was 50 minutes, 6 seconds exclusive of one minute stoppages. The ma- chine moved smoothly, Avith very little vibration or noise. The work was good. Mark for quality of work, 37. Bearings cool. Lot No. 43 was situated on Partlow's field, and was similar to No." 42, except that it was a little more weedy, and the clover more lodged. It was mowed by D. M. Osborne & Co., entry No. 1; the cut was uneven and not very close. Time 54 minutes, inclu- sive of li minutes stoppages. Mark for quality of work, 33. It got out of order and was taken out to repair. Lot No. 17 very much resembled No. 18, except that the erigeron was still heavier. It was cut by D. M. Osborne & Co., entry No. 28. Somie combings were left on a few of the swaths. The time was 55 minutes, inclu- sive of 10 minutes stoppages. The mark for quality of work was 36. Pitman joint and crank bearing rather warm. ■Lot No. 4 : tolerably level, but the clover was badly lodged and somewhat rough. It was cut by D. M. Osborne & Co. , entry No. 36. The stubble was even, but not closely cut ; there was no comb ; backed two or three times ; time 46 minutes, 55 seconds ; mark for quality of work 35 ; bearings and journals cool. Lot No. 48 was situated in the Copeman field, it was hilly and somewhat lodged from being trampled on before mowing. It was cut by D. M. Osborne & Co., entry No. 2 : time 48 minutes ; mark for quality of work, 32 ; journal and bearings cool. Lot No. 14 was situated near the eastern end of the front row, 26 and was a pretty fair average of the field. It was cut by D. M. Osborne & Co., with the one horse machine, entry No. 50. With the exception of some comb left, it was very well cut, though he had to stop several times to clear the guards. The time Avas 64 minutes, and the mark for quality of work was 35 ; Pitman joint rather warm. The work done by the machines of D. M. Osborne & Co., was done with tolerable uniformity, the average of the marks for quality of work being 34.36, and the average time, exclusive of the one horse machine, was 50 minutes, 47 seconds. It is some- what difficult to understand the cause of the difference of work in lots seven and forty-eight, both being cut by the same machine, and the same driver. The latter lot had been trampled down before mowing in some places, and was slightly more difficult to cut than No. 7, but not enough so to make the difference between the marks. These machines were all remarkable for the steadi- ness of their motion and their freedom from noise. Lot No. 22 had a pretty good bottom, and not as badly lodged as some ; it was about on the top of the hill in the northern row of lots. It Avas mowed by C. C. Bradley, entry No. 3 ; it was done very well ; the time was 61 minutes ; the mark for quality of work was 37 ; Pitman joint quite hot. Lot No. 23 was very similar in its character to 22, and was mowed by Williams, Wallace & Co., entry No. 43. It was slightly combed and the grass was left in ridges, but on the whole the work was good. The time was 57 niinutes, 37 seconds ; the mark for quality of work was 38 ; bearings cool. The Hubbard mow- ers, made by the two preceding firms, did not show much vibra- tion, nor much noise, and stand high as mowers in all respects. Lot No. 20 Avas very full of weeds. It was mowed by E. F. Herrington, with his Eagle mower, entry No. 4. He was obliged to stop several times to unload the weeds which became entangled in the guards. Twice he cut against the stones, which Avere quite numerous in his lot. The clover was cut tolerably close notwithstanding these mishaps. Time, 58 minutes, 30 seconds ; mark for quality of work, 38 ; Pitman joint somewhat warm. Lot No. 13 was situated near the eastern end of the southerly tier of lots in the Leach field. It Avas cut by E. F. Herrington, Avith his Eagle moAver, entry No. 29. The stubble Avas left long. 27 Time, 62 minutes, 30 seconds ; mark for quality of work, 35 ; bearings cool. Lot No. 2 was less trampled down and less covered with brush than No. 1, but otherwise it was very similar. It was mowed by J. D. Wilber, with the Eureka, entry No. 6. A pin got loose while cutting, which took two minutes to replace, and one minute was lost in oiling the machine. Including these stops, his time was 35 minutes; mark for quality of work was 20. This ma- chine left the grass better for drying than any other. It did not run at all upon the cut grass. Crank joint hot enough to burn the hand. Lot No. 26 is situated on the southerly tier in the Leach field. It was mowed by J. D. Wilber, entry No. 5. It cut better than No. 6. When cutting against the lay of the clover it did very well, but when cutting with the lay of the clover it left very long and uneven stubble. Time, 44 minutes, 30 seconds; mark for quality of work was 25; Pitman joint hot enough to burn fingers. Lot No. 28 was in the northern tier of lots, and the fourth from the eastern side. It was mowed by the Peekskill Clipper, entry No. 7. The clover was not evenly cut, but it was well laid. Time of cutting, 43 minutes ; mark for quality of work, 30 ; bearings cool. Lot No, 10 was in the southern tier of lots sloping towards the east, and not as weedy as those farther west. It was cut by E. I. Clipper, No. 18. Some comb was left, and the stubble left was very long. He stopped three times. Time, 55 minutes. Mark for quality of work, 32. The grass was very well left for drying. Bearings cool. Lot No. 32 was situated on the north side of the Partlow field and in the western tier. The clover was between three and four feet long and very badly lodged. The driver was a boy and the machine was one that no farmer would think of putting into such a field. It was of course very badly cut. The time was 76 minutes, and the mark for quality of work was 20. All the machines ran noiselessly and without vibration. Bearings cool. The poor work done by the Clippers was a cause of some sur- prise. The faultless excellence of the workmanship ; their admirable adjustment of parts, and the facility with which the bar might be turned to the very roots of the grass seemed admi- rably adapted to close mowiHg. Their failure to work well in the clover field was probably more owing to an error of judgment in the driver than to the faults of the machine. Nevertheless their actual record was made as above and we cannot go behind it. Lot No. 33 was situated in the Partlow lot and was one of the very worst to cut in the whole series. A gully ran diagonally through it which soft at the bottom and the hills sloped steeply to it on either side, and were stony. The clover was very tall, some of it being six feet long and very badly lodged. It was cut by W. A. Wood, entry No. 8, and in view of the great diiS- culties was tolerably well cut. Time 49 minutes, 30 seconds. Mark for quality of work 29. Bearings cool. Lot No. 15 was in front tier of the Leach lot near the eastern end. It Avas not badly lodged nor was it very weedy. It was cnt by Walter A. Wood, entry No. 23 ; a combined machine. There was no comb but not closely cut. He made one stop ; his tinie was 55 minutes, and the mark for quality of work was 28. Pitman joint somewhat warm. Lot No. 25 was situated in the northern tier of the Leach lot. It was not weedy nor did it have any considerable difficulties. It was cut by W. A. Wood, entry No. 30. The stubble was left very high, the tops of the clover only being cut off. It was cut in 46 minutes, 30 seconds, and the mark for quality of work was 19. Bearings slightly warm. Lot No. 41 was situated in the eastern tier of the Partlow lot. The ground was smooth. There was a good deal of timothy mingled with the clover, which was not badly lodged. It was cut by W. A. Wood, entry No. 24. Tolerably well cut. Time 48 minutes. Mark for quality of work 35. Bearings slightly warm. The work done by Mr. Wood's machines in the clover fields was not equal to their reputation or to what would be inferred from an examination of the machines. We think that much of their ill success is due to misjudgment in the driver. We are confirmed in this view when we observe that the same machine cut the worst lot in the field w^ith a mark of 29 for quality of work, while on the easy lot 25, the quality of work was repre- sented by 19. All the machines ran smoothly and did not make much noise. 29 Lot No. 11 was situated in the southern tier of the Leach lot and presented no great difficulties. It was cut by Dow & Fowler, with their Yankee mower. He had to back several times in order to clear the guards, and left high stubble. The cutting was uneven. Time 46 minutes, 15 seconds. Mark for quality of work 28. The machine ran with a good deal of noise and vibrated considerably. One of the nuts got loose. The pitman joint and crank bearing were burning hot. Lot No. 9 was situated in the northern tier of the Leach lot, nearly on the top of the ridge and was as easy to cut as any in that field. It was mowed by the American Agricultural works, with their Columbian junior mower, entry No. 11. Stopped ten times to clear the guards. The grass was not left well for drying. Time 66 minutes. Mark for quality of work 37. It was very noisy and shook violently. Bearings cool. Pitman joint only warm. Lot No. 47 was situated in the Copeman lot and was hilly. It was cut by American Agricultural works, by their Columbian machine, entry No. 51. Clover heavy and badly lodged. A guard finger was bent by an obstruction in the field, and one of the pins was lost. The cutting very bad. Time 57 minutes. Mark for quality of work 26. Lot No. 27 was situated in the northern tier of the Leach lot. It resembled No. 25, except that the bottom was not quite so even, and the clover more lodged. It was mowed by Cayuga Chief, letter A, entry No. 13. It was cut tolerably well but not close to the ground. Considerable comb was left and the grass was left in heaps, Time 44 minutes. Mark for quality of work 32. Bearings cool ; pitman joint slightly warm. Lot No. 19 was on the northern tier of the Leach lot, near the western border. A tree stood on the lot which had dropped some of its dead branches. The weeds were very tall and thick. It was cut by Cayuga Chief, B, entry No. 14. The cutting was somewhat irregular, but the most of it was very well done. The machine stopped once to clear the guards. Time 48 minutes, 30 seconds. Mark for quality of work 37, Pitman joint some- what warm but not enough to do any injury. Lot No. 36 was situated in the Reed lot. There were several fast rocks and one pile of stones in the lot. The clover not as 30 heavy as in the other lots. It was cut by Cayuga Chief, C, entry No. 15. In general it was cut pretty close, but a few spots were run over without being well cut. Time 44 minutes. Mark for quality of work 36. Very slightly heated in either journals or joints. Lot No. 16 was in the north-eastern corner of the Leach field. The origerons were very thick and tall, some of them being five and-a-half feet high, and the clover less than half a crop. It had been badly trampled down on the western side. There was a wood-chuck burrow and a large heap of dirt on the western side It was mowed by Cayuga Chief, D, entry No. 16. Stopped once in the last swath to remove some gathering on the guards. It w^as very well mowed on the whole. Time 44 minutes, 30 seconds. Mark for quality of work 35. Pitman joint rather warm but not hot ; other journal bearings cool. Lot No, 37 Avas in the Reed lot. It was similar to No. 36, but not so stony. It was cut by Cayuga Chief, E, entry No. 58 ; one horse machine. The cutting was pretty good. Time 30 minutes, 15 seconds. Mark for quality of work 34. Pitman joint too hot to bear the hand on. Lot No. 24 was in the northern tier of the Leach lot near the crest of the hill. There were no unusual difiiculties, except that the double swath was cut in grass, which had been trampled down in mowing No. 23. It was cut by Cayuga Chief, G, entry No. 34. The journals and bearings very little warmed. A link iu the lifting chain was broken, the iron being of poor quality. Some combino;s were left. The grass was verv well laid for drying. There were two stoppages. Time 39 minutes. Mark for quality of work 35. Lot No. 35 was situated in the corner of the Eeed lot, adjoin- ing the woods and had upon it several rocks and stones, but had not a very heavy burthen of clover, but what there was, was lodged and considerably matted down. The field was also con- siderably poached. It was cut by Cayuga Chief, H, entry No. 35, and was pretty evenly done. The time was 45 minutes, and the mark for quality of work was 36. The knives were much dulled with the stones, the bearings moderately warm but not very objectionably so. Lot No. 5 was in the southern tier of the Leach lot, sloping 31 gently towards the west. The weeds were high and the clover was thin, hardly amounting to half a crop. It was cut by Cayuo-a Chief, I, entry No. 45. It was not very closely cut; some of it was very well done, but for the most part the stubble was long. The driver misunderstood the directions for cutting, and was therefore obliged to cut a double swath in grass which had been trampled on. The time was 48 minutes, 30 seconds ; and the mark for quality of work was 34. The journals and bearings in good condition, not heated. Lot No. 34 was situated on the south end of the westerly tier of lots on the Partlow farm. A gully or swale run through this lot, which was mostly a side hill, the clover was very tall, some of it measuring six feet nine inches, and badly lodged; it was the worst lot of all to cut except No. 33, which was worse. It was cut by Cayuga Chief, J, entry No. 46. He trotted several rounds, and in addition to the acre cut a gore on the south side. The work was not well done but this was probably more due to the excessive hurry of the driver than to the fault of the machine. The time, including the extra gore, was 37 minutes, 30 seconds, and the mark for quality of work was 30. The pitman joint and crank bearing were hot enough to burn the hand. Lot No. 6 was situated in southern tier of the Leach field, and was similar to No. 5. It was cut by Cayuga Chief, K, entry No. 54. The cutting was not good. Time, 54 minutes, 12 seconds. Mark for quality of work, 30. Journals and bearings cool. Lot No. 38 was situated in the Eeed lot. There was a tree in this lot and a few fast rocks. Clover not very heavy. It was cut by Cayuga Chief, L, entry No. 55. This machine struck upon one of the fast rocks, and broke a guard finger. The comb left by this accident is not of course chargable to the machine. Time 43 minutes, 25 seconds. Mark for quality of work, as made by the judges, was 25, but on reviewing the record we think it pos- sible that the combing left by the fracture of the guard finger may have too much influenced our judgment on the general work on the lot. Had we been able to see the field without this una- voidable blemish, we might have raised the mark to 30. The bearings and journals very slightly warmed. Twelve of the Cayuga Chiefs were entered, all agreeing in their general structure, but differing from each other in minor 32 details. Their structure was apparently strong and they abounded in very ingenious devices. Much attention was directed to them by the spectators, as well as the judges, but as a family they did not appear A^^ell in the clover lots. Lot No. 3 was situated in the southern tier of plots in the Leach field, and was similar to No. 2 ; was cut by Wm. H. Halli- day with the American mower, entry No. 17. It was cut very close indeed, but the shoe in some places pressed down the grass, leaving a comb which detracted from the general excel- lence of the work. Time 67 minutes, 55 seconds. Mark for quality of work 33. Pitman joint rather warm. Other bearings unheated. Lot No. 39 was in the Eeedlot; it was somewhat stony, and there was a tree in the lot. It was cut by Wm. H. Halliday, entry No. 47. He cut a branch which had fallen from the tree, and broke one of the fingers of his machine. It was unevenly cut. The knife seemed incapable of adapting itself to the inequalities of the oTound. It was one-wheeled and left-handed. Time 45 min- utes, 45 seconds. Mark for quality of work 28. The difference in the working of these two machines was very remarkable, No. 47 being very inferior to No. 17. Lot No. 40 was situated in the eastern tier of the Partlow lot. There was a considerable proportion of timothy in this plot, and the clover was not much lodged. It was not very difficult to mow. It was cut by Seymour, Morgan & Allen, with their New Yorker, entry No. 44. The cutting was irregular — some being very well done, while other parts were not closely cut. The machine obviously did not adapt itself to the inequalities of the surface. Time 38 minutes. Mark for quality of work 35. Bear- ings cool. Lot 31 extended the whole length of the eastern side of the Leach field. It was cut by C. R. Brinkerhoff, entry No. 18 1. His time was 52 minutes, 50 seconds, including seven stops for adjustments, and exclusive of one stop of seven minutes on ac- count of a broken nut. The cutting was bad. Mark for quality of work 22. Condition of journals and bearings not observed. ^. %, ?^, fa i (c3 ?^ 6 JDui til- 33 MOWINCJ IN THE MONSON LOT. This field was situated in the town of Sennett, adjoining the Central Eailroad depot, about six miles from Auburn. It was divided into two parts by a public road running through it. Its general surface was level, but was broken in many parts by deep swales and hollows having soft bottoms, with a thick growth of sedges and rushes. The meadow had not been plowed since Mr. Monson's recollection. The prevailing herbage was red top, blue grass and fowl meadow. The number of plants growing in the meadow was unusually large, viz. : Tim otliy. [Phleum jpratense. ) Eed top. [Agrostis vulgaris.) Manna grass. [Glyceria aquatica.) * Rice cut grass. {Leersia oryzoides.) Florin grass. {Agrostis stolenifera)t "White .bent grass. [Agrostis alba.) Finger grass. [Panicum sanguinale.) Barn-yard grass. [Panicum cms g alii.) Spreading Panic grass. (Panicum capillar e.) Thin Panic grass. [Panicum dichotomum.) Re d clover. ( Tr ifolium pratense) . White clover. {Trifolium re'pens.) Sweet scabious. {Erigeron strigosiom.) Curled dock. {Rumex crispus.) St. John's wort. {Hypericum perforatum.) Buttercup. {Ranunculus acris.) Lump weed. Narrow leaved plantain. {Plantago lanceolata.) Common plantain. {Plantago major.) Wild lettuce. {Lactuca elongata.) Bull thistle. {Girsium lanceolatum.) Canada thistle. {Girsium arvense.) Yarrow. {Achillea millefolium.) Oxeye daisy. {LeucantJiemum vulgare.) Golden rod. {Solidago canadensis.) Beggar ticks. {Bidens frondosa.) Yellow or Fox sedge. {Garex vulpinoidea.) Bog sedge. {Garex stricta.) 34 Fringed sedge. {Oarex crinita.) Long pointed sedge. {Garex tentaculata.) Common rush. {Juncus effusus.) Weak club rush. (^Scirjpus debilis.) Gallingele. {Gyjievus strigosus.) Nettle. {Urtica dioica.) Heal all. {Brunella vulgaris.) Elder. (Sambiccus canadensis.) Milk weed. (Asclepeas cornuti.) Swamp milk weed, [Asclipeas incarnata.) Water hoarhound. {Lyco^iis sinuatus.) Wild strawberry. [Fragaria vesca.) Boneset. [Eujpatorium jperfoliatum.) Trumpet weed. (^Euj)atorium purpureum.) Rag weed. (Ambrosia artemisioefolia.) Smart weed. {Polygonum hydroinper.) Spearmint. {Mentha viridis.) Peppermint. {Mentha piperita.) Blue vervain. {Verbena hastata.) White vervain. {Verbana urticifolia.) Poison hemlock. {Oonium maculatum.) Wild parsnip. {Pastinaca sativa.) Wild Black mustard. {Sinapis nigra.) Charlock. {Sinapis aivensis.) The bottom varied very greatly in its character. In some places it was mossy, springing under the knife; in others the grass had not been cut the year before, leaving the old fog to embarrass the machines. In some places it was uneven, as if cornhills had been left there; in others it was wet and ridgy, but none of it was ston}'-, and none of it could be denominated side- hill. The meadow on the south side of the road was more cut up into ravines and hollows than that on the north side, and a greater proportion of the bottom was soft and wet. Few single fields could be found where a greater variety of work could be furnished. We could not find any large field in the vicinity of Auburn cut up by deep, dead-furrows, thrown into side-hills and covered with stones, where a hard test for action in rough ground could be had. 35 On Friday, July 20th, twenty machines entered this lot for the purpose of being tested. The marks for quality of work were from 1 np to 40, which latter number indicated perfect work. The following table expresses the result : Quality of work. Seymour, Morgan & Allen, No. 44. 39 The divider of this machine pressed down the grass, some of which was not cut off at the next round. Cayuga Chief, D, No. 16 37 Cayuga Chief, A, No. 13 _ 37 Dodge, Stevenson & Co., No. 52 (wood) _.. 37 Dodge, Stevenson & Co., No. 53 (iron) ._. 37 A spike projecting from the ground was half severed by this machine. D. M. Osborne & Co;, 37 C. C. Bradley & Son, No. 3 _ 38 Williams, Wallace & Co., No. 43 38 Walter A. Wood, No. 8... 40 E. F. Herrington, No. 4... _. 37 Herrington's Eagle, was remarkable for its easy adaptation of its bar to the steep sides of hollows, in one case mowing with it sloping downward at an angle pf 40 degrees. Rhode Island Clipper, No. 18 _ 40 Adriance, Piatt & Co., No. 10 . 40 Dow & Fowler, No. 9 31 Aultman, Miller & Co., No. 32 _ 38 Wm. H. Halladay, No. 17 37 Some dry grass caught on the ends of his fingers which prevented him from cutting clean for about 20 rods. E. L. Allen, Pony Clipper, No. 57 36 James S. Marsh, No. 47|._ _ 38 J. D. Wilber, No. 6 30 Those who had been present at the former great trials, held by the society were astonished at the general perfection which had been attained by the manufacturers of mowing machines. Every machine, with two exceptions, did good work, which would be 36 acceptable to any farmer, and the appearance of the whole meadow after it had been raked over, was as good as it could be, and vastly better than the average mowing of the best formers in the State, notwithstanding the great difficulties which they had to encounter. At previous trials most of the machines would clog more or less, and some of them so frequently that they werc3 of no practical value. At this trial, not a single instance of cloo-o-ino; was observed either in clover or fine grass. At previous trials, very few machines could stop in the grass and start without backing for a fresh start. At the present trial every machine; stopped in the grass and started again without backing, Avithout any difficulty, and without leaving any percepti- ble ridge to mark the place where it occurred. We look upon these facts with pride and pleasure, as showing the great success which has attended the efforts of our mechanics to meet the re- quirements of the farmer, and we have good reason to believe that the experiments made at Auburn will lead to still greater advances in the path of progress. Four machines were allowed to work at once, marked stakes being driven down at their entrance, they cut entirely around the lot, passing through all the difierent kinds of bottom and of grass, and into all the gullies and hollows. Then four more suc- ceeded them, and so on in groups of four, until all had gone round. Then each machine cut a double swath across thb lot. After this the whole number of machines were put in motion at once, until both meadows were cut clown. In this way the path of each machine could be traced without difficulty through its entire length, and the work of each, under very different circum- stances, could be accurately compared. THE EEAPING TEIALS. The wheat field of Mr. W. S. Leach was the place of the first trial. It was divided into thirty lots of one acre each. The bottom was generally smooth, tolerably level, and the grain, which was of the Mediterranean variety stood up very well. Any change from this general condition will be indicated in the spe- cial report upon each lot. The grain all leans slightly towards the north. The trial commenced on Mondaj^, July the 16th, 1866. 37 Lot No. 1 was cut by Walter A. Wood, entry No. 30, with a hand raker. The gavels were twisted at the bottom from the left hand corner towards the right. The binders bound ten of these gavels in 4 minutes, 45 seconds. Time of cutting 49^ minutes. Mark for quality of work, 33. Lot No. 2 was cut by D. M. Osborne, No. 27, using a reel and sweep rake. There is a want of a proper divider. The rake draws forwards some of the last cut straw, and in its next sweep this is twisted in raking. The twist is from the left hand corner towards the right, and in the lower part of the gavel the twist is less than on the top, but what there is, is in the opposite direc- tion. The binders bound ten bundles in 4 minutes, 24 seconds. Time of cutting 53 i minutes. Murk for quality of work, 33. Lot No. 3 was cut by Cayuga Chief, J, No. 46, with a dropping attachment. The lower part of the gavel is drawn forward and somewhat twisted as it falls. It requires six men to keep up with the machine, who occasionally fall behind with their work in bad places. The binders bound ten of these sheaves in 5 minutes. Time of cutting, 57 miu. 7 sec. Mark for quality of work, 32. Lot No. 4 was cut by D. M. Osborne & Co., No. 19, hand raJcer The work is as good as can be done. Not a fault could be found with it in any way. Ten sheaves were bound in 4 minutes, 3 seconds. Time of cutting 64i minutes, Mark for quality of work, 40. Lot No. 5 was cut by Dodge, Stevenson & Co., No. 33, (wood), hand raker. The grain in this lot was lodged in one or two places. One man drove and raked, the sickle being set almost low enough for mowing. The gavels are crossed, the bottom towards the right and the top towards the left. Ten bundles bound in 5 minutes 5 seconds. Time QQ^ minutes. Quality of work, 30, Lot No. 6 was not a good one for reaping ; some of it lodged, and one or two places appeared to have been trampled down. It was cut by Adriance, Piatt & Co., No. 31, hand raker. It was cut the wrong way and a good deal of the lodged was left upon the ground. The lodged grain was mostly at the north end of the lot. It Avas thrown off the platform with a fork instead of a rake. The gavels were not very good. Time 47 minutes.. Mark for quality of work, 31. Lot No. 7. The grain on the noi^th end of this h)t was lodged. It was cnt by D. M. Osborne & Co., No, 36, with reel and sweep raJce. He cut against the lodged grain, while Adriance cut with it. Time 53 i minutes. Quality of work, 34. Lot No. 8. There was a large stump in this lot and one tree. It was cut by Aultman, Miller & Co., with a dropper. The gavels unevenly laid. Ten sheaves bound in 4 minutes, 40 seconds. Time 58 minutes. Mark for quality of work, 32. Lot No. 9. There were two trees and one stump on this lot. It was cut by D. M. Osborne & Co., No. 37, with the combined rake and reel, or Burdich self raJce. The gavels were rather better than those made by his sweep rake. Time 68 i minutes. Mark for quality of work, 34. Lot No. 10. This lot had one stump in it. It was cut by W. A. Wood, No. 23, Avith a chain rake. The gavels were tolerably well laid. Time, 47 minutes. Mark for quality of work, 35. Binders were 4 minutes, 15 seconds in binding ten sheaves. Lot No. 11 had a stump in it near the north end. Cut by D. M. Osborne, No. 48, with a hand rake. The work excellent in all respects. Time, 39 i minutes. Mark for quality of work, 40. Lot No. 12. Had one stump on it, and some lodged grain at the north end. It was cut by W. A. Wood, No. 40, with a sweep rake. The cuttiug was very good, but the gavels not as well laid as the chain rake. Time, 52 minutes. Mark for quality of work, 35. Mr. Osborne and other exhibitors protest against W. A. Wood's chain and sweep rake being admitted into the class of combined machines, on the ground that they are never sold or used as such. Lot No. 13. There were three stumps on this lot and some lodged grain. Cut by D. M. Osborne & Co., No. 36, with the same that cut No. 11, now Avorking with a sweep rake and a reel. Time, 53 minutes. Mark for quality of work, 34. Lot No. 14. There was a stump in this lot and the grain mostly leaned towards the east. It was cut by Dodge, Stevenson & Co., No. 53, with iron frame and combined rake and reel, or MarsJi^s self rake. He came in collision with a stump and bent the guard finger. The gavels are badly scattered in front of the platform ; the gavel docs not all drop at once, but is dragged forward. Time, 53 minutes. Mark for quality of work, 34. . 39 Lot No. 15 was so full of stumps that it was not cut. Lot No. 16 was cut by W. A. Wood's revolving ralce, No. 24. Binders make ten sheaves in 4 minutes, 20 second.s. Gavels very large. Time, 57 i minutes. Mark for quality of work, 36. Lot No. 17 was cut by Williams, Wallace k Go's. Hubbard machine, No. 42, with Johnson'' s rahe. Gavels laid straight and compact ; no scattering ; the swath between the gavels very clean. The binders make ten of the sheaves in 4 minutes, 12 seconds. Time, 52^ minutes. Mark for quality of work, 39. Lot No. 18 was cut by C. Wheeler, jr., Ca3aiga Chief, K, No. 54. Half the lot as a hand raker, and the other half as a self raJcer. The gavels were badly twisted and the straw was scat- tered between the gavels. Time, 56 minutes, 32 seconds. Mark for quality of work, 28. Lot No. 19 was cut by Columbian machine, self-raJce, No. 51. There was some lodged grain in the lot which it cut very well, but the gavels were strangely twisted, and the work as a whole was poor. Time 57 minutes, Mark for quality of work, 31. Lot No. 20 was cut by C. C. Bradley & Son, No. 22, with John- ion's rake. The gavels admirably laid. The wind, which has blown from the north, now comes from the west. Time 48i min- utes. Mark for quality of work, 39. Lot No. 21 was cut by C. Wheeler, jr., Cayuga Chief, G, No. 54. Hand rahe. Time 48 min. 35 sec. Mark for quality of work, 31. Lot No. 22 was cut by Dodge, Stevenson & Co., No. 12, iron frame. Hand rahe. Gavels very well laid. Time 37 minutes. Mark for quality of work, 32. Lot No. 23 was cut by Seymour, Morgan & Allen, No. 44, with their sweep rake. The machine was stopped some time on ac- count of the bending of the spring which trips the rake. Gavels very well laid, and all the work was very well done. Time 62 minutes. Mark for quality of work, 38. Lot No. 24 was cut by C. Wheeler, jr., Cayuga Chief, L, No. 55. Half the lot as a dropper, and the other half as a hand rake. Time 59 minutes, 5 seconds. Mark for quality of work, 32. Lot No. 25 was cut by D. M. Osborne & Co., No. 37, with Burdick rahe. There was a very bad, rocky place at the end of this lot which he cut over verj^ well with the wind against him. Time 68 i minutes. Mark for quality of work, 34. 40 Lot No, 26 was cut by Aultman, Miller & Co., Buckeye, senior, No. 41. 8df rake. The gavels crossed and dragged. Time 50^ minutes. Mark for quality of work, 30. Lot No. 27 was cut by Wm. H. Halliday, No. 47, with MarsKs rake. Machine left-handed. There was some lodged wheat in the lot w^hich he cut very closely, and the gavels were in general very well laid, but occasionally he would make a very bad one ; this want of uniformity reduced his mark. Time 54 minutes. Mark for quality of work, 37. Lot No. 28 was cut by C. Wheeler, jr., Cayuga Chief, H, No. 35. Hand rake. There was a fast rock in his swath 18 inches high. Jonas Wood, his driver, without any deviation from his line, drove over it, dropping the whole height perpendicularly; demonstratino; at the same time his own skill as a driver and the great strength of the machine. Although much of the ground was stony, the work was the best done by any of the Cayuga Chiefs. Time 52 min. 50 sec. Mark for quality of w^ork, 36. Lot No. 29 was cut by Dodge, Stevenson & Co., wood frame, No. 52, MarsKs rake. The first round, the gavels were so badly laid and the straw was so scattered between them, that we re- quested him to examine his machinery to see if some part of it was not out of order. Nothing appeared to be wrong, but he removed the beaters from the arms of his reel ; after this the gavels were very well laid, and the work was better than he had ever done before. Time, 60 min. Mark for quality of work, 36. Lot No. 30. It was full of stumps, and there was a part near the north end which was badly lodged. E. F. Herrington entered it with Eagle No. 29, but as it proved so very bad, we deemed it unjust to him to continue the cutting. We therefore trans- ferred him to the Hunt lot. The remainder of the reaping Avas done on the farm of Mr. L. Hunt. The wheat was taller and much heavier and greener than the Leach lot. Lot No. 31 was cut by E. F. Herrington, No. 29, hand rake. The cutting was very fine, but the gavels were not well laid. Time not noted, but from recollection it was 61 minutes. Mark for quality of work, 34. Lot 32 was cut by Dodge, Stevenson k Co. Wood frame, No. GD & 41 52, Marsh's rake. Gavels laid square and handsome, without scattering. Time, 60 minutes. Mark for quality of work, 37. Lot 33 was cut by Seymour, Morgan & Allen, No. 27^ self- rake. Time, 51 minutes. Mark for quality of work, 39. The work was finished at 8 o'clock on Tuesday evening, the 17th. The average time of all the machines, in cutting an acre, was 53| minutes. The longest time made was by D. M. Osborne, in No. 9. The shortest time made by any hand rake was D. M. Osborne, in No. 11. The shortest made by a self-rake, was by Walter A.Wood, in No. 10. The average of the marks for quality of work in reaping, is 34.3. THE SHELDON LOT — LODGED WHEAT. The aspect of this lot is so well shown in the figure here given, that a description of it is unnecessary. It was drawn for the Society by Mr. J. E. Page, the well known cattle painter, whose residence is in the vicinity of the field, which is in the town of Seunett, about seven miles from Auburn. The field contained about 22 acres. The land lying north of the dotted line was sown with a red wheat from Indiana, all of which stood up; while all south of that line was the Mediter- ranean wheat, and was very badly lodged, especially in the val- leys. The general leaning of the grain was towards the east; the lodged grain generally lay in a northeasterly direction, although portions of it were directed to all points of the compass. The red wheat was from 3 to 3^ feet high; the Mediterranean, from 4 to 4^ feet high. Mr. Sheldon told us that the grain was so badly lodged that he could not cut it himself, and that he did not know that he could get any one else to cut it. The time fixed for the cutting was Wednesday, the 18th of July, but soon after the machines were assembled, it began to rain heavily; the southern end of the field was filled with thick and pretty tall grass, which made the work much heavier. Under these circumstances, D. M. Osborne entered with his Burdick rake, and cut the most southerly swath, beginning at the eastern end and going towards the west. He broke one of the arms of his reel, and was obliged to repair. William H. Halliday followed in the next swath with his left 42 handed machine and the Marsh rake. Of course, he began at the west side and came out at the east end, thus reversing Mr. Osborne's swath. Although the wet grass and grain was exceed- ingly heavy, requiring a much stronger apparatus than is usually necessary, Mr. Halliday cut through it triumphantly without acci- dent, cutting cleanly every spear of lodged grain, and thus demon- strated the great strength of every part of his machinery, and his ability to cut and rake the worst kind of lodged grain. In all his subsequent cutting in this lot, he maintained this character, and was awarded the highest mark by the judges. As reapers are not constructed to cut 2oet grain, we did not deem it proper to urge any one to follow Mr. Halliclay's adven- turous example, and as no one else was desirous to volunteer such a test, the trial was adjourned to the following day. On Thursday, the 19th, the exhibitors and judges re-assembled at Mr. Sheldon's field, and as the day was very fine, the work began at about 10 o'clock a. m. D. M. Osborne first cut round the entire lot for a headland, doino; his work well. Then four machines entered and cut one swath each along the southern border, cutting from east to west. A stake was then driven down and numbered, when four more entered, and so on, until all the reapers had been tested in a part of the field where the wheat was worst lodged, and their respective merits were fully ascertained. Mr. Osborne then cut a swath in the standing grain very handsomely, and all the machines were sent sweeping round the lot, one after the other. The efiect at this time was very fine, all the visitors enthusiastically applauding the specta- cle,' and all expressed their regrets that the animated scene had not been caught by the photographer. The shoe of the Columbian beat down the grain on Dodge, Stevenson & Co.'s swath, and the horses disarranged their gavels in some places, for which the judges endeavored to make due allowance. With this remark, all that remains to be said is best summed up by the numbers affixed to the performance of each machine. The number 40 signifies perfect work, and the work is less perfect as it recedes from that number: 43 Quality of work. Cayuga Chief, H, entry No. 35 30 D. M. Osborne, Burdick rake, entry No. 48 32 D. M. Osborne, sweep rake, entry No. 2 33 Seymour & Morgan, entry No. 44 38 Cayuga Chief, entry No. 54 32 Dodge, Stevenson & Co., Marsh rake, entry No. 52 32 Williams, Wallace & Co., Johnson rake, entry No. 43.. 36 Buckeye, Jr., dropper, entry No. 32 30 W. A. Wood, hand rake, entry No. 30 32 Dodge, Stevenson & Co., Marsh rake, entry No. 53 34 Columbian revolving rake, entry No. 51.. 30 Walter A. Wood, sweep rake, entry No. 40 34 C. C. Bradley „■ ,/,/ jHirliim ,f r/„- stubMr. ,vliuh thn- 51 Length of Pitman rod 29| in. Width of finger where the base of section meets it_. lA- in. "Width of finger where the apex of the section meets it, 1 in. Distance between fingers __ 3-^- in. Weight - 594''lbs. Record. Cut in Clover Field, Lot No. 1 : Quality of work in clover 40 Quality of work in Monson meadow 40 Side draft __ _ 2^ lbs. Mark for noise _ _ 2 Time of cutting an acre 55i min. Bearings and journals cool. Dynamometer. Time 3' 52". Yards 213 Total draft 38,550 lbs. Average draft ,._ 180.56 lbs. Width ofswath 1.26yds. Draft out of grass 121.43 lbs. P u r e d r af t 8 9 . 6 6 lb s . Second trial in Col. Wood's lot 4 ft. 8 in.bar. Time _ _.. 2' 37". Yards _ 160 Total draft _. 36,350 lbs. Average draft ... 227.19 lbs. ADEIANCE, PLATT ANDCO'S. BUCKEYE, NO. 1, COMBINED, ENTRY NO. 31. This reaper is designed for hand raking. Its finger bar is of wood, to which the guards are bolted by two screws. The bar is bolted to the same wrought iron bar that supports the shoe when used as a mower. A bar behind the wheels is attached to the platform by a joint to the frame, and hooks up by a chain. Three wheels are on a line, and are adjusted up and down by the outside wheel and chain. It has an overhuno- reel with three arms, driven by a chain around a pulley on the main axle? The reel and pulleys can be moved vertically on the reel posts, and are held by set screws. The knife has sickle teeth. Rods are used as dividers. Dimensions. Class 3 Entry No _ 31 Price as combined machine $170 ■ 52 Width of cut as mower 4 ft. 6 in. Width of cut as reaper 5 ft. Diameter of driving wheel 30 in. Width of driving wheel 3^ in. Number of double vibrations to each revolution of driving wheel 22 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.18 in. Length of vibration of cutter __ 31^ in. Length of base of cutter section 3in. Distance of apex from base 3|in. Projection in front of cross guard 2|in. Breadth of finger bar at heel __ _ 3^ in. Breadth of finger bar at point. 2^ in. Thickness of finger bar ^in. Angle of secticm with base , 48*-' Angle with edge of finger ^^h'^ Weight of l^itman rod , 4| lbs. Weight of knife ._ 6 lbs. Width of knife bar .' Thickness of knife bar __ Length of pitman rod _ 29| in. Width of finger where the base of section meets it.. l-^g in. Width of finger where the apex meets it 1 in. Distance between the fingers 3 in. Weight as mower ..__ __ 605 lbs. Weight as reaper 840 lbs. Record. Cut in clover field, lot No — 8 Quality of work in clover 30 Side draft ._ - - 3| lbs. Mark for noise 2 Time of cutting an acre in clover .„ 51 min. Bearings and journals cool. Reaped in Leach wheat field, lot No 6 Mark for quality of work 31 Time of cutting an acre, _, . 47^ min. Dynamometer. Time . - 3' 21" Yards - 208 Total draft _ -.. 38,750 lbs. Average draft. 186.74 lbs. Width of swath 1.38 yds. Draft out of grass _._ _ 125.99 lbs. Pure draft-. .--. 101.42 lbs. Second trial, Col. Woods' lot : Time... - .- 2' 48'^ 53 Yards 165 Total draft 33,400 lbs. Average draft 202.42 The record of the Buckeye is interesting in view of the fact that it was the pioneer in the path of the great improvements which have popularized mowing machines and made them an absolute necessity to every farmer. It took the prize at the great national trial of mowers and reapers at Syracuse, and at once sprang into a great popularity. In the hands of Mr. J. P. Adriance it met with an enormous sale. The result of this trial clearly shows that it still keeps the forward rank which it won at Syracuse, and at many other subsequent trials, and that it is still as worthy of the patronage and confidence of the public as it has been in any preceding portion of its history. D. M. OSBOENE AND CO. MOWEE ENTEY NO. 2. The machines of this company have long been popular and have had a very extensive sale over a wide area of the country, as may be inferred from the fact that their immense establish- ment at Auburn is capable of turning out a finished machine every fourteen minutes. It is frequently driven to the full extent of its capacity, in order to supply the demand. Its chief characteristic is its great simplicity. We think we do not err in saying that it can be aflTorded more cheaply than any other machine on trial at Auburn. It is a one wheel rear cuttins: machine. The main frame is of iron, cast in one piece, having a general triangular shape, though the sides are made up of irregu- lar curves. It has a large opening in the middle ; the sides are strengthened by a flange, turned up, and in most places turned downward also, along the edges. A flange 14 inches long and 2| inches deep, situated on the middle of the front part of the frame, with an ear on the upper part of each end, to which the tongue is attached, adjustably. The inner shoe, six inches wide, is a projection from the inner rear edge of the frame. A projec- tion on the outer rear edge of the frame, but lying slightly above the plane of the shoe, forms the other point of attachment to the cast steel finger bar, which thus has its bearings 2 feet apart and is bolted firmly to both projections. It has been called a rigid bar machine, but it can only be called so in the sense of being an 54 unjointed one, since by an arrangement presently to be described it is enabled to conform itself to the inequalities of the ground with considerable facility. An external spur wheel of 75 teeth moves a pinion having 12 teeth ; to the opposite end of the pinion shaft a bevel wheel is keyed, having 34 teeth, turning a bevel pin- ion on the crank shaft with 11 teeth. The crank wheel there- fore, makes 18| revolutions for every revolution of the drive wheel. A quadrant-shaped casting on which is formed the axle of the drive wheel, is hinged to the main frame around the bevel wheel shaft, in close contiguity with the pinion ; its outer limb plays in a grove in a vertically arched casting which is attached to the main frame. It will be seen by considering the efiect of this arrauo-emeut, that the drive wheel has a free movement around the spur pinion and bevel wheel shaft, thus allowing the drive wheel and the cutting apparatus each to follow the inequalities of the ground, independently of the other. The drive wheel may therefore be on a hill, or in a valley without affecting the paral- lelism of the finger bar or the cut of the knives. The disadvan- tage of this arrangement is, that when the drive wheel is descend- ing into a hollow the motion of the knife is too much accelerated by the ascent of the pinion on the spur, and on ascending from it the motion of the sections is too much diminished by the descent of the pinion, which being opposite to the direction of motion must retard it in proportion to the angle of inclination of the ground over which it passes. The limb of the quadrant or axle plate is pierced with holes at short intervals, a pin inserted into these, and resting on a lug in the vertical arch piece, sustains the finger bar in reaping at any desired height from the ground. Braces projecting from the lower part of the flange on the inner bearing of the main axle, support a closed guard, extending around the lower third of the spur gear to protect it from dust and grass. A vertical iron frame, hinged on either side to the main axle, rises above the top of the main drive wheel, and forms the ful- crum of the horizontal lever upon which the driver's seat is placed. The seat may be adjusted by moving it forwards and backwards on the lever to accommodate it to the weight of the driver, whose right foot rests in a step in the vertical arch piece, and the left foot in a stirup hinged on the main axle. An upright 55 post, bolted at the foot to a flange on the main frame, has a slot in its upper portion and receives an iron rod, the left extremity of which enters a bearing screwed to the under side of the front of the lever, sustaining the driver's seat, and is secured at any portion of the vertical slot by a set screw. By this arrangement the driver, by his weight, balances on the drive wheel the greater portion of the weight of the frame and cutting apparatus, thus rendering the machine more adjustable to the inequalities of the ground, and enables him to raise and lower the cutting apparatus with great ease. The finger bar is of cast-steel, turned up on the front, which stiffens it, and to which the guard fingers are bolted. The fin- gers are of wrought iron, case hardened, triangular in shape. Behind the flange on the finger bar, runs a rod having bearings at either end and on the inner flange of the main frame, which projects beyond the frame on the left hand, and beyond the outer shoe on the right, having arms at either end. The right arm is bifurcated at its farther extremity, having the front end of the track-clearer inserted into it. The pin which fastens the track- clearer, forms the axle of a small wheel running behind the outer shoe, which takes off" the friction from the ground. The left arm is raised upward and downward by a compound lever within reach of the driver, and is held in place by a pin, which is kept in position by a spring on the lever, that enters the holes of a curved guide springing from the heel of the frame. It is thrown out of gear by a spring clutch, which draws the pinion out of mesh with the spur. A tool box is placed on the front of the driver's lever seat. Having now given a description of the machine, we proceed to give its Dimensions. Class ... 1 Entry No _ _ _.. 2 Price ._. _ $120 Width ofcut.._ 4ft. Sin. Diameter of driving wheel ..._ 30i in. Width of driving wheel 5|in. Number of double vibrations to each revolution of the driving wheel _ _ 15 j^- Advance of machine while making one vibration 3^^^ in. Length of vibration of cutter _ _ 3iin. 56 Length of base of eutter section _ 3im. Distance of apex from base 2|in. Breadth of finger bar at heel 3^ in. Breadth of finger bar at point ,__ 2iin. Thickness of finger bar ^in. Angle of section with base 40^'* Weight of pitman rod 40 oz. "Weight of knife 90i oz. Width of knife bar |in. Thickness of knife bar | in. Length of pitman rod _ 17| in. Width of finger where the base of section meets it.. l^^g in. Width of finger where the apex meets it | in. Distance between the fingers 3^ in. Weight..-. 670 lbs. Record. Cut in clover field, lot No 7 Quality of work in clover 37 Quality of work in the Monson lot 37 Side draft _.. 2 Mark for noise 1^ Time of cutting an acre 50' 6" Bearings and journals cool. Dynamometer. Time 3' 45" Yards 209 Total draft 49,500 lbs. Average draft .,.._ 236.83 lbs. Width of swath 1.46 yds. Draft out of grass 147.29 lbs. Pure draft 115.11 lbs. We are bound to speak in terms of praise of the simplicity of this machine, of the excellence of its workmanship, of its freedom from noise and of its durability. The equivalent for a jointed finger bar is exceedingly ingenious, but we cannot say that we think it as useful in practice as a good and well-made joint. The passage of the broad wheel over the cut grass, especially over swale or moist land, and the change in the motion of the knife in passing over uneven land, described above, we deem decidedly objectionable. D. M. OSBOENE AND CO. ENTRY NO. 19. This is the same machine, considered as a mower, as the last. A platform having a wheel on the right side is screwed to the 57 finger bar and supported by a brace ; a seat is attached on the rear for the raker; the frame is made rigid by the device men- tioned in the preceding machine. A post stepped in the frame, and laterally secured to a brace, supports the overhung reel. It is thus converted into a hand-raking reaper. The single wheel and the absence of a joint at the shoe, instead of being a disad- vantage, is now a merit. We think in this capacity it is not sur- passed by any machine. Dimensions. Same as the preceding. Price $140. Record. Cut in the Leach wheat field, lot No 4 Quality of work 40 The remainder of the record of No. 2 applies to this also. D. M. OSBORNE AJSID CO. NO. 1 MOWEE. Same as No. 19, except that it is smaller. Record. Cut clover lot No _.. 43 Quality of work 33 In Monson meadow 37 Side draft 2 lbs. Mark for noise ._ 2 Time of cutting an acre _,.^ 54' Dynamometer. Time _ _ , 3' 42" Yards _ 211.5 Total draft. _ _ 49,050 lbs. Average draft 174.10 lbs. Width of swath... _ 1.49 yds. Draft out of grass _._ _ 114.13 Pure draft- - __ ._ 105.33 Second trial in Col. Wood's lot : Time 2' bQ>" Yards _ _ _ 164 Total draft 36,250 lbs. Average draft 22 1.03 58 D. M. OSBOENE AND CO. ENTRY NO. 56 ONE-HOESE MOWEE. Record. Cut clover lot No 14 Quality of work in clover _ 35 Side draft not observed. Mark for noise ,_ 2^ Time of cutting an acre ._ 64' Dynamometer, Time 3' 38^' Yards ,.._ 209 Total draft _ 34,600 lbs. Average draft 165.55 lbs. D. M. OSBOENE AND CO. ENTEY NO. 37. Same as a mower — as entrj-- No. 2. As a self-raking reaper the platform is attached by straps, bolts and nuts to the finger bar. The outside wheel is placed about one foot back of the finger bar. The self-rake is Burdick's patent. The beaters are fitted into sockets at the outer extremity of an ogee crank arm, the other end of which has a socket that fits into a vertical shaft which rotates on the disk. In this Avay the beaters can be elevated above, or depressed to the finger bar, by turning the crank on the socket, and when the desired elevation is secured it can be fastened by a set screw. When the arm arrives at the point where it is to be depressed for reeling, the toe of the verti- cal shaft strikes a cam beneath the disk, which trips it. As soon as the toe passes over the cam the beater or rake rises by the action of a spiral spring. A treadle is provided near the foot of the driver, which he presses when he wishes the rake to take ofi" a gavel. If it is desired that the rake shall act without the inter- vention of the driver at every revolution of the cam, the weighted latch is taken ofi" and is replaced by a set latch. The amiexed cut will help to supply any deficiency which may exist in our description. Price $175. Record. Reaped Leach wheat lot No. 25 Mark for quality of work 34 Time in cutting an acre 68^' Quality of work in Sheldon lot 32 In rye and the wind blowing it did not work, and was withdrawn. (58) 59 Dynamometer. ' Uphill -.. 308.53 lbs. On a level ._, 236.63 lbs. Weight as reaper 820 lbs. This rake is cheap, simple and ingenious, and gives good promise of usefulness, but it is evidently as yet in an undeveloped state, and requires a good deal of alteration and adjustment before it can assume the front rank as a self rake. D. M. OSBOENE AND CO. ENTRY NO. 27. Price of Sweep Rake, $165. Record. Reaped Leach lot _ _ Quality of work ._ Time of cutting an acre Sheldon lot „ Price of sweep rake ._ __ Dynamometer. Uphill... On a level _ __.. No. 2 33 531' 33 $165 315.2 216.7 WILLIAMS, WALLACE AND CO. ENTRY NO. 43. As a mower, this is the well known Hubbard machine, having a rear cut, and a rigid pole adjustable vertically. The frame is of wood, with two independent drive wheels, and internal spin gear, which drives a pinion on a shaft parallel with the rear of the frame, and having a bevel wheel at the other end which turns a bevel pinion driving the crank shaft. The crank box is secured to the frame by a double set of bolts passing through long washers, with square cut holes Self-raker. to prcvcut their turning. The pitman rod is of wrought iron and is secured to the crank wheel by an adjustable pitman box which is self-oiling. The seat is adjustable and is mounted on elliptic springs. The cutting appa- ratus is attached to the machine by Ball's patent drag bar, pivoted to the front of the machine and braced at the back by a 60 hinged brace. The drag bar can be fastened at any desired height. The shoes at each end are adjustable, running on wheels. A rocking; bar is attached to the front and extends back inside of the right hand wheel to the shoe of the fino;er bar: the outer shoe has a small wheel attached to it. The dropping of the end of the finger bar is regulated by a set screw at the head. The outer end can be dropped twelve inches and can be raised 45 degrees, The finger bar and cutter bar are of cast steel. The guards are of annealed iron with steel ledger -plates. The cutter bar is raised by a lever and chain, which at full height supports itself The knife bar runs on bearings of annealed iron, and against shoulders cast in the guards. It is thrown out of gear by a ratchet clutch. The driver can lift the cutter bar to pass obstructions, by a hooked rod, without leaving his seat. The self-raking attachment to this machine, is the Johnson rake. The spur wheel drives an upright shaft for the reel and rake A disk with four joints carries four rakes or sweeps with rollers at right angles, which work in inclined ways, with a switch, which makes them act as beaters or rakes- at pleasure. The rake teeth drop down nearly to a level with the guards to catch lodged grain, and pass over a rake guard, to prevent the teeth from springing down on the guards in rough gromid, the rake rising quickly afterwards. There are also slots on the out- side of the rake to clear the divider. The inclined ways are adjusta- ble, to give difierent motions to the rake. The ability which this arrano;ement gives to the machine, to cut long or short grain with equal facility, without making tedious adjustments constitutes its greatest merit. It will deliver the gavels in regular intervals of space when the grain stands equal in height and thickness, or the rakes may be regulated by the hand or foot of the driver so as to deliver any size of gavels that may be desired, or by fastening the switch open, it will deliver the grain in swath. It has cleaners hino-ed so as to brush back the arrain which collects on the dividers while acting as reels, leaving it in good shape for the rake to deliver. The subjoined cut will give a good general idea of it when in action. 61 Dimensions, Class 4 Entry No. _ 43 Price combined .,., _ $215 "Width of cut as mower 5 ft. Width of cut as reaper _ 5^ft. Diameter of driving wheel 33 in. Breadth of driving wheel 5^ in. No. of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel 32.8 Advance of machine while making one vibration 1.5 in. Leno-th of vibration of cutter 3 in. Length of base of section 3 in. Distance of apex from base 2 in. Breadth of finger bar, heel 4 in. Breadth of fing«r bar, point _ 2^ in. Thickness of finger bar . .. ^ in. Angle of section with base 41° Angle between fino-er and cutter 58 "^ Weight of pitman rod , 64 oz. Weight of knife, mower 112 oz. Weight of knife, reaper 120 oz. Width of knife bar |in. Thickness of knife bar iV^^^* Length of pitman rod ..,. „. 24^ in. Width of finger where the base of section meets it . - 1 ^-^g Width of finger where the apex meets it ». ' | Distance between the fingers 3 in. Weight as mower _ 700 lbs. Weight as reaper 1,005 lbs. Record. Cut in clover field, lot No 23 Quality of work in clover __ 38 Quality of work in the Monson meadows 38 Side draft 11 lbs. Mark for noise 3i Time of cutting an acre _ _ 57' 37'^ Bearings and journals cool. Reaped in Leach wheat lot No „ 17 Quality of work 39 Quality in Sheldon lot _ 36 Time of reaping an acre 52' 30" Dynamometer. Time _ 4' 21" Yards _ 207 Total draft 41.987 lbs. 63 Weight of knife _ 88 oz. Width of knife bar _ |in. Thickness of knife bar _ ^^2^^* Length of Pitman rod Width of finger where base of section meets it 1 in. Width of finger where apex of section meets it Distance between fingers 3 in. Weight - - 616 lbs. Record. Cut in clover lot No. 22. Mark for quality of work 37 Quality of work in Monson's meadow 38 Time of cutting an acre _ 61 min. Side draft 5 lbs. Mark for noise _ ._ 3 Dynamometer. Time _ -._ — 4 min. Yards .. - 211 Total draft ,.... 38,500 lbs. Average draft 182.89 lbs. Width of swath _ 1.47 yds. Draft out of grass __ 99.33 lbs. Pure draft _,.._ *97.20 lbs. Second trial in Col. Wood's lot: Time _ 2' 54" Yards 1621 Total draft 43,500 Ibsl! Average draft... 267.69 lbs. Stubble mark _ .__ 2 C. C. BEADLEY AND SON " SYEACUSE SELF-EAKER" — ENTRY NO. 22. Single drive wheel. A wheel two feet in diameter, runs on the outside of the platform; it is about fifteen inches behind the axle, and is adjustable. The finger bar is of wood, supported by a one-half inch iron truss rod. The finger bar is on a line Avith the axle. The driver's seat is supported on a sleeve on the axle outside the drive wheel. A large bevel wheel, with 78 teeth, is attached to the drive wheel, turning a pinion of 17 teeth on the upper side of the wheel, with the shaft extending downward, and carrying at the bottom a spur wheel of 38 teeth, turning a pinion of 15 teeth at its side, with crank wheel attached to it. The upright part of the frame has the axle cast on it, and sustains the * Evidently a mistake. 64 bevel pillion shaft. The horizontal part of the frame slides on the vertical with notches and pawls to adjust the height. The clutch for throwing out of gear is on the spur wheel. Johnson's rake has already been described. Dimensions. Class - 21 Entry No 22 Price $150 Width of cut — 66 in. Diameter of driving wheels 36 in. Breadth of driving wheels _ 7 in. Number of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel ., 19 Advance of machine while making one vibration Leno'th of vibration of cutter ._ 4 in. Lenorth of base of cutter section 4 in. Distance of apex from base 2|in. Breadth of finger bar — . 10 in. Thickness of finger bar — — 1| in. Ano'le of section with base 38'^ An^le between finger and section ._ 54 '^ Weight of pitman rod _ _ Weight of knife 104 oz. Width of knife bar " liu. Thickness of knife bar ._ _ |in. Length of pitman rod Width of finger where the base of section meets it . . | in. Width of finger where the apex of section meets it. . Distance between fingers — Weight as reaper ._ 906 lbs. Record. Cut in clover lot No. 22: Quality of work in clover 37 Side draft _ - — Mark for noise _ - Time of cutting an acre _ - 61 min. Bearings of journals cool. Cut in Leach wheat lot No. 20: Quality of work _ 39 Sheldonlot --- 37 Eye lot..-. - -. 37 Barley lot - 39 iBIIll t 1 K ," J- J- , — ^ (63) 65 Dynamometer. Uphill.. 283.8 lbs. Onthe level.. 200 lbs. Note. — A letter from Mr. Johnson, of Mr. Bradley's establishment, says that the judges were mistaken in supposing that the reaper was the same machine as the mower. He says that it was an entirely different one, and that it was not tested for side draft. THE CLIPPEES. Among the candidates for the favor of the agricultural public, few have made more determined or more ingenious efforts to carry away the palm than the inventor of these machines. He has proposed to himself to construct a machine which shall have the greatest strength with the lightest material, aided by the best possible workmanship; combining security for the dri- ver, convenience of management and adaptation to uneven sur- faces, and, in short, which shall meet all the wants of the farmer in the greatest possible degree. It differs from others, in that the pieces composing the frame lie in different planes. The casing of the main axle constitutes the rear end of the frame, the case of the crank shaft hanging below the axle and hinging on it, forms its left side. An iron rod fitted into a socket in the case at one end, and into the upper part of a quadrant-shaped coupling piece at the other, forms its front side, and a flat iron bar hinged at one end to the main axle and passing downward and forward is bolted to the under side of the above- mentioned quadrant-shaped coupling piece forms its right side. A secondary platform, pierced so as to allow the lever of the clutch box to pass through it, and attached to the tongue, placed 5 1 inches to the right of the centre of the axle, carrying the dri- ver's seat, a tool box and a vertical coupling piece upon which the lifting lever works, is also hinged on the axle independently of the main frame. The driving w^heels are constructed with wrought iron bracing spokes, with a cast iron rim and hubs. An internal spur wheel having ninety teeth, connected with the axle by a ratchet and spring pawl, is placed on the left side of the axle to resist side draft, and operates on a spur pinion turning a short shaft, on the opposite end of which is a beveled wheel of 56 teeth, which operates a bevel pinion on the crank shaft. The crank extends beyond and in front of the iron rod which forms 5 66 the front part of the frame: access may be obtained to it by a door which opens on the front of the casing. All the gearing except the large internal spur wheel is tightly encased in an iron box. The seat extends over and behind the axle, so that the weight of the driver balances the tong-ue on the horses' necks. The lever of the clutch box passes through an opening in the secondary platform, and it can be thrown in and out of gear by the foot of the driver. The finger bar is of steel turned up in front and planed, this is for the double purpose of stifieuing the bar and forming a guard bar between the fingers, thus furnishing a smooth and narrow surface for the knives to play on. To the coupling piece already described as forming the right hand front corner of the primary frame, an arch piece of malleable iron fur- nished on its upper limb with curved slots, is fastened by two I inch bolts. A pinion on the inside of the nut, fastens the rearmost of these bolts operated on by a lever within reach of the driver, causes the arch piece to rotate as may be desired by acting on a rack which is cast on the surface, with the arch piece. The lower limbs of the arch piece are bent downward and outwards and fit into ears cast upon the inner and outer extremities of the inner shoe, the finger bar hinging freely upon them. A chain and lever operating through a bell crank, having its arms at right angles to each other, raises the finger about 18 inches, and it also drops about the same distance below the level. The shoes are of malleable iron, the guard fingers are of forged steel, and we believe that they are the only ones which came under our notice. The cutting edges of the fingers are tempered. The pitman rod is of wood, with a ball and socket joint. The groove at the head of the knife is planed on the inside, and we believe it is the only machine thus planed. The action of the gearing of any mowing machine having a loose tongue, when moving progressively, is to raise the inner shoe of rear cutting machines from the ground, so that the knife will not cut closely ; on the other hand, the same action presses downward on the inner shoe of forward cutting machines, so that if the shoe is moving on soft ground, or strikes a stone, the right driving wheel is raised from the ground and the draft is greatly increased. To obviate this difficulty Mr. Dutton bolts a grooved plate on 67 the under side of the tongue, in which an iron plate moves freely backward and forwards; from this plate a pin passes through the evener of the whiffletrees which work on the under side of the tongue. The evener is connected through a jointed rod, with the rod forming the front of the frame. The draft of the horses is therefore resolved into two parts, one of them being direct trac- tion, the' other being vertical, lifting the shoe off of the ground and diminishing its friction. The inner driving wheel follows exactly in the path of the inner shoe, and as the distance between the wheels is exactly the length of the cutter bar, it follows that the driving wheels cannot beat down the cut grass. This is a valuable feature, peculiar we believe to this machine and the Eureka. The mechanical execution of this machine reflects the highest credit upon Mr. Dutton, the inventor; in this respect it surpassed all the rest. All the bearings are as smooth as machinery can make them, all the joints are closely fitted, all the working parts are mathematically in line, all the materials of which it is com- posed are of the best that can be procured. So excellent was the workmanship of this machine and of the Buckeye, that a protest in writing was entered at Auburn by one of the exhibitors against them both, on the ground that they were much better than they were in the habit of furnishing to their customers. A sub-committee was appointed to examine the ma- chines in their warehouses, and also some in the hands of farmers. After a careful examination the committee reported that the machines at Auburn were in no respect better than those which they had sold and which were exposed in their warehouses for current sales. It gives us great pleasure to furnish this unex- pected testimony to the fidelity of these gentlemen to the agricul- tural community, and we hope that they will reap the full nea- sure of profit which they deserve. Dimensions of Clipper made at Newport, R. I. Class 1 Entry No _.. 18 Price - $140 Width of cut 54 in. Diameter of driving wheels 36 in. Number of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel „._,. 27^^^ 68 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2y3Q^ in. Length of vibration of cntter 2|in. Length of base of cutter section _ _, 21-| in. Distance of apex from base 2^^ in. Breadth of finger bar _ 4 in. Thickness of finger bar . iV"^* Angle of section with the base 60* "Weight of pitman rod _ . 59 oz. Weight of knife _ .- .104 oz. Width of knife bar |in. Thickness of knife bar __. i^i^- Length of pitman rod 34 in. Width of finger where the base of section meets it. . 1-^q in. Width of finger where apex of section meets it | in. Distance between fingers 3 in. Weight --.. 682 lbs. Ilecord. Cut lot No. 10 in clover: Quality of work in clover ._ 32 Quality of work in Monson meadow 40 Side draft -- 5 lbs. Mark for noise _ 1 Time of cutting an acre _ 55" Bearings and journals cool. Dynamometer. Time - 3' 23" Yards _ 202 Total draft 42,000 lbs. Average draft. ,.., _.. 199 lbs. Draft out of grass 126.99 lbs. Pure draft _ _.. 101.42 lbs. Width of swath L81 yds. Second trial in Col. Wood's lot: Time _. 2' 29" Yards _.. 158 .Total draft _. __. 32,800 lbs. Average draft _, 207.59 Mark for stubble . 4 The stubble in this trial being too high for a fair comparative test, a third trial was had. Third trial : . Time 2' 21" Yards 156 Total draft 36,850 lbs. 69 Average draft _.. 236.22 Mark for stubble 2 The stubble was now cut low enough, but it was thought that he had not cut quite the full length ot his knife. A fourth trial was therefore had. Fourth trial: Time 2' 37" Yards _ _ 150 Total draft „ _ -. 35,700 lbs. Average draft. 238 lbs. Mark for stubble 2 Dimensions of Clijpjper made at Peekskill, JST. Y. Class _ 1 Entry No _ 7 Price $125 Width of cut - _. 54 in. Diameter of driving wheels ..„ ._ 32 in. Number of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel. _. _ '^^■\z Advance of machine while making one vibration 2 Jq in. Length of one vibration of cutter ._ 2|in. Length of base of section 2l|in. Distance of apex from base 2^^ m. Breadth of finger bar 4 in. Thickness of finger bar _. iV^^- Angle of section with base 60*^ Weight of pitman rod 46 oz. Weight of knife _. 106 oz. Width of knife bar. _. |in. Thickness of knife bar i^e"^^* Length of pitman rod . 29^ in. Width of finger where the base of section meets it. . l^^g. in. Width of finger where apex meets it _ | in. Distance between fingers 3 in. Weight _ _ 620 lbs. Record. Cut lot No. 28 in clover: Quality of work in clover 30 Side draft- _ , 4 lbs. Mark for noise ^ 2 Time of cutting an acre 43' Bearings and journals cool. Dynamometer. Time 4' 19' Yards _. 203 Total draft...- _,. 35,025 lbs. 70 Average draft _ 172.53 lbs. Width of swath 1.46 yds. Draft out of grass 109.85 lbs. Pure draft 91.96 lbs. Second trial Col. Wood's lot: Time 2' 33" Yards 160 Total draft 37,850 lbs. Average draft 236.56 lbs. Markfor stubble 2| Dimensions of Pony CUpjper made hy R. L. Allen. Class -- - 6 Entry No.._ ..- 57 Price - $110 Width of cut 42 in. Diameter of driving wheels ._ 30 in. Number of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel _ — 24^^^ Advance of machine while making one vibration ^tVo ^^' Length of one vibration of cutter ._ 2|in. Length of base of section 21-^ in. Distance of apex from base — 2^^ in. Breadth of finger bar _ 4 in. Thickness of finger bar — iV "^• Angle of section with base. _ 60° Weight of pitman rod Weight of knife _ Width of knife bar - |in. Thickness of knife bar _ _ iV^-"^' Length of pitman rod Width of finger where base of section meets it 1-^^ in. Width of finger where apex meets it fin. Distance between fino;ers — „ 3 in. Weight -.-". --- 480 lbs. Record. Cut clover, lot No. 22: Quality of work in clover 20 Quality of work in Monson lot 36 Side draft _ None. Mark for noise _. _ _ IJ Time of cutting an acre 76 min. Journals and bearings cool. Dynamometer. Time 3' 43" Yards 209 1 d (71) 71 Total draft 33,800 lbs. Average draft _ 161.72 lbs. Length of swath -_ 1.10 yds. Draft out of grass _ 123.G0 lbs. Pure draft... 96.56 lbs. EAGLE MACHINE ENTRY NO. 4. This is characterized by the wonderful flexibility of its finger bar, which can work through an arc of 120'^ with ease. It can mow the side of a terrace either above or below, and was the only machine which was adapted to so wide a rans^e. It did good work in all kinds of grass, but it is specially adapted to uneven surfaces. The principal frame is of wood, fastened to the wrought iron axle, but leaving a suffi- cient space on the right hand side for the free working of a lug bar. The tongue is also hinged independently on the axle by two braces, extending to the right and left, connected with collars con- tiguous to the wheels. A secondary frame is hinged to the axle in connection with the tongue, on which is placed the driver's seat, and on which his feet are placed. The wheels are three feet one inch apart on the inside, made in the usual manner. Two large internal spur wheels are placed at either end of the axle, con- nected to the drive wheels, giving motion to pinions on a second shaft, on which runs a bevel wheel, worked by a clutch; this in its turn carries a bevel pinion, which revolves the crank shaft. The crank is on the front of the machine. It is thrown out of gear by a lever within reach of the driver, which moves a triangu- lar clutch connecting with the driving bevel wheel. It is kept in gear by a spring, and fastened out of gear by a bolt. A strong lug bar is connected with the rear right hand corner of the prin- cipal frame by a universal joint. In one piece with it, and at its forward end, is the inner shoe, to which the finger bar is bolted. This bar is on the right of the main frame, and is not connected with it, except at the rear by the universal joint. A jointed coupling rod, secured to the front left hand corner of the princi- 7-2 pal frame by a screw and nut, runs downward and towards the right hand, connected with the back part of the shoe by a bolt passing through ears, which are cast upon it for its reception. This rod is also independent of the main frame, except at the extreme corner. It will be seen that by this arrangement, the utmost flexibility of the finger bar is secured without a joint at the shoe, the joints being transferred to the rear and left hand corner of the frame. Any wear at the joint is compensated by tightening the nut in the coupling rod in front, by which the knife can always be kept in the line of the coupling rod, and at right angles to the forward path of the machine. From the centre of the front bar of the main frame, an iron arc rises vertically, having its limb perforated with holes about an inch apart, which passes through the secondary frame near its front edge. Ears perforated with holes are bolted on the edges of the platform; a pin passing through these ears and the holes in the limb of the arc, elevates the main frame to any desired altitude, enabling it to pass over bogs, stones or other obstruc- tions, or it can be depressed, when desired, nearly to the level of the ground. This arrangement also turns the fingers upward and downward. It will be observed that this arrangement takes away the flexibility of the tongue, which would be due to it from its hinging on the axle, and makes it rigid. The main peculiarity of this machine is the part called a foot rack by the inventor. It is a vertical bar of iron attached by a joint to the inner shoe, having rack teeth on its forward edge, ■ which are caught at any point by a spring latch, worked by the driver's foot. The lever and chain raise the shoe until this rack is caught by the latch, when the outer end of the finger bar can be raised nearly to a perpendicular. By this arrangement the outer or inner end of the bar can be raised at pleasure. The lifting adjustment is also somewhat peculiar. A quadrant- shaped attachment at the heel of the lifting lever, having a ratchet on the interior of the limb, can be caught and held at any point by a spring latch, that can be adjusted by the foot of the driver. A chain, running from the grooved exterior of the limb to the lug bar at the rear of the shoe, lifts the finger bar as desired; but when the foot rack is fastened it becomes the fulcrum of the bar, and the outer end of the knife rises as before stated. 73 Another feature of the Eagle is that the drag bar, the pitman rod and the coupling rod all play independently of either of the frames. A projection on the left hand timber of the main frame allows the crank sufficient support to extend beyond the front bar, and the drag bar being exterior to the right side of the frame. The crank is counterbalanced. The pitman rod is of wrought iron; the head is lined with a bronze thimble; the knife head has a universal joint, the object of which is to prevent the bending of the knife and pitman. The fingers are of cast iron. The finger bar is of Pittsburg cold rolled iron. The motion of the knife may be altered by using a larger or smaller pinion. We think this ar- rangement important, as it enables the farmer to adapt it at pleasure to cutting different varieties of grass. The machine can be accommodated to either by sliding the axle on the main shaft. Having now given all that we deem necessary of the description of this mower, we proceed to give its Dimensions. Class 1 Entry No ._ _ 4 Price _ $135 Width of cut _.. 48 in. Diameter of driving wheels _ __. 32 in. Number of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel ._ 26 Advance of machine while making one vibration 3| in. Length of one vibration of cutter. ._ 2|^in. Length of base of section _ 3|in. Distance of apex from base ._ 3|^in. Breadth of finger bar 3|in. Thickness of finger bar h^^' Angle of section with base _ 60*^ Angle of section with finger. _ 30° Weight of pitman rod 36 oz. Weight of knife _ , 57 oz. Width of knife bar _ l|in. Thickness of knife bar _ |in. Length of pitman rod ._ _ 29 in. Width of finger where base of section meets it - . . 1 Jg in. Width of finger where apex meets it xq ^^' Distance between fingers _ _ 3|in. Weight 720 lbs. Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 20 : Quality of work in clover 38 Quality of work in Monson meadow 37 Side draft _ 5 lbs. 74 Mark for noise - 3 Time of cutting an acre 58i min. Pitman joint warm but not badly so. Test of DynamomQter. Time .-. 3' 42" Yards _ „ 218 Total draft _ 37,775 lbs. J\verage draft... 173.28 lbs. Draft out of grass _ _. 96.15 lbs. Pure draft.... 88.88 lbs. Width of swath 1.31yds. Second trial in Col. Wood's lot: Time 2' 27" Yards ..-.-., Ill Total draft _ _ 33,800 Average draft — _ 304,50 Mark for stubble 2 Dimensions of Eagle JSTo. 29 — Glass 3. The dimensions of this machine are precisely like those of No. 4, except that when reaping it uses the slower motion. The platform in reaping is bolted to the finger bar, with straps upon the upper side. The reel post is attached to the inner shoe and lug bar. The overhung reel is driven by a belt on a pulley inside the drive wheel, with two rollers on the arm to tighten the belt as required. The outside wheel is adjustable by a sliding axle and ratchet. The platform is braced behind by a bar with a joint held by a chain. The driver's seat is moved forward and the raker's seat is extended behind. Becord. Cut in Clover Field, Lot No. 13: Quality of work in clover _ 35 Side draft _ 5 lbs. !ark for noise ime of cutting an acre . . Bearings simply warm. Mark for noise 3| Time of cutting an acre . 62| min. Dynamometer. Time 4' 16'^ Yards 214 Total draft 46,850 lbs. Averasre draft _ 219.43 lbs. 75 Draft out of grass _ 167.80 lbs. Pure draft _. _ 107.33 lbs. Width of swath _ 1.48 yds. Cut in Leach Wheat Field, No. 30 : Mark for quality of work 35 In Sheldon wheat lot. _ 35 Time in reaping an acre 61 min. Trial with slow motion: Time 4' 49" Yards 204.5 Total draft ..- 39,450 lbs. Average draft 192.88 lbs. Width of swath _.. 1.42 yds. The gearing of this machine is rough and ill cut, and the work- manship is not as careful as could be desired. It is worthy of the best workmanship that can be put upon it. SEYMOUE, MOEGAN AND ALLEN — ENTRY NO. 44 — SELE-RAKESTG REAPER, KNOWN AS THE "NEW YORKER." This machine is interesting to the mechanic and the farmer, not only for the actual excellence of its performance, but from the fact that its present perfected form is the fruitage of the germ which constituted the very first effort to rake grain into bun- dles which was made in this country, and we are informed that all the makers of self ^^P^ raking machines still pay a royalty to Messrs. Seymour N. Y. Self-raking Reaper and Mower Combined. and Morgan. The portion of the machine which in other reapers is a very conspicuous part, and which carries the machinery, is in this compressed into so small a compass that the casual observer might overlook it altogether; it is of cast iron, forming one piece with the shoe, and is located on the left side. Its length, from the rear end to the front of the shoe, is 4 feet. The rear half being 10 inches and forepart 6 inches in width, it is strengthened by a flange turned downward one inch in depth. The outer portion 76 of the shoe is continuous with it, and the inner portion at right angles with it. The whole width of the shoe on the ground is 2 feet 2 inches. The finger bar is firmly bolted to the shoe, so that the frame, shoe and finger bar are practically connected in one piece. The finger bar is made of a plate of cast steel 7-32 inch in thickness, folded in the shape of the letter t^ placed sidewise, having the guards inserted at the open end and secured by a bolt through each, thus uniting stiffness with lightness. A divider of great length, extending in front of and behind the knife bar, is divided behind into two parts, between which the divider wheel runs; the platform can be raised or lowered through a slot in the outer divider and a nut upon the axle. The driving wheel is 40 inches in diameter, and is outside the frame. An internal spur wheel having 86 teeth is cast with and is a part of the driving wheel. The pinion having 13 teeth turns a short shaft which supports a bevel wheel with 44 teeth, which turns a bevel pinion with 15 teeth keyed on to the crank shaft. The crank therefore revolves 19-^q times for each revolution of the driving wheel. The driver's seat is on a platform supported by posts rising from the frame, and is 6 inches above the top of the driving wheel, and is 4 feet 10 inches from the ground. The reel is hung on arms projecting horizontally and which are supported by the same frame that supports the driver's plat- form. It may be raised or lowered, or brought backward or for- ward, at the pleasure of the operator; motion is communicated to it by a chain passing from a pulley on the outside of the main axle to one on the axis of the reel, which makes 1^ revolutions for each revolution of the driving wheel. The hinge upon which the rake revolves is a hollow vertical cylinder rotating on an axis ; a curved crank projects from this six inches to the right ; this is moved by a guide rod which in its turn receives a reciprocating motion from a pin in the periphery of a spur wheel, which is connected with the guide rod by a con- necting rod and a universal joint. The spur crank wheel, 12 i inches diameter, is driven by another spur on the main axle, 8| inches diameter. From the end of the horizontal crank is a strong projection, beneath which are a pair of ears, in which the rake shaft rotates. When the gavel is brought to the edge of the platform, a projecting curved cam, striking against a hori- 77 zontal bar on the rear of the frame, raises the rake; at the same instant a spring latch enters a notch in the cam, which holds it until it is nearly over the knife, when the other end of the latch passes under the guide rod it is released, and the rake drops with a motion accelerated by a spiral spring wliich is coiled upon the rake shaft. The size of the bundle is regulated by a clutch worked by the foot of the driver; when connected with the gear- ing it makes a gavel every 14 feet of advance. The rake has a bow on the upper side which holds the fallino grain, and separates it from the bundle which is to be raked off By turning a nut, the platform may be lowered on the arc of a circle having its centre in the pinion, to the extent of six inches, without altering its level, and by a contrivance similar to that described for the Cayuga Chiefs, the cutter bar can be depressed to the lowest mowing cut. A curved brace passing from the rear of the main frame, to the rear of the divider, sustains the platform which is secured by buttons to the finger bar, and to the last-mentioned brace which holds it very securely without shaking. The guards are of mallea- ble iron, with a ledger plate of hardened cast iron which can be easily removed and sharpened. The pitman rod is 18 inches long of I round iron, with a cast iron pitman box, in which is a recess for holding oil. The rod is screwed into a socket in the box. The workmanship of this machine is very good, every part being solid and substantial. Dimensions. Class - 4 Entry No . _ . . 44 Price $180 Width ofcut _ 5ft. Diameter of driving wheel _ 3 ft. Breadth of driving wheel 6 in. No. of double vibrations to each revolution of driving wheel 20 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.8 in. Length of one vibration of cutter __„ 4 in. Length of base of section- 4 in. Distance of apex from base S^ in. When sickle edged _ „ 2|^i^' Breadth of finger bar „ _ 4 in. Thickness of finger bar (see description) 1^^ in. Angle of section with base 56^ 78 Angle of section with finger 38° Angle of sickle _._ _.. 39^ Weight of pitman rod „ Weight of knife Width of knife bar Thickness of knife bar Length of pitman rod 18 in. Width of finger, where base of section meets it_ 1^^^ in. Width of finger where apex meets it I^q in. Distance between fingers. _ 4 in. Weight as mower 820 lbs. Weight as reaper 1,150 lbs. Diameter of reel 4 ft 6 in. Sections smooth, as mowers; sickle edged, as reapers. Reco7'd, Cut in Clover Field, Lot No. 40 : Quality of work in clover 35 Quality of work in Monson meadow 39 Side draft ._ _ 3 lbs. Mark for noise 3 Time of cutting an acre _ 38 min. Bearings and journals not heated. Cut in the Leach Wheat Field, Lot No. 23 : Mark for quality of Avork _ 38 Time in reaping an acre 62 min. Mark for quality of work in Sheldon lot 38 Mark for quality of work in rye lot .-. _ 40 Mark for quality of work in barley lot »._ 40 Di/namometer. Time - 3' 18" Yards ..., 204 Total draft - 47,900 lbs. Average draft - 234.80 lbs. Draft out of grass 159.47 lbs. Pure draft _., 104.93 lbs. Widthof cut .-_ 1.52yds. As a reaper : Average draft up hill 367.9 lbs. Average draft on a level.. 256.9 lbs. We do not approve of this machine as a mower, its rigid bar, in our opinion, not being adapted to inequalities in the surface of the ground. We think that its broad shoe is, to some extent, chargable with its heavy draft. DIAGRAM OF THE CUT OF SEYMOUR, MORGAN & ALIENS MOWER 79 SELF-EAKTNG REAPER — NO. 27^. The following differences exist between this and the preceding machine. The price is |160. The cutter bar is of wood, and the fingers are of cast iron. Length of sickle, six feet. In other respects like the pre- ceding. Its average draft up 1 hill, 379.7 pounds; on a level, 293.6 pounds. Its record in Mother respects is as a reaper !/-^^the same as the combined ^^.^O^^SK^^^^^*^^^^^^^*^' iiiachine. Self-raking Reaper. ItS rCCOrd shoWS that it is capable of doing very excellent work. In our judgment it is strong and durable, and the workmanship is good; but we think that the rake, which will be the standard in the future, must be more simple than this, and require less draft. WM. H. HALLIDAY ''AMERICAN MOWER " ENTRY NO. 17. This is the ordinary two wheeled, forward cut and jointed bar machine, with a wooden frame. The pitman box is divided ver- tically with set screws. The seat and tongue, separate from the at- tachments of the shoe and finger bar, is a peculiarity of this machine. The shoe is attached to a casting with two prongs, the forward one being jointed to the shoe by a rivet the hinder one by a slot and bolt with a nut, by which the finger can be rocked or adjusted. This casting is attached to an iron bar extending along the front of the machine, and secured to a projection from it by a screw and nut. Another wrought iron bar extends back from the cast- ing, and is attached by a double joint to the axle outside the wheel. The cutter bar can be raised by a lever and turned over on to the pole. The shoe has a small wheel on the inside, adjusta- ble. The outer shoe is adjustable by a spring runner, to which the track clearer can be attached at any elevation. The whiffle- trees play under the pole. Class Entry No. Dimensions. 1 17 80 Price - „ $120 Width of cut - 48 in. Diameter of drive wheel ._ 28 in. Breadth of drive wheel. _ 3| in. Number of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel ._ 22 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2 in. Length of one vibration _ _ 3|in. Length of base of section 3|in. Distance of apex from base __. l|in. Breadth of steel finger bar heel ._ 3|in. Breadth of steel finger bar point 2^ in. Thickness of steel finger bar point ^iu. Angle of section with base __ 48° Angle of finger with section 43'' Weight of pitman rod _ _ 72 oz. Weight of knife _ 88 oz. Width of cutter bar |in. Thickness of cutter bar _ ^6"^°' Length of pitman rod 25|in. Width of finger where base of section meets it If in. Width where apex meets it. ^ lin. Distance between fingers ..- 3|^in. Smooth edged knife. JRecord. Cut in clover lot No. 3 : Quality of work * 35 Quality in Monson meadow 37 Time of cutting an acre _ 67' 55" Side draft 3 lbs. Mark for noise * ,,. 6 Bearings somewhat warm; pitman joint considerably heated. Dynamometer. Time 3' 36" Yards 214.5 Total draft 47,500 lbs. Average draft 221 lbs. Draft out of grass _ 157.53 lbs. Pure draft 103.77 lbs. Widthiof swath ._ 1.26 yds. The merits of this machine are marred by the imperfection of the workmanship. The gearing is not well formed; the finish of the rubbing parts is rough, and there is not care enough to adjust the parts exactly in line. It however cuts the grass very well, as appears by the record; but the draft is heavy, and it is disagreeably noisy. 81 WM. H. HALLIDAY SELF-EAKER NO. 47. We regret that our notes of this machine, and of the Valley Chief, are so blurred that we cannot write full descriptions of them, and we dare not trust wholly to memory. They are both one wheeled machines. Below we give the Dimensions. Class — _ — 4i: Entry No. _ _ 47 Price $175 Width of cut.-. 60in. Diameter of drive wheel 36 in. Breadth of drive wheel _ S^in. Number of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel. 25 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2\ in. Length of one vibration of cutter ._ 3^ in. Length of base of section 3|-in. Distance of apex from base If in. Breadth of finger bar _ 3^ in. Thickness of finger bar fin, A stiffening piece runs half the length of the finger bar. Ano-le of section with base 40" Angle of section with finger 51" Weight of pitman rod 74 oz. Weight of knife 101 oz. Length of pitman rod 20 in. Width of finger where base of section meets it ^h^^^' Width of finger where apex meets it.. 1^"^ Distance between fingers ,__. . , 3|im Weio-ht as mower „ _ ^ 805 lbs. Weight as reaper ._ 990 lbs. Knife smooth edged. The rake revolves 2^ times to one of drive wheel. Width of cutter bar |in. Thickness of cutter bar „ _ _ -^h^^' Record. Cut in clover lot No. 39 : Quality of work _ 28 Side draft _ 7i lbs. Mark for noise 4 Time of cutting an acre 45| min. Cut in Leach wheat lot No. 27: Quality of work 37 Time of cutting an acre _ 54 min. 6 82 Sheldon lot, quality of work _ 40 In rye, quality of work _ 38 In barley, quality of work __ 38 Dynamometer. Time 3' 58" Yards 217.5 Total draft 55,025 lbs. Average draft _. 252.93 lbs. Width of swath , 1.44 yds. Draft out of grass 132.23 lbs. Pure draft 114.51 lbs. Second trial, Col. Wood's lot: Time 2' 47" Yards . 165 Total draft __. 45,000 lbs. Average draft. 272.72 lbs. Mark for stubble ..^ 5 As a reaper on the level 282.8 lbs. The record of this machine, for quality of work and for great strength, is a splendid one; but the great draft very much dimin- ishes its lustre. WALTER A. WOOD ENTRY NO. 8. The machines made by this house have long been favorites in this country, and a larger number of them have been purchased abroad than have been sold there by any other manufacturer. The frame is of wood and is composed of four timbers lying in the same plane, its middle. line lying over the axle. The tongue is attached to the axle by- a joint, and the seat is supported by the tongue, rising on two short standards having springs on the top. It runs on two drive wheels made of cast iron, with an in- ternal spur gear. The two pinions are attached to each end of a shaft lying parallel with the axle and behind it, and are fitted with ratchets and spiral spring pawls. The bevel wheel is loose on the shaft, at about one-third the distance from the outer wheel, and is connected with it by a clutch with square projections. The bevel pinion is attached to a shaft which extends forward and carries the crank wheel. Both journals of this shaft are carefully rounded by an emery wheel to prevent them from heating. The pitman rod has a bronze box for the crank pin and is made of Norway iron. 83 The forward part of the shoe is attached to a spring bar, bolted at one end to the under side of the left hand front corner of the frame. Around rod connected by a joint with the rear right hand corner of the frame, passes downward and forward through a slot in a casting bolted to the under side of the frame, and braces the rear of the shoe without destroying its flexibility. The con- nections on the shoe are by joints which permit the turning up of the bai- to a perpendicular position. The pitman hooks into an eye on the cutter bar, and has a casting wdth a slot which holds it in place during the whole of its movement. The finger bar is planed otf leaving an elevation along the front for the knives to ride on ; the cutter bar slides behind this lip. The outer shoe is sharp on the under side to part the grass, and has a wheel of five inches in diameter adjustable by three holes to regulate the height. The holders on the finger bar are chilled at the bearings of the cutter bar. A leading wheel is attached to the front of the main shoe on the right side, ten inches in diameter, cast hol- low and adjustable. The finger bar is raised by a chain and lever and is held by notches on the lever standard. When raised about five inches a projection in the shoe strikes a gag, and then the outer end is raised to a perpendicular position. Dimensions. Class _ 1 Entry No. 8 Price ., ,_..._, . $125 Width of cut ,., , 54 in. Diameter of drive wheel ,_ ._ 28 in. Breadth of drive wheel ,. 3|in. No. of revolutions of crank to each revolution of drive wheel 29j2^2_ Advance of machine while makino- one vibration 1.55 Length of vibration 2| in. Length of base of section ,._ _ o in. Distance of apex from base .. Ifin. Breadth of finger bar, heel „„ 4|in. Breadth of finger bar, point 2| in. Thickness of finger bar fin. Angle of section wdth base 33'^ Angle of section with guard 38 '' Weight of pitman rod 50 oz. Weight of knife 128 oz. Length of pitman rod 23 in 84 Width of finger where the base of section meets it. . 1^^ in. Width of finger where the apex meets it | in. Distance between the fingers ._ 3 in. Weight 590 lbs. The end of cutter bar at the eye 1 in. by -^q for a distance of 3 inches from centre of eye, and for 4 inches more, 1 in. by | ; then tapers in a distance of 9 inches to I by ^ in., and holds that size to the end. Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 33 : Quality of work in clover 29 Quality in Mouson meadow ^ 40 Side draft _ 6 lbs. Mark for noise _- _ ._ 2 Time of cutting an acre 49^' Bearings not heated. Dynamometer. Time 4' 27" Yards 200.5 Total draft.. 38,050 lbs. Av erage draft 189.78 Width of swath _. 1.42 yds. Draft out of grass _. 136.95 Pure draft. _ 109.45 Second trial in Col. Wood's lot : Time, (short bar) _ 2' 47" Yards 162 Total draft _ 34,200 lbs. Average draft... „_. 211.11 lbs. Mark for stubble 1^ Time, (long bar) 3' 01" Yards . 164 Total draft _ ,. 42,250 lbs. Average draft _ 257.62 lbs. Mark for stubble 1 It is proper to say in connection with the last test of draft that the bar was a new one and was rough in the bearings, and the stubble was cut very low, shaving even the moss. With two exceptions it was the lowest cut made in the field. We give the record as it was made, and are of course bound by it in making our awards, but considering the excellent work that it made in the Monson meadows, we are of opinion the poor quality of work done in the clover was due to the misjudgment of the driver rather than to any imperfection of the machine. -:ii^ >< JQ. DIAGRAM, SHEWING THE CUT OF WOODS MOWER. 85 WALTER A. WOOD — CHAIN-RAKE — ENTRY NO. 23. Has a square frame with the clrivhig wheel inside of it ; an in- ternal spur gear is attached to it. The spur pinion is on a shaft outside of the wheel. The crank and cutter bar are about 18 inches in advance of the driving Avheel. The pole is hinged to the frame with a hinged lever extending back to raise or lower the cutter bar. The reel is supported by posts at each end and , is driven by a chain in the usual manner. It makes twelve and a-half revolutions to eleven of the drive wheel, and is five feet in diameter. The finger bar is of wood. The pitman, in the mid- dle, is of Swedes, and the ends are of Norway iron, and has a composition lining for the bearing on the crank pin. The rake is carried by a chain in a groove in the platform, passing around a pulley, and is driven by a bevel wheel with a clutch to regulate the size of the bundles. The driver's seat is behind and outside of the driving wheel. Dimensions. Class.. 21 Entry No 23 Price $165 Width of cut 60 in. Diameter of drive wheel 32 in. Breadth of drive wheel 5iin. No. of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel l^iVo" Advance of machine while making the vibration '^^'oq i^^* Length of one vibration of cutter l|in« Length of base of section _ 4 in. Distance of apex from base .. „ 2|in. Breadth of finger bar 8 in. Thickness of finger bar l|in. Angle of section with base _ 42*^ Angle of section with finger 50° Weight of pitman rod 59 oz. Weight of knife 143 oz. Length of pitman rod 32 in. Width of finger where base of section meets it 1 in. Width of finger where apex meets it f in. Distance between fingers 4 in. Weight .- 965 lbs. Knife sickle edged. Cutter bar at eye 1 in. by | in. for 7 inches from eye, and in 6 inches tapers to f by \ in., and continues of that size; made of iron. 86 Record. Same as No, 39 which cut Clover Lot No, 15: Quality of work in clover 28 Side draft 7^ lbs. Mark for noise 4 Time of cutting an acre -. 55" Cut in Leach Wheat Field Lot No. 10: Quality of work _ __ 35 Time of reaping an acre. ._ 47" Li Sheldon lot, quality _ 33 Dynamometer. Time 3' 02" Yards 204,5 Total draft 35,650 lbs. Average draft 174,33 lbs. Width of swath .., 1.33 yds. Draft out of grass _ . . 122.73 lbs. Pure draft.. 102.92 lbs. Second trial Col. Wood's lot: Time _ 3' 28" Yards 164^ Total draft 40,700 Ibs^ Average draft 247.41 lbs. Mark for stubble 2 Eeaping field: Up hill 304.3 lbs. On level 239.5 lbs. WALTER A. AVOOD— SW^EEP-EAKE ENTRY NO. 24. All the parts of this machine, considered as a mower, are dif- ferent from it when used as a reaper, except the two wheels, pole and seat. It has one large driving wheel, and one wheel oppo- site to it outside the platform. The axle is attached to the frame by a nut and screw by which it is adjustable. The other wheel is adjustable to the platform in the same way. The driver's seat is on the rear of the frame, a little inside the wheel, and is so balanced on the pole that the driver counterpoises the weight of the tono-ue. The cutter is sickle edo-ed. The drive wheel is furnished with an internal gear which meshes into a clutch, driving a second shaft, on which is a large beveled wheel carry- ing a long crank shaft. The crank wheel is counterbalanced. The finger bar is hinged to the forward part of the frame, the forward end hinp:ed to a casting on the front of the frame, 87 and the back end hinged to a smaller casting under the axle. The pitman is nearly on a line with the knives, which move on the top of the finger bar, the front edge of which is planed and beveled. The guards are of malleable iron, and made to fit the beveled edge of the finger bar; they project above the top of the finger bar so as to form a continuous lip equal in thickness to the cutter bar. They are furnished with cast steel ledger plates. The finger bar is raised by a lever. The front part of the shoe is connected to the pole by a chain for the pur- pose of raising the cutting apparatus higher than the adjusting wheel will permit. The outer end of the cutter bar can be drop- ped 12 inches; it raises parallel to the ground. A forked casting holds the eye of the knife on the finger bar and keeps the end of the pitman in place. The crank shaft of cold rolled iron made round by emery wheels. Dimensions. Class __„ - 21 Entry 24 Price - $165 Width ofcut 60in. Diameter of drive wheel 32 in. Breadth of drive wheel 5iin. No. of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel 20^4q- in. Advance of machine while making one vibration '^tqq ^^' Length of one vibration of cutter 2|in. Length of base of section 3 in. Distance of apex from base l|in. Breadth of finger bar heel 8 in. Thickness of finger bar l|in. Angle of section with base 33*^ An2:le of section with finder _ _ 58*^ Weight of pitman rod „ 53 oz. Weight of knife . 128 oz. Length of pitman rod 28| in. Width of finger where the base of section meets it . . 1 in. Width of finger where the apex meets it i iii« Distance between fingers ,_ 3 in. Weight as mower 570 lbs. Weight as reaper 915 lbs. Cutter bar same as entry No. 8. Diameter of reel 61 ft. Reel makes one revolution to every 13 feet of advance. Knife sickle edi>cd. 88 Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 41 : Quality of work in clover 35 Side draft Mark for noise -_ Time of cutting an acre 48 min. Bearings cool, except that pitman bearing was slightly warm. Reaped in Leach Wheat Field Lot No. 16 : Quality of work 36 Li Sheldon lot _ 34 Time of reaping an acre _ 57i min. Dynamometer. Time _.. 3.02 Yards 204.5 Total draft _ .- 35,650 lbs. Average draft _ .- 174.33 lbs. Width ofswath 1.33 yds. As a reaper : Uphill -. - 294.3 lbs. On level 193.0 lbs. The rake on this machine, revolves around the reel post and occupies the place of one of the beaters in the reel. The reel post itself revolves, and by bevel wheels on the top carries the reel. The rake follows a curved way during the whole of the revolution, with rollers on both sides, to diminish the friction. It can be made to miss a bundle when desired by turning the rake up with the foot. WALTER A. WOOD HAND-RAKER — ENTRY NO. 30. This has a fast tongue, and a wooden frame. One drive wheel. The driver bestrides the driving wheel. An idle wheel opposite to, and a little behind the drive wheel, supports the outside of the platform. The height of the machine can be altered to adapt it to reaping or mowing, by altering the pins which hold together the casting which supports the axle of the driving wheel, and the casting on Avhich the frame rests. The inner shoe is provided witK an adjustable leading wheel; the outer shoe has also an adjustable wheel. The finger bar can be raised by a lever and chain 18 inches, and dropped 12 inches. The cutting appa- "Katus is attached to the machine by a hinged shoe. Li order to 89 change from a mower to a reaper, the platform is attached by two bolts to the wooden frame, one to the shoe and one to the divider. The raker's seat is secured to the pole by a bolt and screw nut The reel is supported by posts at each end, and is adjustable. Pitman rod in the middle is made of Swedes iron, the ends of Norway iron. Dimensions. Class _ 3 E n try N o _ _ . . 30 Price as reaper $135 Width of cut as reaper 54 in. Diameter of drive wheel 32 in. Breadth of drive Avheel ^h.^^' No. of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel _ - . - - _ - _ . 20 Advance of machine while making one vibration ^tVo ^^^' Length of one vibration of cutter 2fin. Length of base of section __ 3 Distance of apex from base 1\ Breadth of finger bar heel ^h.^^' Breadth of finger bar point 3 in. Thickness of finger bar |in. Cutter bar same as entry No. 8. As a mower the number of double vibrations is ^^T^o^o Advance of machine to eachvibration of knife 1^*^ in. Knife smooth edged. In other respects it is the same as the reaper. Angle of section with base.. ._ 33^^ Ancrle of section with finsjer 58*^ Weight of pitman rod 48 oz. Weight of Ivnife 144 oz. Length of pitman rod : 26 in. Width of finger where base of section meets it 1 in. Width of finger where apex meets it il "^• Distance between fingers 3 in. Weight as mower „ 605 lbs. Weight as reaper 845 lbs. Knife sickle edged. Diameter of reel 5 feet. It makes 10 revolutions while the drive wheel makes 9. liecord. Cut in Clover Lot No. 25: Quality of work - 19 Side draft 2 lbs. 90 Mark for noise _ 3 Time of cuttino- an acre _ _ 461' In Leach Wheat Field cut Lot No. 1: Quality of work 33 Quality in Sheldon lot „ 32 Time of cutting an acre 49|' Dynamometer. Time _ 3' 43' Yards 217 Total draft 44,100 lbs. Average draft 203.22 lbs. Width of swath 1.47 yds. Draft out of grass 130.40 lbs. Pure draft 110.13 lbs. WALTER A. WOOD ENTRIES 39 AND 40. The same as entries 23 and 24. No. 39 cut Clover Lot No. 15: Quality of work -.. 28 Time of cuttins; an acre 55' Cut in Leach Wheat Field Lot No. 12: Quality of work 35 Time of cutting an acre _. 52' No. 40 cut Clover Lot No. 41: Quality of work. 35 Time of cuttino; an acre _ 48' Price.. .^. -.. $200 J. D. WILBEE "EUREKA MOWER " NO. 5. The appearance of this machine upon the trial excited a great deal of interest on account of the decided novelty of its construc- tion, and the boldness of the attempt which it made to remedy some of the difficulties incident to the present mode of mowing by horse power. For several years past every new mowing contrivance has gravitated more and more towards the Buckeye principle, until, as will be seen by an examination of the tables of dimensions and the descriptions given in this report, all the machines are grouped around this central type, only diifering from each other by the introduction of different mechanical equivalents for accomplishing the same purpose. 91 The Eureka boldly starts on a new track, and attempts to ac- complish seveml important objects better than has ever been done before. It is well known that jointed bars are subject to wear, and when this wearing has gone far enough the knife falls out of the line of the pitman, occasioning much rubbing of the working parts, with great increase of friction and destruction of the work- ing parts. The outer shoe having no support, a tremulous mo- tion is produced, and there is always a liability to fracture from striking against obstructions. The Eureka seeks to remove these difficulties, as well as the tendency to side draft, by dispensing with the joint, bracing both ends of the finger bar and making the draft direct. The old system can only cut a meadow by going round it, causing a loss of time in turning, and diffusing the cut grass over a wide space. In going round a hilly lot, a part of the course must be up hill. The Eureka goes backward and forward, thus keeping the cut grass together, and is able to keep on the side hill Avithout going up. In the old way, the horses always, and the wheels of the machine in most cases, trample on the cut grass, which prevents it from drying equably. Where the track lies across a swale, this is a very serious objection: the hay which has been pressed into the moist ground is gathered by the rake with the dry hay, and frequently causes a large amount to mould and become worthless. In this respect the Eureka is certainly a success. It leaves the grass in a better condition for drying than any one that was in competition at the Auburn trial. One of the horses walks in the standing grass and the other in the space left by the track clearer, and in this way all trampling on the grass is avoided. It avoids all bevel gearing, which is always objectionable. All its motions are produced by spur gearing. The finger bar is thrown up with less effort and by a more di- rect application of the power. All obstructions on the guards can be removed by the driver from his seat, and he can also oil every part from the same posi- tion. The frame is of iron, rectangular, but lying in difierent planes, the front beino: in the lowest; the fina'er bar forms the front of 92 the frame. A secondary frame is formed by the braces of the tongue which are hinged to the extremeties of the axle. A plat- form supported by these braces forms the floor for the driver's feet and to which the spring supporting the driver's seat is affixed. The two drive wheels have internal spurgears upon their arms, which mesh into spur pinions on a shaft situated behind the axle, and parallel with it. An external spur wheel hangs on the same shaft, which carries a spur pinion on the crank shaft, and is also parallel to the axle. A rod from the crank connects with a right angled bell crank lever, giving the requisite motion to the sec- tions. A chain attached to the heel of a lever raises the cutter bar over a pulley, bringing it, if desired, directly under the tongue. Small adjustable wheels are supplied to both shoes. The knife bar is supplied with a universal joint, and works nearly in a line with the Pitman. The pawls in the driving wheels are four in number, and fall into place, without the aid of springs, by their own gravity. The whiflletrees are very long, causing one horse to walk in the standing grass, and the other in the path made by the track clearer. It was doubted whether the grass thus trampled by the horse could be cut clean, but on carefully examining every swath, we are satisfied that this fear is unfounded. Every spear thus trampled, was cut clean on the return swath. The horse tramples it in one direction, and the machine cuts it in the reverse direction, thus favoring its severance. The seat is behind the axle, so that the weight of the driver counterbalances the weight of the tongue on the horse's neck. Dimensions. Class _ 1 Entry No _ 5 Price $135 Width ofcut 60in. Diameter of drive wheels ._ 42 in. Breadth of drive wheels 3|in. Number of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel _ - 32^ Advance of machine while making one vibration 2J^ in. Length of vibration of cutter ^^in- Length of base of section 3| in. Distance apex to base 2-| in. Breath of lino-er bar 3 in. 93 Thickness of finger bar lin. Angle of section with base _ Weight of pitman rod 80 oz. "Weight of knife . ^ 128 oz. Breadth of cutter bar __ |in. Thickness of cutter bar A ^''^• Lengtii of pitman rod 41 in. Width of finger where the base of section meets it.. 1^ in. Width of finger where the apex meets it lin. Smooth edged knife- Weight 760 lbs. Distance between the fingers , 3|in. Record. Cut in clover lot No, 26: Quality of work . 25 Time of cutting an acre 44i min. Side draft _ None. Mark for noise _ 3 Bearings warm; pitman joint hot enough to burn the fingers. Dynamometer. Time 4' 14" Yards 220 Total draft 46,791 lbs. Average draft 212.69 lbs. Width of swath 1.62 yds. Second trial, Col. Wood's lot: Time . _ _ 1' 58" Yards _ 204 Total draft 51,900 lbs. Average draft 254.41 lbs. Mark for stubble 5 J. D- WILBER — "eureka" ENTRY NO. 6. This only varies from the other in the breadth of its swath, which is six feet The price, $150. It weighs 820 pounds. The Ger- man steel cutter bar weighs 166 ounces. Record. Cut in clover lot No. 2: Quality of work 20 Quality in the Monson meadow 30 Time of cutting an acre _ 35 min. Side draft None. Mark for noise 3 Bearings warm; crank joint hot enough to burn the hand. • 94 Dynamometer. Time 3' 45" Yards.. _. 220 Total draft 53,439 lbs. Average draft .... 242.89 lbs. Draft out of grass 159.18 lbs. Pure draft 83.58 lbs. Length of swath 1.80 yds. It will be seen from the record that the Eureka failed to make good work in the field. The cuttino; of the large machine in the clover was very bad, and in the Monson meadow it was not such as a farmer would desire. The stubble was long, uneven, and the combings were very manifest. Considering the wide swath which they cut, their draft was not heavier than manj^ others, yet they cannot be commended for lightness of draft. There are good points about them, and we hope that farther experience will enable the maker to perfect the points which are now deficient. One of the points claimed for this machine is the security of the driver. We are fearful that this claim cannot be sustained. In case of a sudden arrest of motion by coming in contact with an obstruction, it seems to us that the inertia of the driver would tend to throw him directly in front of the cutter bar, where he would be in the ^rreatest danger of being killed or maimed. DOW AND FOWLER "YANKEE MOWER " NO. 9. This has a wooden frame, with rigid pole and forward cut, geared in the usual manner. Two drag bars hold the shoe and finger bars, and are attached to the frame by joints, one at the front of the frame, the other forked, one prong going to the rear of the frame; both have joints in a line for motion up and down. There are two joints at the shoe, on a line and parallel with other joints, like the Buckeye. The outer and inner shoes have steel adjustable runners. The seat on the frame is on a coil spring, and is always level. The gearing is covered. The guards are closed, and are made of malleable iron, with steel ledger plates; the bolts are double nutted. The peculiarity of this machine is an eccentric or cam lever for controlling the 95 finger bar by the lifting lever, while the outer end is depressed 20 inches from a level, or at any intermediate angle. Dimensions. Class . 1 Entry No 9 Price --. $125 Width of cut 54 in. Diameter of drive wheels 36 in. Breadth of drive wheels Number of double vibrations to each revolution of drive wheel 35 Advance of machine while making one vibration 1.6 in. Breadth of knife bar | in. Thickness of knife bar tV^^^' Fi'Dger bar, width Finger bar, thickness fhi. Points of fingers apart _ -_ 2iin. Weight _ 64llbs. Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 11 : Quality of work 28 Quality in Monson meadow __ 31 Time of cutting an acre _ _ 46|^ min. Side draft 10 lbs. Mark for noise _ 5 Bearings warm ; pitman joint very hot ; crank bearing burning hot. Dynamometer. Time - ?>' 37" Yards 207 Total draft __ 43,700 lbs. Width of swath 1.42 yds. Average draft 211.38 lbs. Draft out of grass 173,80 lbs. Pure draft 94.54 lbs. Second trial. Col. Wood's lot : Time 2' 29'' Yards llli Total draft 35,475 Ibs^ Average draft 219.66 lbs. 96 AMEEICAN AGRICULTURAL WORKS "COLUMBLVN JR." ENTRY NO. 11. This runs upon three wheels, the forward one being a castor wheel. The pole is jointed to the frame so as to relieve the weight from the horses necks. The finger bar is jointed so as to be turned up vertically, and is connected with the frame by two standards that slide up and down in sockets at the side of the frame. It is raised by a lever and chain in the usual manner. The pole can be changed to the rear of the frame, so as to be a forward cut in mowing, and a backward cut in reaping. When it is desired to change the mower to a reaper, the finger bar is put on the opposite side and the tongue is reversed ; the platform is attached. The reel post is fastened to the shoe, and the reel is driven by a chain and pulley from a pulley on the drive wheel. The self-rake dispenses with the reel. The rakes and beaters revolve all the way round from the top of a standard while they are driven by a bevel wheel. Dimensions. Class 1 Entry No. 11 Price _ $125 Width of cut ._ 50 in. Diameter of drive wheel _ 28 in. Breadth of drive wheel 3|iu. No. of double vibrations to one revolution of drive wheels _ 22 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2 in. Length of vibration _. 4 in. Length of base of section 3iin. Distance of apex from base 2 in. Breadth of finger bar, heel 3J Breadth of finger bar, point 2^ Thickness of finger bar iin. Angle of section with base Angle of cutter with finger Weight of pitman rod 52 oz. Weight of knife 116 oz. Length of pitman rod 25 in. Breadth of cutter bar I in* Thickness of cutter bar \m. Width of finger Avhere base of section meets it ^s "i- Width of finger where apex meets it „ . _ yf ^^^* Distance between fingers _ 4 in. Weight 705 lbs. Knife smooth edged. ,97 Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 9 : Quality of work 37 Time of cutting an acre Q,& min. Side draft.. 8^ lbs. Mark for noise 6 Bearings cool. Dynamometer. Time ._ _ _ 2 27" Yards _ 203 Total draft _ __. 57,800 Average draft 270.89 Width of swath 1.36 yds. AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL, WORKS — COLUMBIAN HAND AND SELF- RAKER — ENTRY NO. 51. Dimensions. Class _.•_ _ 5 Entry ._. No. 51 Price _ ._ $225 Diameter of drive wheel 34 in. Breadth of drive wheel 3|in. Number of double vibrations to one revolution of drive wheel _ 13 Advance of machine while makino; one vibration Length of one vibration of cutter 2 j^q- in. Length of base of section _ 3iin. Distance of apex from base _ 2^ in. Breadth of finger bar at heel ._ 3|in. Breadth of finger bar at point 2^ in. Thickness of finger bar ^in. Angle of section with base , Weight of pitman rod _ 59 oz. Weight of knife 132 oz. Length of pitman rod _ 27-|in. Breadth of cutter bar |iu« Thickness of cutter bar I in. Width of finger where the base of section meets it. . l|- in. Width of finger where apex meets it T% ^^* Distance between the fingers 2|in. Weight 1,190 lbs. Diameter of reel _ 4 ft. 6 in. Number of revolutions of reel to one of driver 1| Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 47 : Quality of work 26 Time of cutting an acre 57 min. 7 98 Cut in Leach wheat field, lot No. 19 : Quality of work 31 Time of cutting an acre _ 57 min. Quality in Sheldon lot 30 Side draft _ 4 lbs. Mark for noise ._ 6 Bearings slightly warm. Dynamometer. Time ._. 3' 42" Yards 211.5 Total draft 49,050 lbs. Average draft _ 231.91 lbs. Width of swath 1.48 yds. Draft out of grass 167.80 Pure draft 133.49 DODGE, STEVENSON AND CO. ENTEY NO. 12. The four machines entered by this firm, blend together in one, the well known and popular principles of the Ohio and Buckeye, having the gearing of the latter, with the cutting apparatus of the former. Having already described the Buckeye machine, it is unnecessary to repeat a description of the gearing here. The frame is of iron, and is known as No. 2, having an arm in front to which the drag bar is connected by a swivel joint, that allows it to be turned up. The drag bar has a joint at the rear end, by which the finger bar can be rocked. The forward end works on a slot which is left loose while mowing, and fastened while reap- ing, or left at any angle. An iron bar connects the drag with the back part of the frame. The pole, frame, and driver's seat are all in one. The divider has two prongs that may be adjusted. The finger bar is of steel, on a line with the rear of the frame. It is raised by a chain passing over pulleys, and a lever by the side of the driver; the bar can be raised 20 inches above and dropped the same distance below the level. There is a brace rod to which all the fingers are riveted; the knives ride on it and the knife bar works behind it. The guards are of wrought iron, laid with cast steel. The end of the pitman is of malleable iron, having a universal joint, with chambers, for a wick to hold oil; it has a collar and screw for tightening the boxes when they wear, and a nut for holding it in its place. 99 Dimensions. Class - 1 Entry No _ 12 Price - $125 Width of cut-.- 54 in. Diameter of drive wheel 29 in. Breadth of drive wheel _ — 3^ in. No. of double vibrations to one revolution of drive wheel 20 Advance of machine while making one vibration '2\ in. Length of vibration _ — 3 in. Length of base of section 3 in. Distance of apex from base 2 in. Breadth of finger, bar heel 3|in. Breadth of finger, bar point 3|in. Thickness of finger bar _ ^-in. Ano-le of section with base 52*^ Weight of pitman rod _ __ 72 oz. Weight of knife 128 oz. Length of pitman rod. _' 26 in. Breadth of cutter bar for four inches ,.. l|in. The remainder __ - fin. Thickness of cutter bar _ y\ in. Width of finger where apex meets it — |in. Width of finger where base of section meets it | in. Distance between fingers 3 in. Weight Knife smooth edged. Diameter of reel 4 ft 4 in. if drive ^ Record. Revolves 1-| times to one of drive wheel. Cut in Clover Lot No. 12 : Quality of work _ 29 Time of cutting an acre __ 61| min. Side draft _ 1^ lbs. Mark for noise 4 Bearings very slightly warm. Dynamometer. Time 4' 07' Yards 209 Total draft 53,625 lbs. Average draft . 256.57 lbs. Width of swath 1.37 yds. Draft out of grass 207.24 lbs. Pure draft.. 124.16 lbs. 100 Second trial Col. Wood's lot : Time 2' 16" Yards -. 163 Total draft _ 54,700 lbs. Averao;e draft 335.58 lbs. Mark for stubble 1| DODGE, STEVENSON AND CO., ENTRY NO. 33. Class __ _ -- — 3 Entry No ..-. 33 Price $175 Same in all respects as No. 12, except that it has a wooden frame. Known to the trade as No. 2 hand-raker. Record. Cut in clover lot No. 30: Quality of work 35 Time of cutting an acre 42' 50" Side draft _ 6 lbs. Mark for noise 4 Cut in Leach wheat lot No. 5 : Quality of work 30 Time of cutting an acre .._>_ QQ'^ min. Dynamometer. Time - 3' 29" Yards 211.5 Total draft-. 54,462 lbs. Average draft 257.50 lbs. Width of swath __ 1.43 yds. Draft out of grass . v_ _ 200 lbs. Pure draft... •_ 142.96 lbs. DODGE, STEVENSON AND CO., — ENTEY NO. 52. This machine has a wooden frame, and is marked No. 1 by the maker. Used either as a self-raker or hand-raker. Dimensions. Class _ 5 Entry No 52 Price hand-raker $160 Price self-raker $190 Width of cut _.. 54in. Diameter of drive wheel. _ 32 in. Breadth of drive wheel 4 in. 101 Number of double vibrations to one revolution of drive wheel 22 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2^ in. Length of one vibration of cutter ... 3 in. Leng'th of base of section _ _._ 3 in. Distance of apex from base _ 2^ in. Breadth of finger bar heel __ 4 in. Breadth of finger bar point 2|in. Thickness of finger bar _ ^in. Angle of section with base • 52'' Weight of pitman rod _ 96 oz. Weight of knife 160 oz. Width of knife bar for 5 inches .__ l|in. Thence to the end fin. Thickness of knife bar fio. Length of pitman rod _ 34 in. Width of finger where base of section meets it | in. Width of finger where the apex meets it |in. Distance between fingers 3 in. Weight as mower _ 637 lbs. Weight as reaper ._ __ _ 922 lbs. Record. Cut in clover lot No. 21: Quality of work. 29 Quality in Monson meadow _ 37 Time of cutting an acre 55i min. Side draft , 2| lbs. Mark for noise __ 3 Cut in Leach wheat field, lot No. 29 : Quality of work, Sheldon 32, 35 Quality of work, Leach 36 Time of reaping an acre _ 60 min. Dynamometer. Time 3' 23" Yards - 205.5 Total draft 43,862 lbs. Average draft _ 213.92 lbs. Width of swath 1,25 yds. Draft out of grass _ 143.15 lbs. Pure draft __. 127.13 lbs. As a reaper: Up hill 340 lbs. On a level- _. 255.2 lbs. DODGE. STEVENSON AND CO., ENTRY NO. 53. Same as No. 52 in all respects, except that it has an iron frame. 102 Record. ■ Cut in clover lot No. 42: Quality of work 32 Quality in Monson meadow 37 Time of cutting an acre ._ 43 min. Side draft _ 6i lbs. Mark for noise _ 4 Cut in the Leach wheat field, lot No. 14: Quality of work 34 Quality in Sheldon lot 34 Quality in rye 29 Quality in barley _. 37 Time of cutting an acre 53 min. Dynamometer. Time _.- 3' 53" Yards ._. 216.5 Total draft 52,900 lbs. Average draft _ -,-_ 244.62 lbs. Length of swath _ 1.44 yds. Draft out of grass _-. 167.55 lbs. Pure draft 144.85 lbs. Second trial, Col. Wood's lot : Time _ 2' 34" Yards 162 Total draft _ 50,250 lbs. Average draft 310.18 lbs. Mark for stubble 2 The inequalities in the record of these machines is somewhat remarkable. The average quality of all their work in the clover field, is 29. The average quality of the tAvo wooden machines, is 27 ; of the two iron ones, 30 i ; of the best, 32 ; of the worst, 25. All these marks are low and indicate poor work. On the other hand both the wood and iron machines worked exactly alike in the Monson meadow, 37, which is a tolerably high number, indicating a satisfactory style of work. The differance of execu- tion shown by the same machines, indicated by 25 on the one hand, and 37 on the other, deserves to be carefully investigated and the causes ascertained. The average quality of the work of all the machines as reapers, is 34. The average quality of the work of the wooden fi-ame machines, was 34 ; of the iron, 33. Thus reversing the order of their excellence as mowers. 103 Both the parents of these machines have, as we ah'eacly stated, enjoyed a wide popularity among the farmers who have used them. A machine which unites the excellencies of both ought to make good work, unless there are other causes which prevent it, and if these causes exist they ought to be ascertained if searched for. In our judgment the failure of these machines to do good work arose, 1st, from improper mechanical execution. The gearing seemed to us to be ill made ; the working parts were not exactly in line ; the materials were not well distributed, with reference to the strain they bore, and there was a general rough- ness in the work which might well cause inequalities in their action. 2d. The want of skill of the driver. We have already remarked in speaking of the reaping of each lot, that by simply taking off the beaters from the reel arms, the machine which had been doing very bad work began to do good work at once. It ought to be known that much depends upon the speed at which the machine is worked. If worked above or below it, the work tells of the mistake at once. Fine grass needs a quicker action than coarse timothy ; heavy clover requires different management from red top ; strong wind, dry, and wet weather, each call for material changes of management. At one time Seymour & Mor- gan's driver became excited in the Sheldon lot, and hurrying too fast made miserable work. He was checked by the proprietors and the work grew good as soon as he became calm, but the poor work cost the machine a mark for quality of work. Mr. Adriauce always drove himself. He was never excited, and never failed to bring out all the good that was latent in his machine. We dwell more upon this point, because many farmers are ignorant of the importance of driving with a careful reference to surrounding circumstances, and do not take the pains, which their own inte- rests demand, to educate drivers to their work. MARSH RAKE. The Marsh rake used with these machines and with Halliday's, has shown powerful claims on the iDublic favor. A disk on a bevel wheel is attached to the frame by a screw bolt and nut, and is driven by a chain from a pulley on the axle outside the wheel . Three beaters, having paral lei adjustable beaters connected with them, and one rake, revolve upon the disk and are elevated 104 or depressed by a cam above the disk; the opposite ones are con- nected by a strap so that the gravity of the falling arm assists the raising of the other. The rake acting automatically makes a gavel every 14 feet, and by using different wheels every 17 feet, the chain can be tightened by slipping the frame back. The rake falls in advance of the cutter bar and strikes below the level of the knives, which is advantageous in picking up lodged. grain. We have already recorded the admirable working of this rake in lodged grain and its great strength when used on Halliday's ma- chine. By substituting a rake for a beater, gavels can be made of half size; but we did not observe any arrangement by which the size of the gavels could be regulated by the driver. C. R. BRINKERHOFF ENTRY NO. 18^. The owner of this machine was beset with innumerable difficul- ties in his efforts to exhibit it. It was lost on the railroad on its way to Auburn, and was not found in time to go through the regular trials; and although the judges were anxious to see its performance, owing to accidents and breakages they could not at any time have an opportunity of seeing it work under favor- able auspices. His mark for quality of work in clover was 22. His draft was in the dynamometer trial 251.91 lbs. The mower stands upon three wheels, viz. : two small ones at- tached to the shoe, one of them before and the other behind the finger bar, both adjustable, and one drive wheel 3 feet in diame- ter, with inside spur. A spur pinion is on a shaft which carries a bevel wheel with a clutch; the bevel pinion is on a shaft that ex- tends backward and carries the crank; it has Babbit metal bearings. The crank pin is not cylindrical as others are, but its section lengthwise is elliptical, so that the pitman can rock upon it, and the pitman is connected to its head by a screw to adjust its length. The finger bar is jointed and turns up perpendicularly. The frame is a casting which supports all the bearings, with two up- rights to which the axle is attached and a part for the attachment of the pole which is about 13 inches inside the wheel. A part extends inward to support the shoe and ends in three prongs, two for joints with the shoe, and one for the rear small Avheel. A brace connects the forward end of the shoe by a joint to the forward part of the frame. A lever attached to the shoe raises 105- the finger bar. The seat is on the spring board over the driving wheel, with a step on the axle outside. C. R. BRINKERHOFF SELF-RAKER ENTRY NO. 21. The same difficulties attended the exhibition of the machine as were described when speaking of it as a mower in No. 18 1. Messrs. Conger, Foote and Potter gave it a side trial in reaping wheat in Mr. Schoonmaker's lot, and marked his performance 37 for quality of work. He was in the regular trial in the rye lot, but broke down in consequence of a collision with a fast rock without finishing. Mark for quality of work 31. In barley it was 35. As a reaper his draft up hill was 395.1 lbs., and on a level it was 361.2 lbs. In its action the rake resembles Seymour and Morgan's. AULTMAN, MILLER AND CO. "BUCKEYE JR." DROPPER ENTRY NO. 32. This machine resembles Adriance's Buckeye so closely in everything, except the perfection and finish of its workmanship, that we need not repeat the description. The frame is of iron, and it has large knives. Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 29: Quality of work 38 Quality, Monson meadow _ 38 Time of cutting an acre 51' Bearings hot. Pitman joint hot enough to burn the hand. Reaped in Leach Wheat Field Lot No. 8 : Quality of work _ 32 Quality in Sheldon lot _ 30 In rye 35 In barley 36 Time of reaping an acre ._ 58' Side draft _. _ 5 lbs. Mark for noise ._ 4~ Dynamometer. Time 3' 34" Yards , 204 Total draft - 42,312 lbs. Average draft 2 206.65 lbs. Width of cut 1-.. 1.25 yds. Draft out of grass _ 134. 16 lbs. Pure draft 103.85 lbs. • 106 As a reaper: Op hill.. ., , 32(Jlbs. On level _ _ 230.9 lbs. Second trial in Col. Wood's lot: Time 2'41" Yards 161 Total draft 41,160 lbs. Average draft _ 255.65 lbs. Mark for stubble 1 AULTMAN, MILLER AND CO. BUCKEYE SENIOR CLASS 4, ENTRY NO. 41. Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 18: Quality of work 38 Time of cutting an acre _ 55|' Bearings slightly warm. Cut in Leach Wheat Field Lot No. 26: Mark for quality of work _ 30 Time of cutting an acre 50i' Side draft 5 lbs. Mark for noise 4 Dynamometer. Time 3' 28" Yards 210 Total draft... _. 46,210 lbs. Average draft 220.04 lbs. Width of swath _ 1.32 yds. Draft out of grass 145.83 lbs. Pure draft 118.40 lbs. VALLEY CHIEF, 47|. This machine did not enter until late in the trial, and our notes on its structure are too imperfect for record. Its mark for quality of work in the Monson meadow was 38, and in the barley lot 36. As a reaper its draft up hill was 373.1 lbs.; on a level 233.0 lbs. In the dynamometer trial in Col. Wood's lot, time 2' 49", yards 161, total draft 48,400 lbs., average draft 300.62 lbs., mark for stubble 1. DROPPERS. These adjuncts to the reaper, though some time in use in the Western States, are new in the State of New York. They did 107 not appear to us to be likely to be useful ; at least five men, and usually six, must be employed as binders, as all must be bound before the machine comes around, and it is not always convenient to obtain so large a number. On the other hand, some of the farmers in attendance approved of them, because they compelled the binders to work quickly. They do not lay the gavels well at any time, but in going up or down a hill, the gavels are left in a very bad condition. They are exceedingly simple ; the grain falls directly upon them when cut, and when enough has collected to form a gavel, the driver tips the rear end and the straw slides down. The- same motion that tilts the platform, raises a rod which holds the grain until it rises again. THE CAYUGA CHIEFS Cover a very numerous family which have attained a very wide- spread reputation, and a very extensive sale. They are variously modified in the hands of their diflerent makers, whose variations are distinguished by the letters of the alphabet, from A to L. The inventor, Mr. C. Wheeler, is not only an ingenious mechanic, but a good practical farmer, thus uniting a knowledge of what is required, on the one hand, and the best means of fulfilling the requirement on the other, which is rarely to be found in one per- son.* He is the original inventor of the jointed bar, one of the most valuable improvements in the mowing machine, the appli- cation of the ratchet and pawl to the driving wheels, and the graduated arch by which the finger bar is rotated on the knife bar, as an axis, or to speak more accurately, as though the knife bar was the axis. The Chiefs, of which A is the type, have wrought iron plat- forms; all the rest have cast iron platforms hinged on the axle in the centre, which makes them practically loose-tongued. They have a rear cut, and are all furnished with finger bars which rotate, so as to point the fingers downward or upward, as may be desired. A quadrant-shaped coupling piece is bolted to the rear right hand corner of the frame. From the front and rear ears of the inner shoe, curved arms running upwards and inwards until they meet the quadrant, are connected by a cross bar; from this bar a lever rises perjoendicularly until it is within easy reach * A letter from the patent office denies the priority of iVIr. Wheeler's inventions of these parts. 108 of the driver. A pin near the front end connects the cross bar, with the quadrant and forms its centre of rotation. In one class of the Chiefs, the connection is strengthened by a pin in the opposite end of the bar which moves in a slot in the quadrant. In another class a grooved strap, bolted to the rear end of the rotating arm moves on the exterior limb of the quadrant. A dog falling into notches cut in the upper part of the quadrant, holds the knife steady at any desired angle, and may be moved at pleasure to any other notch by pressure on a latch and spring convenient to the driver. The jointed platforms are alike in principle, but differ slightly in detail. In the one of which A is the type, the hinge is situated nearly in the middle of the platform, and has three sets of gears, the driver's seat being attached to the front platform. B is the type of the other arrangement, having the frame in the rear of the axle, the driver's seat fastened to curved arms above the axle and only two sets of gears. More minute descriptions will be given in connection with the different individuals composing the series. The proprietor claims for the hinged platforms the following advantages : 1st. That they are lighter with the same strength of metal 2d. That they admit a longer counter-shaft. 3d. That they are shorter and more compact. 4th. The pitman being on the radial centre, and the bevel on the main axle, there is no tendency to throw up the knife in passing dead furrows. 5th. The driver's seat is independent of the cutting apparatus. 6th. As combined machines, the}'' get more bearing surface, viz: two castor wheels, which enables them to work on marshy ground, and makes the platform independent of the tongue on the horses. We give these claims in the words of the inventor, though their validity is not in all cases apparent to us. We have already stated that the Chiefs are divided into two families — A being the type of one family, and B of the other. If we are not mistaken in our analysis, F, G, I, J, K and L belong to the A family, while C, D, E and H follow after B. On com- paring the marks indicating the excellence of work performed by 109 each of these machines, we find that the B family excel; thus B, C and H are marked higher than any one of the A family in the clover field, although A and D are marked exactly alike when mowing in the Monson meadow. The average mark for the A family in quality of work is 32, while the average mark for the B family is 36. These facts would seem to indicate that the mechanical arrano-ements of the latter family are better adapted to make good work in the meadow. H, of the B ftimily, also makes a higher mark as a reaper (36) than any of the A family, which do not in any instance exceed 32. If we compare the two families with respect to ease of draft, the B fimiily show the same superiority. D and E of the B family have an average draft of 34.11 pounds less than I and J, which have the easiest draft in the A family. The average draft of all the machines in the A family is 238.87 pounds; the average draft of the B family is 214.05 pounds, showing an ave- rage superiority of the latter family to the extent of 24.82 pounds. The dynametrical results were somewhat complicated in the second trial in Col. Wood's lot. A, which in the first trial drew more heavily than H, now drew 19.87 pounds lighter; but the average results of this trial are still favorable to the B family; the average draft of the former being 289 pounds, and the ave- rage draft of the latter being 260.23 pounds, or 28.77 in favor of the B family.* The only Chiefs which were tested for draft as reapers were K and L, which both belong to the A. family. We are, therefore, unable to compare them as reapers, but we have little doubt that if we had the materials, the same superiority of the B family would have been disclosed, as has been observed in the other comparisons. In taking leave of the Chiefs, we desire to express our high appreciation of the great ingenuity displayed in their construc- tion, their strength and general adaptation to the wants of the farmer; but we cannot withhold the expression of our opinion that they would be very greatly improved by simplification. If this is done, as we think it may be, this interesting family will rise to the first rank as mowers and reapers. * Mr. Wheeler accounts for this by saying that H, in the latter trial, worked on the top of a ridge, and cut much closer to the ground than it did before, and that the burthen of grass was much heavier. 110 Dimensions of " Gaymja Chief ^^ — Largest Sized Mower of this Family. Letter _ - _ A Class .._- 1 Entry No.._ 13 Price as a mower _ $145 Price as combined _ Width of cut as mower 4 ft. 8 in. Diameter of driving wheels 3 If in. Width of drive wheels . 4^ in. No. of vibrations of knife to each revolution of drive Avheels 37.52 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.65 in. Length of vibration of cutter. _ _ 3|in. Length of base of each section of cutter 3^ in. Distance of apex from the base 2|in. Smooth or sickle edged smooth. Breadth of cutter bar |in. Thickness of cutter bar. i^ii^- Material, steel, uniform in breadth and thickness, strengthened at inner end by malleable head. Weight of cutter bar, complete 6 lbs. 11 oz. Distance between centers of the guard fingers 3^ in. Angle at which cutter and fingers meet in severing crop 33^^ Width of guard finger at the point where base of cut- ter section meets it 1^ in. Width at the point Where apex meets it 1 in. Len2;th of fino-er bar ... 5 ft. 3 in. Breadth at inner end 3| in. Breadth at outer end 2^ in. Thickness ^-in. Material, cold rolled iron. Length of pitman rod .__. 24 in. Diameter of pitman rod \^ in. Material of pitman rod cast steel. Weight of pitman rod ,_ 4 lbs. 6 oz. Pitch of gearing fhi. Diameter of reel Revolutions of reel to one of drive wheels Angle formed by side of section with base 30° Weight 950 lbs. Record. ' Cut in Clover Lot No. 27 : Quality of work. 32 Quality of work in Monson lot ^ 37 Time of cuttino- an acre 44 min. Ill Side draft - 4 lbs. Mark for noise 3 No heating of journals or bearings. Dynamometer. Time 4' 00" Yards _ 166 Total draft _...__ 39,000 lbs. Average draft _ 234.94 lbs. Width of swath. 1.42 yds. Draft out of grass 121.09 lbs. Pure draft , 143.33 lbs. Second trial, Col. Wood's lot : Time ... 2' 26" Yards > 163 Total draft 44,400 lbs. Average draft 270 Mark for stubble 2i This machine has its driving wheels connected to a wrought iron shaft by ratchets and spring pawls, always closed. The power is transmitted by internal spur gearing, 23 inches in diam- eter, attached to the main shaft by keys, and placed contiguous to the main wheel. The spur pinion is on a shaft extending back, with the bevel wheel at the right end. The bevel pinion is on the short crank shaft. The fingers are of malleable iron, with movable ledger plates, and held by the under side of the finger bar. The outer shoe has no adjustment for height. The finger bar is raised by a lever and chain, with a ratchet and pawl to hold it in position. The pole is connected to the frame by a joint, and does not bear on the horses' necks. There is another frame which sustains the driver's seat, hinged to the main frame, and is supported behind by a large castor wheel. The box on the crank is divided up and down, and can be tightened by pack- ing on each side. The finger bar is raised parallel about six inches, when the outer end turns up. It can be folded round by the side of the machine, the fingers pointing downward, and may be secured to the side of the frame by a bolt and key. We think the castor wheel objectionable, as it adds considera- bly to the draft; the inequalities of the ground often cause it to turn its side to the line of direction, which increases the trac- tion in proportion to the angle which its plane makes with the 112 line of draft.. We also think the short pitman rod shaft objec- tionable. Dimensions of " Oayvga Chief ^^ — Mower — Second Size. Letter , __ B Class _ 1 Entry No 14 Price as mower _ $130 Price as combined Width of cut _ 4ft. 41 in. Diameter of driving wheels 28 in. Width of driving wheels 3| in. Number of vibrations of knife to each revolution of drive wheels 32.92 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.67 in. Length of vibration of cutter _ 3|in. Length of base of each section of cutter 3iiu. Distance of apex from the base 2|in. Smooth or sickle edged _ smooth. Breadth of cutter bar _ |in. Thickness of cutter bar __ T^s^'^' Material, steel, uniform in breadth and thickness; strengthened at inner end by malleable head. Weight of cutter bar complete 6 lbs. Distance between centres of the guard fingers 3^ in. Angle at which cutter and fingers meet in severing crop 34° Width of guard finger a^ the point where base of cut- ter section meets it Ifin- Width at the point where apex meets it 1 in. Length of finger bar 4 ft. 10 in. Breadth at inner end _ 3^ in. Breadth at outer end _ 2^ in. Thickness _ _ |in. Material cast steel. Length of i)itman rod _ 24 in. Diameter of pitman rod. ._ | in. Material of pitman rod cast steel. Weight of pitman rod _ 3 lbs. 13 oz. Pitch of gearing |in. Diameter of reel - ._ ft. in. Weight as mower _ _ 659 lbs. Record. Cut Clover Lot No. 19. Quality of work _ 37 Side draft 2 lbs. 113 Mark for noise 3 Time in cutting an acre 48' 30'' The pitman joint rather warm, but not injuriously so. Other bearings cool. Dynamometer. Time _ _ 3' 22" Yards _ _ 204 Total draft ._. 46,662 lbs. Average draft _ _ 228. 73 lbs. Width of swath _ 1.40 yds. Draft out of grass _._ 178.37 lbs. Pure draft _ 119.72 lbs. The iron frame is hinged in about equal parts on each side of the axle of the driving wheels, each moving independently of the other. The spur wheel on the main axle gears with a pinion on the countershaft in front of it, which moves a spur wheel of the same diameter as the first, and gears with a pinion on a sleeve on the main axle. A bevel wheel on the same sleeve turns a bevel pinion, which turns the pitman crank. The shaft holding the first pinion and the second spur wheel is on the front part of the plat- form, to which the tongue is attached, and which holds the dri- ver's seat. The front frame hinges to sleeves upon the back frame, so that the draft is upon the frame instead of the main axle. The crank head is counter-balanced, and is furnished with a universal joint and a bronze box; all the other boxes are of Bab- bit metal. The cutter bar is raised and lowered by an eccentric friction roller, worked by the hand and foot of the driver. It is thrown out of gear by a square clutch. The knife bar runs on five steel bearing plates on the top of the finger bar to avoid fric- tion. The finger rises six inches at the near, and ten inches at the remote end. We think three sets of gears undesirable; but the longer bear- ings of the shaft which carries the crank wheel is, in our opinion, an improvement on A. Dimensions of '■'■ Cayuga Chief ^^ — Moioer — Third Size. Letter C Class __ _ 1 Entry No 15 Price as a mower. . _ $125 114 Price as combined _ Length of cut ^ 4 ft. 4iin. Diameter of driving wheels 28 in. Width of driving Avheel .._ _ 3iin. No. of vibrations of knife to each revolution of drive wheels 32.92 times. Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.67 in. Length of vibration of cutter _ S^iu. Length of base of each section of cutter 3iin. Distance of apex from the base :. 2|in, Smooth or sickle edged ._ ._ smooth. Breadth of cutter bar fin. Thickness of cutter bar T^e^'^^* Material, steel, uniform in breadth and thickness, strengthened by malleable head at inner end. Weight of cutter bar complete _ = 6 lbs. 4 oz. Distance between centers of the guard fingers 3^ in. Ano;le at which cutter and fino;ers meet in severinof crop _. 33" Width of guard tinger at the point where base of cut- ter section meets it lii^i- Width at the point wheie apex meets it 1 in. Length of finger bar _ 4 ft. 10| in. Breadth at inner end 3iin. Breadth at outer end 25in. Thickness _ _ iin. Material, cold rolled iron. Length of pitman rod 23i in. Diameter of pitman rod _ f in- Material of pitman rod ._ cast steel. Weight of pitman rod _. 3 lbs. 146z. Pitch of gearing | in. Diameter of reel ft. in. Revolutions of reel to one of drive wheels. _ _ Weight _ 690 lbs. Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 36: Quality of work ^^ 36 Time of cutting an acre . 44' Side draft 2^ 3 Bearings and journals not heated. Mark for noise 3^ Dynamometer^ Time ... 3' 37" Yards 215 Total draft 49,050 lbs. 115 Average draft... 233.45 lbs. Width of swath. 1.29 yds. Draft out of grass 131.16 lbs. Pure draft 115.43 lbs. The frame of this machine corresponds with that of B. The finger bar can be raised by the lever 10 inches on the in- side and 18 inches on the outer end. An upright point or ear is cast on the sleeve of the back frame, with a linked connection to the whifflctrees, on a sliding head which is intended to relieve the pressure on the shoe. The knife is raised by successive mo- tions of a dog working in a ratchet whnel. Dimensions of " Cayvga Chief" — Mower — Fourth Size. Letter D Class ._ 1 Entry No 16 Price as a mower $120 Price as combined Length of cut 4 ft. lin. Diameter of driving wheels 28 in. Width of driving wheels _ ^li*^- No. of vibrations of knife to each revolution of drive wheels 33.88 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.59 in. Length of vibration of cutter 3|in. Length of base of each section of cutter 3^ in. Distance of apex from the base 2-|in. Smooth or sickle edo-ed smooth. Breadth of cutter bar __. |in. Thickness of cutter bar /2^°' Material, steel, uniform in breadth and thickness, strengthened at inner end by malleable head. Weight of cutter bar complete 6 lbs. 8 oz. Distance between centres of the guard fingers 3| in. Angle at which cutter and fingers meet in severing crops 28^ Width of guard finger at the point where base of cut- ter section meets it l^ii^- Width at the point where apex meets it 1 in. Length of finger bar 4ft. 6| in. Breadth at inner end _ 3^ in. Breadth at outer end 2^ in. Thickness ^^^^ Material cast steel. Length of pitman rod 25 in. Diameter of pitman rod . | in. 116 Material of pitman rod ___ cast steel. Weight of pitman rod .: 3 lbs. 1 oz. Pitch of gearing _ fin* Diameter of reel Revolutions of reel to one of drive wheels Weight - 616 lbs. Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 16 : Quality of work ._ 35 Time of cutting an acre _ 44' 30'' Side draft-- 3 lbs. Mark for noise __ 3 Pitman joint somewhat warm, other journals and bearings cool Dynamometer. Time ... 3' 45" Yards 199 Total draft _ 38,800 lbs. Average draft 194.97 lbs. Width" ofswath ._ 1. 27 yds. Draft out of grass „ 115.23 Pure draft ._.. -.. 105.85 Second trial Col. Wood's Lot : Time .-. 2' 28" Yards 160 Total draft 36,900 lbs. Average draft _ 230.6 lbs. Mark for stubble 2 The frame and gearing of this machine corresponds with B and C. It corresponds with C, also in the linked connection with the whiffletrees. The crank head is counterbalanced and is adjusted by a universal joint. It has composition boxes. A steel pitman connects with the knife head, having adjustable wooden boxes. The knife bearing is on a rabbited finger bar. The knife head box, is made of apple tree wood boiled in oil, is adiustable by a set screw, and is provided with an oil chamber. Dimensions of ^'Cayuga Chief ^^ — Mo2ver — 4:th size — Owe Horse. Letter E Class --- 6 Entry No 58 Price as a mower _ $115 Price as combined — Width of cut - .--- 3 ft. 6in. 117 Diameter of driving wheels 24 in. Width of driving wheels 3|in. Number of vibrations of knife to each revolution of drive w^heels _ _ 32.92 times. Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.29 in. Length of vibration of cutter __ 3 in. Length of base of each section of cutter 3 in. Distance of apex from the base 2 in. Smooth or sickle edged smooth. Breadth of cutter bar |in. Thickness of cutter bar _ |in. Material, steel, uniform in breadth and thickness; strengthened by malleable head at inner end. Weight of cutter bar complete 3 lbs. 9i oz. Distance between the centres of the guard fingers 3 in. Angle at which cutter and fingers meet in severing crops -. 85*^ Width of guard finger at the point where base of cut- ter section meets it Ifin- Width at the point where apex meets it fin. Length of finger bar . _ 4 ft. Breadth at inner end , 3|in. Breadth at outer end 2|in. Thickness fin. Material __ cast steel. Length of pitman rod _ 24 in. Diameter of pitman rod __ h ^^• Material of pitman rod _ _ cast steel. Weight of pitman rod _ 2 lbs. 14 oz. Pitch of gearing ^in- Diameter of reel _. Revolutions of reel to one of drive wheels Weight 450 lbs. Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 37: Quality of work _ 34 Time of cutting an acre _. 30' 15" Side draft ._ - _ 3i lbs. Koise not ascertained. Bearings a little warm. Pitman joint so heated that the hand could not be borne on it. Dynamometer. Time... - 3' 24" Yards 218 Total draft _.. _ 41,375 lbs. Average draft . 189.79 lbs. Width of swath 1.15 yds. 118 Draft ont of grass ,._ _.. _. 94.33 lbs. Pure draft 87.62 lbs. The gearing of this one horse machine is like D, only it is smaller. The cutting apparatus is like B, only the sections are smaller. In these machines the inclination of the cutters follows the driving wheel, which serves as a leading wheel for the shoe. The gear is shifted by an eccentric lever, and is all shielded on the outside. Dimensions of " Cayuga Chief ^^ — Rea;per Hand Rake. Letter P Class _ . . 2 Entry No 20 Price as mower _ $170 Price as combined Width of cut ^ft. Diameter of driving wheels 31|iu. Width of driving wheels 4|iii' Number of vibrations of knife to each revolution of drive wheels 37.52 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.65 in. Length of vibration of cutter 3|in. Length of base of each section of cutter 3i in. Distance of apex from the base 2iin. Smooth or sickle edged smooth. Breadth of cutter bar |in. Thickness of cutter bar _ T^e ^^* Material, steel, uniform in breadth and thickness; strengthened at inrer end by malleable head. Weight of cutter bar complete 7 lbs. 6 oz. Distance between centres of the guard fingers 3^ in. Angle at which cutter and fingers meet in severing crop - 33^* Width of guard fingers at the point where base of cut- ter section meets it _ l|iii' Width at the point where apex meets it 1 in. Leno;th of fino-er bar 5 ft. 3iin. Breadth at inner end 3|in. Breadth at outer end , __ 2|in. Thickness . -^in. Material, cold rolled iron. Length of pitman rod 23^ in. Diameter of pitman rod |in. Material of pitman rod cast steel. Weight of pitman rod .. 3 lbs. 4 oz. Pitcli of gearing | in. 119 Diameter of reel, 4 ft. 7 in. Eevolutions of reel to one of drive wheels 2| Weight as a reaper _ 1,087 lbs. Was not used in the field. This machine closely resembles the following, G. Dimensions of " Cayuga Chief'' — Combined Hand-raher. Letter , G Class _ 3 Entry No. . _ 34 Price as a mower $145 Price as combined _ _ ' $170 Width of cut as mower 4 ft. 8 in. Width of cut as reaper _. 5 ft. Diameter of driving wheels 31|in. Width of driving wheels ^h.^^' No. of vibrations of knife to each revolution of drive wheels 37.52 Advance of machine while making one. vibration 1.^^ in. Length of vibration of cutter ._ - 3|^in. Length of base of each section of cutter ._ 3i in. Distance of apex from the base 2iin. Smooth or sickle edged smooth. Breadth of cutter bar |in. Thickness of cutter bar T^i^* Material, steel, uniform in breadth and thickness, and strengthened at inner end by malleable head. Weight of cutter bar complete — 7 lbs. 6 oz. Distance between centres of the guard fingers 3| in. Angle at which cutter and fingers meet in severing crop 28*^ Width of guard finger at the point where base of cut- ter section meets it l^^J^- Width at the point where apex meets it lin. Length of finger bar '__ ._ __ 5 ft. 3i in. Breadth at inner end. 3| in. Breadth at outer end _ — 2|in. Thickness ._ .- |in. Material cast steel. Length of pitman rod 23i in. Diameter of pitman rod ._ |in. Material of pitman rod cast steel. Weight of pitman rod t 3 lbs. 4 oz. Pitch of gearing |iii- Diameter of reel '4 ft. 7 in. Revolutions of reel to one of drive wheels . 2| times. Weight as mower 867 lbs. Weight as reaper . . 1,035 lbs. 120 JRecord. Cut in Clover Lot No. 24 : Quality of work _. ._ 35 Time of cutting an acre ._ 39' 00" Side draft -..-- 4 lbs. Noise - - 3 Cut in Leach Wheat Field, Lot No. 21 : Quality of work .., .- 31 Time of cuttiuo- an acre. 48' 35" or Quality in Sheldon lot ->._ _: 35 Pitman joint and crank bearing hot enough to burn the hand. Dynamometer. Time - - 4' 17'- Yards 215 Total draft _ -.. 50,300 lbs. Average draft __ 233.95 lbs. Width of swath 1.42 yds. Draft out of grass 155.19 lbs. Pure draft-- - - - 136.19 lbs. The arrangement of the frame in this machine is the same as A. The knife is raised by a lever which has a dog cast on it, working in an eccentric slot, with a pin. When the chain begins to lift the knife, it works on the arc of a larger circle than it does at the latter end of the lift. The pitman rod and knife bar are like D. Note. — We learn by a letter from Mr. "Wheeler, that this machine and also letter H, worked in the Monson meadow. "We greatly regret that we have no record of the quality of their work, nor can we give any reason why they were overlooked by all the judges, at least by all who kept notes. He also says that H was tested for ease of draft as a reaper, but there is no record of it. Dimensions of " Cayuga Chief ^^ — Combined Hand-Raker. Letter _ ., ._ H Class - 3 Entry No -- „ _ 35 Price as a mower $130 Price as combined 155 Width of cut as mower -_ 4 ft. 4^ in. Width of cut as reaper- 4 ft. 8 in. Diameter of driving wheels „ 28 in. Width of driving wheels 3|in. No. of vibrations of knife to each revolution of drive wheels- - - - 32.92 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.67 in. 121 Length of vibration of cutter 3| in. Length of base of each section of cutter 3^ in. Distance of apex from the base.. 2^ Smooth or sickle edged smooth. Breadth of cutter bar ..._ |in. Thickness of cutter bar Jl. ju. Material, steel, uniform in breadth and thickness, strengthened at inner end by malleable head. Weight as mower _ 655 lbs. Weight as reaper _ 990 lbs. Weight of cutter bar complete 6 lbs. Distance between centres of the guard fingers 3| in. Angle at which cutter and fingers meet in severing crop •_._ 34^^ Width of guard finger at the point where base of cutter section meets it l|iii« Width at the point where apex meets it 1 in. Length of finger bar 4 ft. 10 in. Breadth at inner end __ 3^ in. Breadth at outer end 2|in. Thickness --' _ | inch. Material cold rolled iron. Length of pitman rod 24 in. Diameter of pitman rod __ ■ |in. Material of pitman rod cast steel. Weight of pitman rod 3 lbs. 13 oz. Pitch of gearing _ _ _. I in. Diameter of reel _ 4 ft. 4 in. Revolutions of reel to one of drive wheels 2 Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 35. Quality of work _ 36 Time in cutting an acre __ 45' 00" Cut in Leach Wheat Field Lot No. 28: Quality of work .. 36 Time of cutting an acre 52' 50" Quality in Sheldon lot _ 30 Side draft- _ _ _ 5 lbs. Mark for noise 2i Bearings only a little warm. Dynamometer. Time * 3' 34" Yards _ 201 Total draft 45,000 lbs. Average draft _ 223.32 lbs. 122 Width of swath _ _ 1.43 yds. Draft out of grass 143.08 Pure draft 125.57 The reaping platform is attached by straps to the under side of the finger bar. A wooden beam six inches by one and a-half inches, lies back of the finger bar ; three strips extend back, bolted to it. The mower shoe sets into the reaper shoe, and has an adjustable castor wheel. There is a castor wheel behind, which supports the raker's seat. The reel is driven by a chain with two pulleys at the bottom. As a mower it has the same features as B. Dimensions of ^'■Cayuga Chief ^^ — Combined Machine with 8elf-Raker. Letter _ I Class 4 Entry No 45 Price as a mower _ $145 Price as combined $195 Width of cut as mower 4 ft. 8 in. Width of cut as reaper .5 ft. Oin. Diameter of driving wheels 31| in. Width of driving wheels 4^ in. No. of vibrations of knife to each revolution of drive wheels ..37.52 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.65 in. Length of vibration of cutter 3|in. Length of base of each section of cutter ^3 iii- Distance of apex from the base 2|in. Smooth or sickle edged smooth. Breadth of cutter bar fin. Thickness of cutter bar. _ i^ei^^- Material, steel, uniform in breadth and thickness ; strengthened at inner end by malleable head. Weight as mower 950 lbs. Weight as reaper 1,290 lbs. Weight of cutter bar complete 6 lbs. 11 oz. Distance between centers of the guard fingers . 3^ in. Angle at which cutter and fingers meet in severing crop 33"^ Width of guard finger at the point where base of cutter section meets it... l|in. Width at the point where apex meets it lin. Leno;th of fing-er bar 5 ft. 3 in. Breadth at inner end . 3|in. Breadth at outer end .., 2^ in. Thickness I in. 123 Material cold rolled iron. Length of pitman rod __ 24 iu. Diameter of pitman rod i6^'^^- Material of pitman rod — cast steel. Weight of pitman rod 4 lbs. 6 oz. Pitch of gearing _ — | in. Diameter of reel _ 4 ft. 6 in. Revolutions of reel to one of drive wheels 2^ times. Record. Cut ni Clover Lot No. 5 : Quality of work _ 34 Time of cutting an acre 48' 30" Side draft 3 lbs. Mark for noise _ 3 No part heated. Dynamometer. Time ._ 3' 05" Yards 211 Total draft - 61,655 lbs. Average draft 291.51 Width of swath L39 yds. Draft out of grass _... 230.63 Pure draft 166.04 Not observed as a reaper : considered as a mower, this is in all respects like A. It seemed to us to be the best finished, and the most exactly made of all the family of chiefs. Dimensions of " Cayiiga Gliief'' — Oomhined Machine with Dropping Attachment. Letter J Class. _ - -.- 4 Entry No. . . 46 Price as a mower _ $145 Price as combined $175 Width of cut as mower . _ 4 ft. 8 in. Width of cut as reaper 5 ft. Diameter of driving wheels 31|in. Width of driving wheels -,^ ^2 ^i^- No. of vibrations of knife to each revolution of drive wheels - — 37.52 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.65 in. Length of vibration of cutter 3|in. Length of base of each section of cutter 3i in. Distance of apex from the base _ 2^- in. Smooth or sickle edoed __ smooth. 124 Breadth of cutter bar ,. |in. Thickness of cutter bar Te^*^* Material, steel, uniform in breadth and thickness ; strengthened by malleable head at inner end. Weight as mower 865 lbs. Weight as reaper 1,040 lbs. Weight of cutter bar complete 7 lbs. 6 oz. Distance between centers of the guard fingers 3| in. Angle at which cutter and fingers meet in severing crop _ 33° Width of guard finger at the point where base of cut- ter section meets it 2^ in. Width at the point where apex meets it 1 in. Length of finger bar _ 5 ft. 3i in. Breadth at inner end 3|in. Breadth at outer end : 2^ in. Thickness ^in. Material _ cast steel. Length of pitman rod 23^ in. Diameter of pitman rod fiii' Material of pitman rod cast steel. Weight of pitman rod _." 3 lbs. 4 oz. Pitch of gearing.^ _ liii- Diameter of reel 4 ft. 7 in. Ee volutions of reel to one of drive wheels 2| Record. Cut in clover lot No. 34 : Quality of work ^ 30 Time of cutting an acre _ 37' 30' Cut in Leach Wheat Field, lot No. 3 : Quality of work 32 Time of cutting an acre __ _ 57' 07'' Bearings warm. Pitman joint and crank bearing hot enough to burn hand. Side draft _ - 5 lbs. Mark for noise _ _ __ _ 3^ Dynamometer. Time _ _ . . 4' 14" Yards _ . 217 Total draft 48,250 lbs. Average draft 222.35 lbs. Width of swath . 1.46 yds. Second trial Col. Wood's lot: Time 2' 16" Yards 165 125 Total draft 50,825 lbs. Average draft _. 308 lbs. Length of stubble, mark for li Draft out of grass .. 159.74 lbs. Pure draft 145.45 lbs. Considered as a mower this machine is like G. It is provided with a dropping attachment, which lays the bundles very well on level ground, but on going up or down hill it scatters the bundles, making them difficult to bind. The delivery of the dropper and the action of the dividing rod is regulated by the foot of the driver. The castor wheel is pivoted forward with ratchet. Dimensions of ''■Cayuga Chief ^^ — Combined Madiinc, Self or Hand-rake. Letter _ _ K Class -- - __ 5 Entry No _ 54 Price as a mower _. $145 Price as combined _ $195 Width of cut as mower 4 ft. 8 in. Width of cut as reaper 5 ft. Diameter of driving wheels „ 31| in. Width of driving wheels 4|in. No. of vibrations of knife to each revolution of drive wheels 37.52 Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.65 in. Length of vibration of cutter 3|^ in. Length of base of each section of cutter 3^ in. Distance of apex from the base 2|iu. Smooth or sickle edged ..^ smooth. Breadth of cutter bar fin. Thickness of cutter bar . i^i^- Material, steel, uniform in breadth and thickness ; strengthened at inner end by malleable head. Weight as mower 953 lbs. Weight as reaper _ ,. 1,290 lbs. Weight of cutter bar complete _.6 lbs. 11 oz. Distance between centers of the guard fingers . . 3i in. Angle at which cutter and fingers meet in severing crop 33'' Width of guard finger at the point where base of cut- ter section meets it Igiii' Width at the point where apex meets it liu. Length of finger bar 5 ft. 3 in. Breadth at inner end 3|in. Breadth at outer end . __ 2 m. 126 Thickness " ^in. Material, cold rolled iron. Length of pitman rod 24 in. Diameter of pitman rod Ye "■■• Material of pitman rod cast steel. Weight of pitman rod 4 lbs. 6 oz. Pitch of gearing _. _ |in. Diameter of reel 4 ft. 6 in. Eevolutions of reel to one of drive wheels 2| Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 6: Quality of work 30 Time of cutting an acre _ 54' 12" Cut in Leach Wheat Field, Lot No. 18 : Quality of work 28 Time of reaping an acre _ 56' 32" Quality of work in Sheldon lot 32 Side draft _. ^, 3 lbs. Mark for noise ._ _ — 3 Bearings not heated. Quality in Sheldon lot _ 32 Dynamometer. Time _ --- 3' 00" Yards.. 213 Total draft - 58,462 lbs. Average draft . 269.71 lbs. Width of swath.. 1.25 yds. Draft as reaper, up hill 373.3 On level -_, 275.7 Draft out of grass 216.43 lbs. Pure draft. .r 155.09 lbs. In this machine the platform is attached to the finger bar, as described in H. The rake turns on a vertical shaft, and rises and falls on a cam shaft, inclined so that the teeth strike under the reel. The rake rises by a projection striking a piece on the frame which raises it until the latch catches and holds it. The latch is disengaged by a cam, and is adjustable. The motion back and forth is guided by a crank or bevel wheel. A clutch on the pin- ion is operated by the pressure of the driver's foot, which regu- lates the size of the bundles. When the clutch is not operated on by the driver, it makes gavels automatically every eleven feet 127 nine inches. A spring aids the rake teeth to enter the grain ; it is held by a chain so as to operate only when the rake goes down. As a mower it has the same featnre as I and A. Dimensions of " Cayuga Chief — Combined Machine with Droj)- per or Hand-Rake. Letter L Class 5 Entry No - 55 Price as a mower ^ $145 Price as combined __ 195 Width of cut as mower 4 ft. 8 in. Width of cut as reaper 5 ft. in. Diameter of driving wheels ^ 31|iu. Width of driving wheels 4^ in. No. of vibrations of knife to each revolution of drive wheels 37.52 times. Advance of machine while making one vibration 2.65 in. Length of vibration of cutter 3|in. Length of base of each section of cutter 3^ in. Distance of apex from the base ._ . 2|in. Smooth or sickle edged smooth. Breadth of cutter bar — |in. Thickness of cutter bar xq ^^^' Material steel, uniform in breadth and thickness; strengthened by malleable head at inner end. Weight as mower 950 lbs. Weight as reaper 1,135 lbs. Weight of cutter bar complete 6 lbs. 11 oz. Distance between centers of the guard fingers 3i in. Angle at which cutter and fingers meet in severing crop 33 Width of guard finger at the point where base of cutter section meets it — l|in. Width at the point where apex meets it lin. Length of finger bar _ 5 ft. 3 in. Breadth at inner end 3| in. Breadth at outer end - 2|- in. Thickness _ ._ |in. Material, cold rolled iron. Length of pitman rod 24 in. Diameter of pitman rod _ — "ii^^^- Material of pitman rod _..,. _. cast steel. Weight of pitman rod 4 lbs. 6 oz. Pitch of gearing fiu- Diameter of reel 4 ft. 6 in. Revolutions of reel to one of drive wheels 2^ 128 Record. Cut in Clover Lot No. 38: Quality of work __ 25 Time of cutting an acre 43' 25" Cut in Leach Wheat lot No. 24: Quality of work _ 32 Time of cutting an acre 59' 5' Quality of work in Sheldon lot _ _. .31 Quality of work in rye lot . — "34 Quality of work in barley lot — _ _ 34 Side draft ._. 6 lbs. Mark for noise -. 2^ Bearings slightly warm. Dynamometer. Time - 3' 51" Yards --- 212 Total draft - 51,350 lbs. Average draft ^ - - - 241.64 lbs. Width ofswath.. _. 1.50yds. Draft out of grass _ - 141.77 lbs. Pure draft---. -.., - - 128.31 lbs. Draft as reaper up hill _- 311.5 Draft as reaper on a level _ 215.6 This machine, considered as a mower, is substantially the same as A. It can be changed from a dropper to a hand-rake by taking off the dropper and putting on platform in its place. SLOW AND FAST MOTION. The proper speed of the cutter in severing grass is a question of considerable importance in the construction of mowing ma- chines, and from the diversities of speed among different machines competing at this trial, we infer that the question is not yet set- tled in the minds of manufacturers. The average number of revolutions of the crank to 10 feet of advance made by 42 machines is 26.8 or 53.6 single vibrations in advancing that distance. The three machines having the slowest motions are: Seymour and Morgan 20 revolutions or 40 vibrations. CaVuga Chiefs 22 do 44 do Kirby's 23 do 46 do Average .„.. 21.7 do 43.4 *o^ 129 The three machines having the highest motions are: W. A. Wood 38 revolutions or 76 vibrations. C.C.Bradley 38 do 76 do Yankee— Dow & Fowler.. 36 do 72 do Average _.. 37.3 do 74.6 Walter A. Wood, length of vibration, 2§ inches Yankee _ do do 3 do Bradley do do 4 do Cayuga do do 3| do Kirby , do do 3^ do Seymour & Morgan do do 4 do Assuming that the speed traveled by these machines in cutting, is four miles an hour, and that the weight of each knife and pit- man rod is 9.8 lbs., which the Cayuga really has, the space traveled by Seymour & Morgan's knife in 1 hour, is 28,160 feet. Kirby's, (D. M. Osborne & Co.,) knife in 1 hour, is. 28,336 feet. Cayuga Chief, (C. Wheeler, jr.,) knife in 1 hour, is. . 25,968 feet. These velocities multiplied by the weight of the pitman rod and knife, are for Seymour & Morgan 275,968 per hour or 4,599.4 per minute. Kirby's 277,692 do 4,624.2 do Cayuga Chief.-, 254,486 do 4,241.3 do Average ._ 269,382 do 4,488.3 do The space traveled over by Wood's knife in hour, is 35,112 feet. Bradley's do 53,504 feet Yankee's do _ 38,016 feet These velocities multiplied as before, are for Wood's 344,047 per hour, or 5,734.4 per minute. Bradley's 524,339 do 8,733.7 do Yankee's 372,556 do 6,209.6 do Average 413,647 do 6,892.5 do A comparison of the average work performed each minute by the high and low speeded machines, shows that the former are far more heavily taxed than the latter. The proportion is very nearly expressed by the rates of 69 to 45 or 53 per cent. The motion in this case is performed, and the weight is moved laterally. We know of no formula by which their lateral mo- menta can be converted into ordinary terms of horse power, which has relation to a vertical force raisino- a weio-ht in a o-iven O o O time, but whatever the unit of force may be which expresses the average momentum overcome by the low speeded machines, we may be very confident that the high speeded ones will exceed it by 53 per cent, or if we compare the Cayuga Chief with Bradley's, the excess rises to within a fraction of 100 per cent. In this calculation we have assumed that the moving parts, viz : the knife and pitman rod are equal in weight, but if these are constructed on true mechanical principles, they will be made heavier iu proportion to the extra Avork to be performed, and this increased weight will of course increase the disproportion of the force consumed by the two classes respectively. In considering the consequences of increased velocity of these machines, we must not lose sight of the reciprocating character of the work. The Kirby machine, for example, cutting at the rate of four miles per hour, throws its knife through 7.8 inches of space every second '- ^i=^ — ^=0.77 inches of living force which must be overcome every second of time. It is not only the mo- tion of the knife which must be kept up, but it must be arrested as well as generated, and it is this which makes it so desirable to reduce the velocity as low as is consistent with the doing of good work. The increased momentum to be overcome proportionately increases the wear of the machines.* We have no means of knowing the average life of these machines, but if they are all equally well made, we believe it will be found that the three machines with low speed will outlast - those with high speed nearly in the ratio of their respective velocities. By comparing the average of the marks for quality of work of the slow machines, 35:3, with those for the fast machines, 32.6, it will be seen that the latter did not, as a class, make as good work as the former, by 2.7. Comparing their work in the Mon- son meadow alone, where the fine grass and the old fog would naturally require a swifter motion than in clover or coarse timothy, the differences of the averages, though less, are still in favor of the slow cutters, the average of the fast machines being 36.3, and the slow ones 37.7, showing a superiority of 1.4 in favor of the latter. We think that from 46 to 56 vibrations in an advance of ten feet, embraces the true limits of effective speed, and that any ex- cess above the latter number is never called for in any kind of * Since -writing the above, we have ascertained the average life or duration of a mowing machine is five years. 131 grass where the knives are sharp and in good condition, and that all such excess is detrimental to the durability of the machine. Probably the increase of speed had its origin in imperfectly tempered sections which called for velocity as an equivalent for a good edge. Since Mr. Keynolds' discovery of a method of tem- pering these sections in a uniform and reliable manner, there is no longer any necessity for resorting to this expedient, and we hope to see a general reduction of the velocity of high speeded machines. CARELESSNESS OF FARMERS. While our sub-committee were engaged in visiting farms to judge of the validity of the protests against the Buckeye and Clipper machines, they were struck with the great carelessness of farmers in not housing their mowers and reapers after harvest. Several of them were left on "the lee side of a fence. One which had last cut on a marshy piece of ground was put under a shed, but the bogs were still adhering to the points of the guards, and the fingers and sections were covered with rust. In no case did they find the journals and bearings carefully wiped, and the machine placed in the best situation for its preservation. It is believed, from the testimony of the sub-committee, from our own personal observation, and from a large number of state- ments from other observers, that carelessness in the preservation of machines is the rule rather than the exception in New York and the western States. This is unjust to the maker, whose reputation sufiers in conse- quence; it is unjust to the agricultural interest, because the rapid deterioration in the value of the machine marks the real economy in its use; it is unjust to the consumer, because everything that enhances the cost of production necessarily adds to the price of the product. We therefore desire to avail ourselves of the circulation of this report, to advise a reform in this respect. As soon as the last work is done, the journals and bearings should be wiped, all dust should be removed from the exterior, and the machine should be placed under cover in a level position where no part is subjected to strain. We are surprised that such advice should be needed, but as it clearly is, we can assure our farmers that they will pro- fit greatly by taking heed to it. 132 ELY-WHEELS. Our attention was directed to the subject of counter-weights and fly-wheels on the pitman cranks. It is too well known to require particular description, that each half revolution of the crank brings it into line with the knife where the resistance is elevated to the maximum, at the dead centers; at the two points at right angles to these, or at the live centers, it is at the mini- mum. A given force acting on the crank will therefore move with the greatest rapidity at these two points, and with the least rapidity at the other two, thus producing a very considerable inequality of motion. It is a well understood property of mat- ter that it will never move from a state of rest unless some force acts upon it, which must be proportionate to the quan- tity of matter and the velocity with which it is to move; so on the other hand, when once in motion it will never stop save through the resistance of some external force. This resistance of matter to changes from motion to rest, and vice versa, is called inertia. The force or momentum which a moving body is capable of communicating to another bodj^ is measured by the quantity of its matter multiplied into its velocity. Hence it follows that ten pounds moving at the rate of 100 feet in a minute, will com- municate ten times as much force as it would if it were moving at the rate of 10 feet per minute. Since the peripherj^ of a circle moves more swiftly than any other portion, it follows that any given weight placed there will have a greater momentum than it will if placed elsewhere. Thus, if a wheel of 100 inches in dia- meter revolves round an axle of one inch in diameter, a pound weight placed upon the periphery of the wheel will have a mo- mentum of 314 lbs., while if placed upon the peripherj^ of the axle it would only have a momentum of 3.14 lbs. As the move- ment of a weight always causes a loss of power, the weight on a fly-wheel is most economically applied as nearly to the circumfer- ence as possible, as this condition gives the greatest possible amount of momentum with the least possible amount of weight. Such a fly-wheel absorbs the surplus force given out when the resistance to its action is at a minimum, and expends it again when the resistance is at its maximum, thus equalizing the action of the moving force and beneficially converting an interrupted into a continuous action. 133 The action of a fly-wheel is only heneficial when its momentum is exactly proportioned to the inequality of the action of the force which it is intended to overcome, or more properly, when it does not exceed that force. If it does exceed it, useful power is expended in arresting its surplus energy, and such an excess has a tendency to break or wear out the parts in action. In practice, it varies with every machine and with every kind of grass; heavy grass, or great friction of parts, or great weight of the knife and pitman rod will require a heavier wheel than when the grass is light, or there is very little friction or a light pitman rod. Siuce the elements which regulate the useful effect of a fly-wheel are constantly varying, it is impossible to lay down any rule for securing the relation of momentum to resistance with absolute accuracy, but it is possible by careful experimentation to ascertain the maximum and minimum weight for each machine, which shall approximate very nearly to the truth. A very ex- tensive series of inquiries has assured us that this subject has not sufficiently engaged the attention of manufacturers, and that these essential experiments have never yet been made. We hope that another year will not roll around until this desideratum in mechanical science is completely supplied. The structure of a mowing machine is such that it is impossi- ble to hang a balance-wheel upon it with a diameter large enough to arrest all the back lash of the gearing. The balance- wheel should be counter weigJited on the side opposite to the pitman rod, with a weight equal to the weight of the crank pin added to the weight of half the pitman rod. If any greater weight is added, it will increase the vertical vibration of the machine. The structure of the mowing machine is such that it is much stronger to resist lateral than it is vertical vibration, and if one of these kinds is unavoidable, the former should always be preferred. LENGTH OF BARS AND ANGLE OF CUTTING ACTION. Tests made by Cayuga Chief D, on the farm of Charles P. Wood, July 26th, 1866, to determine the influence of angle of cutting apparatus, and the height of stubble upon draft. The first four swaths were cut with a bar 4 feet 1 inch long: First Sivath. — Angle of the cutters with the fingers 28 de- 134 grees; the index was raised to the second notch;. 156 yards, 34,900 lbs.; average traction, 224 lbs. Second Sioath. — Index at 3d notch making | inch higher stubble; 157 yards, 30,500 lbs.; average traction, 195 lbs. Third Sioath. — Angle of the cutters with the fingers 33 de- jjrees; index at the second notch as in 1st swath; time, 2' 30'^; 158 yards, 31,200 lbs.; average traction, 197.5 lbs. Fourth Sioath. — Index at 3d notch as in 2d swath; time 2' 35"; 158 yards, 29,500 lbs.; average traction, 186.7. In the four remaining swaths the finger bar was 4 feet 8 inches long. The same shoes used in the trial of the first finger bar were used also in this: Fifth Swath. — Index in the 2d notch as in the 1st and 3d swaths; cutter 28 degrees; 158 yards, 33,000 lbs.; average trac- tion, 208.8 lbs. Sixth Swath. — Index in the 3d notch as in the 2d and 4th swaths; 157 yards, 30,300 lbs.; average traction, 192.9 lbs. Seventh Sioath. — Angle of cutters with fingers 33 degrees; index in the 2d notch as in 1st, 3d and 5th swaths; 158 yards, 32,000 lbs.; average traction 202.5 lbs. Eighth Swath. — Index in 3d notch as in 2d, 4th and 6th swaths; 157 yards, 30.300 lbs.; average traction, 192.9 lbs. It appears from the foregoing experiments, that by increasing the length of the stubble i an inch, the power required for cutting was diminished 12.9 per cent, as between the 1st and 2d swaths. It was diminished 5.4 do do do 3d and 4th do do do 7.6 do do do 5th and 6th do do do 4.7 do do do 7th and 8th do Examined with reference to the angle made by the edges of the cutting sections with the fingers, they show that the power required was diminished by increasing the cutting angle from 28° to 33°, as between the 1st and 3d swaths, 11.8 per cent, do do 2d and 4th do 4.2 do do do 5th and 7th do 4.2 do do do 6th and 8th do 0.0 do The average gain by leaving the stubble | an inch higher, was 7.6 per cent for all the swaths. The average gain of power in consequence of reducing the angle between the edge of the cutter and the finger was 5 per cent. A comparison between the four 135 trials with a bar 4 feet 1 inch long, and four trials with one 4 feet 8 inches long, presents the very unexpected result that the long bar cut on an average with two pounds less traction than the short bar. The difference shown here to exist between hio-h and low cuts of stubble is fully confirmed by other experiments incidentally made in the second dynamometer trial in C. P. Wood's lot. When the Yankee Mower's bar was chained up, the average traction was 208.8 lbs.; when it was dropped doAvn so as to cut the stubble closely, the traction was 228.3 lbs. When the E. I. Clipper's cutter bar was raised to make long stubble, the traction was 207.5 lbs.; when let down to shave closely, the traction was 236 lbs. The conclusions drawn from the experiments with cutters making diflPerent angles with the fingers, agree with those made at the trials in Geneva and Syracuse. When the angle formed by the cutter section with the base is small; or. which is the same thing, when the angle between the finger and side of the section is large, the cut is more drawing or like a saw cut; but when the angle is increased, it is more direct or more like a chisel cut. ' The results with different lengths of bars are very curious; it is clear that a long bar must require more power to operate it than a short one, yet the average draft of the long bar was in these expenments 2 lbs. less than the short one. In a series of experiments tried with a view of testing this question, the E. I. Clipper used bars of the lengths 4 feet, 4 feet 6 in,, and 5 feet, with the following results: 4 ft. bar, 158 yds., 29,700 lbs.; average traction, 189.8 lbs. 4 ft. 6 in. bar, 156 yds., 31,700 lbs.; do 203.3 lbs. 5 ft. bar, 156 yds., 35,400 lbs.; do 226.9 lbs. From which it appears that an increase of length amounting to 12.5 per cent increased the draft 7.1 per cent; 11.1 do do 11.6 do Comparing the shortest with the longest, 25 per cent increased the draft 19.6 per cent. Put into another form it appears that an increased cut of 6 inches increased the average traction 13.5 lbs., while the next addition of 6 inches showed an increase of 23.6 lbs. The only inference, therefore, that we can draw from the ex- periments with the Cayuga Chief is, that the long bars played 136 more freely than the short ones through the fingers. And they show most impressively to farmers and manufacturers the impor- tance of looking well to the bearings of the knife. ANGLE OF TKACTION. Among the unsettled questions connected with the practical working of mowers and reapers, is the most advantageous angle of the traces while the machine is in action. Important as the question is, it has hitherto received very little attention from the manufacturers. ^ D W rB C E - F The diagram annexed will enable us to understand the ques- tion more fully. If the weight W were to be drawn along the plane E F, it is obvious that if there was no friction of the weight with the plane, the most advantageous line of traction would be in the direction of the line B C. But as there always is friction in such cases, proportioned to the roughness and the weight of the rubbing surfaces, it is plain that if the traction is exerted in a line parallel to the plane E F, it must over- come the whole amount of the friction produced by the pressure of the whole weight of the load upon the plane. But if the draft is directed partly upward in the line B D, it will, if repre- sented by B D, be decomposed into two separate forces, one acting horizontally, represented by the line A D, the other vertically, represented by the line A B. Or if the line B D represents a traction of 400 lbs., and the line A B having to AD the ratio of 4 to 12, then the weight W will be drawn horizontally with a force of 267 lbs., and raised vertically with a force of 133 lbs., diminishing its friction by that amount, which is transferred to the horses' backs. If this latter force exceeds the amount of friction, it is clear that power is lost by the obliquity of the 137 traces-^ but if it -exactly balances it, there will be an advantage obtained. From mathematical reasoning founded on these principles, it is proved that the best angle of draft is precisely the obliquity of a plane which would enable the machine to move by its own gravity.* DEATT OF THE MACHINES. The average draft of forty-two mowers was 219 lbs. Twenty machines drew heavier than this, and twenty-two drew lighter. The heaviest draft in the field was 291.51 lbs.; the next was 270.89; and the next was 269.71. The lightest draft of any was 172.53 lbs.; the next was 173.28 lbs.; and the next was 174,10 lbs. The average draft of the three heaviest 2 horse machines, was 277.37 lbs.; the average width of their swaths was 4 feet. The average draft of the three lighest 2 horse machines, was 173.30 lbs.; the average width of their swaths, was 4 feet l^^^- in- ches. The average draft of the three heaviest machines was, therefore, 104,07 lbs.; greater than the average of the three lightest, while their average swath was l^^g- inches narrower. The main causes, of this wide difference were, 1st. Bad work- manship, ill made gearings, rough bearings and imperfect adjust- ments of lines and parellesims. 2d. Surface draft ; wheels so narrow as to cut into the ground; castor wheels, greatly increased draft by their tendency to present their broad surfaces to the line of draft. So the great weight of some machines, by increasing their surface pressure, at the same time increased their draft. In the second trial in the Wood lot, the average draft of 31 machines was 254.78 lbs., being 35.78 lbs. in excess of the first trial. The heaviest draft was 336 lbs. The next 310.18 lbs., the next 308 lbs. The average of the three is 318.06, which was 99 lbs. more than the three heaviest in the first trial. The lightest draft in the 2d. trial was 202.4 lbs.; the next was 207.69 lbs.; the next was 211.11 lbs. The average of the three lowest was 207.07 lbs., being 33.77 lbs. higher than the lightest three in the first trial. * Judge Footer rlisseuts from this reasoiiin";. 138 The three heaviest machines in the first trial were not tested in the second one. The heaviest in the second trial, drew 256 lbs. in the first, or 79.43 lbs. less; the next drew 65.56 lbs. more than it did in the 1st; the next 85.65 lbs. more. The three averaged 76.88 more than they did in the first trial. 'The lightest machine in the second trial, exceeded its draft in the first trial 15.66 lbs.; the next exceeded its first trial by 8.69 lbs.; the next 21.33 lbs. The average excess of the three lightest machines, in the 2d trial, over their draft in the 1st, v.'^as 15.23 lbs. The causes of this increased draft were, that the average breadth of swath was 4.9 inches greater in the latter case, than in the former; the stubble was cut much closer, and the grass was much more wiry. The average excess of draft in this trial, over the first one, which as above stated is 35.78 lbs., we have no means of dis- tributing among the enumerated causes with accuracy; judging, however, from an experiment made with Dow & Fowler's Yankee and the Rhode Island Clipper, we should say that at least 20 lbs. of the excess may be accounted for by the much shorter stubble left in the second trial, and the remaining 15.78 lbs. must be distributed in some unknown proportion between the increasd width of the swath and the greater thickness and toughness of the grass. * INFLUENCE OF QUICK MOTION ON DEAFT. Tlie average draft of 42 mowers, time 2' 33", was 239.97 lbs. The average draft of the same, time 3' 47", was 219.00 lbs. An increased velocity of 48 per cent, therefore, produces an increased draft of 9.5 per cent. Average width of swath 4 ft. 1 inch. Some deduction must therefore be made from the influ- ence of greater velocity on account of one inch increase of swath. WOODEN AND lEON FEAMES. From what we were able to observe during the trial, and from what we learned from the manufacturers and farmers, we are induced to believe, that wooden frames are, on the whole, more desirable than iron ones, for the following reasons: 139 1st. The iron frames are more easily, and therefore, more fre- quently broken than wooden ones; weak spots and flaws are more easily concealed from the knowledge of the manufacturer and the purchaser. 2d. If the wooden ones are broken, the broken part is more easily and cheaply replaced than when made of iron. "Workmen in wood are also more easily accessible than workmen in iron. 3d. The elasticity of wood, is more favorable to the successful working of the machine, than the rigidity of iron* 4th. It makes less jar and noise, and the nuts do not work loose so quickly. 5th. It is lighter, and therefore, draws easier. SECTIONS. There is no portion of a mowing machine more essential to its easy working than the sections. They must be properly formed, that is, the angles which the cutting sides make with the base must be accurately adjusted to the rapidity of their vibrations, and their temper must be such as to ensure the best cutting edge. The whole course of our experience has shown us the import- ance of this matter, and it has been amply illustrated and con- firmed in the course of these trials. Experience has shown that where the whole section is tempered, it is too frangible for prac- tical use; the slightest contact with stones, sticks, or other ob- structions, causes it to fly in pieces like glass; the central portion of the section is therefore left soft, while the tempering is con- fined to a portion extending from one-half to five-eighths of an inch from the edge. The violent change in the structure of the metal, lying on either side of the line of demarkatiou, often causes a fracture resulting in loss to the manufacturer or the farmer, according to the time when the fracture became apparent. Desirous of investigating this matter as thoroughly as possible, we collected the sections of diflerent makers to as great an extent as we were able, and subjected them to a series of careful experi- ments. We found no fractures in any of the sections manufac- tured by the Messrs. Eeynolds, of Auburn, but we detected them in about ten per cent of those made by other manufacturers. We caused nearly yL of an inch to be successively ground off* from the * Juclffe Foote dissents from tliis 3d reason. 140 edge of each of the samples, examining carefully the temper of the edge after each grinding. The sections of Mr. Eeynolds re- tained their temper perfectly for ten successive grindings. None of the others showed as good a temper after the third grinding; some of them were so poor that after the third grinding the edge could be cut off w^ith an ordinary pocket knife. The test of tem- per that we used was to draw the smooth front part of a saw-file along the edge at an angle of from 10 to 15 degrees, observing that the edge visibly sprung during the passage; we then pressed on the edge at an angle of 45 degrees, when the edge would break, making two distinct sounds in the act of fracture, show- ing that there was sufficient elasticity in the steel to prevent its breakincr on both sides at once. All of the Messrs. Eeynolds' sections conformed to this test throuo;h ten successive grindings. Several of the others broke when pressed upward at an angle of 15 degrees. Some of them bent permanently when pressed upon. None of them, except Messrs. Eeynolds', showed a good temper after the third grind- ing. Where a graver was pressed into the section at the center, and carried towards the edge with a uniform pressure, the groove formed grew gradually shallower until it touched the line of de- markation — in the Messrs. Eeynolds' sections — shewing that the hardening was progressive from the center to the line of demarka- tion. In the sections made by other firms the groove formed by the graver was of uniform depth until it touched the line of de- markation, when it became at once very shallow. This test shows that the sections of the Messrs. Eeynolds grew gradually harder from the center to the line of demarkation, and that the quality of the metal on either side of the line is not so dissimilar as to cause fractures, and accounted very fully for their absence in the sections. Having thus ascertained the superiority of these sections, we were desirous of seeing the processes of their manufacture, and on making known our wishes, the Messrs. Eeynolds were kind enough to show us the whole of their works, and to repeat the various processes, at our request, until we thoroughly understood them. The machinery for cutting the section was admirably arranged to ensure accuracy and economy, but it is unnecessary to describe it minutely. The great peculiarity in their manufacture 141 consists in the process for tempering, which we will endeavor to describe: An anvil, shaped to the exact form of the section which was to be hardened, | inch broad on either side, rests on a vertical block of iron which is placed on an horizontal stick of timber 16 feet long, having its ends inserted on a heavy stone wall. A hammer, having a face of precisely the same shape as the anvil and weighing nearly 4,000 lbs., is raised vertically the proper dis- tance by means of powerful machinery. Two metallic nozzles, having their centers directed in the line of the junction of the interior edges of the hammer and anvil, are connected with a pipe through which a powerful stream of air is passing; a cut-off between the pipe and nozzle is worked by the hammer, so that when that is raised the stream of air is shut off, and when that is lowered the stream of cold air rushes through the nozzles upon the section. The steel sections are inserted in a metallic bath until they acquire the proper temperature, when they are laid upon the anvil and the hammer is permitted to fall upon them; they remain within its pressure, and the cold air rushes over the central surface for about eight seconds, when it is removed and another is inserted. Six of these sections were tempered in our presence in one minute, and both their faces and edges were ground before us in 4i minutes. If the anvil is placed on a solid foundation, the temper is not obtained; there must be a sufficient elasticity in the anvil to give a reactionary blow; then the degree of temper is wholly governed by the length of the hammer stroke with contact of metals, and the interior temper of the section, that portion from the center to the line of de- markation, is produced by cold air alone. We confess to a feeling of great surprise on seeing these sec- tions so perfectly tempered without the agency of any liquid, by percussion, reaction, and cold air alone. "We saw over a thousand tempered and ground, not one of which was cracked, or which exhibited any traces of fissure whatever. We believe this process will greatly enhance the efficiency of our reaping and mowing machines, and we rejoice that American ingenuity has perfected so valuable an invention. The process, though unpatented at the time of the trial, has since been covered by letters patent. 142 The annexed cut will show the section as made by the Messrs. Eeynolds. The portion shaded is the part tempered by percus- sion. The central part is the portion tempered by a current of cold air. EENEWAL OF EXPERIMENTS. In the course of the trial we performed many experiments which we hoped would enable us to settle many mechanical questions of considerable importance, but on computing the results we find, that owing to the instability of the elements of the in- vestigation, we are unable, without a much wider basis of experi- ment, to arrive at satisfactory conclusions. 1st. We desire to know with certainty the ex,act merits and defects of rear and forward cutting machines. 2d. The comparative advantages of fast and loose tongues. 3d. The true mode of determining the momentum which should be given to fly wheels. 4th. The proper angle for the cutting edge of the section. 5th. To multiply the experiments for ascertaining the surface draft of each machine, and for tbe power required to vibrate the knife. 6th. To ascertain the proper form and material for guards. 7th. The advantages and disadvantages of leading wheels. H. WATERMANS DYNAMOMETER. Pagc i« BATCHELLOR DYNAMOMETER C. Van Beiitluiyrten i Sona, Albaiiv.N.Y 143 8th. The comparative merits of the different methods adopted for diminishing the friction of the knife on the bearings. 9th, The comparative merits of the methods adopted for throw- ing the pressure off the shoe. 10th. The true relation between power consumed and the length of bar. If the manufacturers of different classes of machines should be willing to co-operate, we recommend that the Society appoint a committee next summer, and give the use of its instruments, for the purpose of determining these questions in the fullest and most ample manner, so that they may be definitely settled forever. TRIALS OF DRAFT. Our task would be incompletely performed If we were to omit the description of the novel instruments by which the power con- sumed by the machines was ascertained. These were three in number. One for ascertaining the power expended in direct traction ; one for measuring the power trans- mitted from one pulley to another, and one for ascertaining the power consumed by a machine. The first was invented by Mr. Henry Waterman, of Hudson, one of our number, which we will now attempt to describe. It consists of a steel wire coiled spirally, -=^^ inches in diameter, having intervals of -^^ inches betweeen the coils, and is teu inches long. Through the axis of this coil, which is 1| inches in diam- eter, a strong iron rod passes, having an eye at its front end, while its hinder end projects six inches beyond the rear extremity of the spring, and is terminated by a screw which enters a piston. We will call this the piston rod. The spring and piston rod are enclosed in an iron box, 14 inches long, 3 inches broad and three inches deep. The front end of the box is perforated, so that the piston rod can play freely back- ward and forward. A collar one-half an inch long is cast upon the back end of the box, having a screw cut upon its exterior surface, upon which the dash-pot is firmly screwed. This is a cylinder of brass, 3i inches in diameter, and 4 inches long, having a stuffing box in front through which the piston rod works. A piston, having a diameter somewhat smaller than the 144 cylinder, is screwed to the»end of the piston rod. A cup, ter- minating in a small tube, is screwed to the top and back end of the dash pot, into which the water rises when the piston is thrust backward. The resistance of the water to the motion of the piston, prevents the rapid vibration which is caused by a force operating through a spiral spring, and enables a spectator to read off the figures on the dial, indicating the amount of power con- sumed at any moment, with ease and certainty. The machine thus constructed, was suspended vertically, and a 50 pound weight from the State sealer's office was hung upon the eye of the piston rod. This weight, by compressing the spring at its back end, forced the piston rod downward, through the opening in the front of the box. The rod was now marked with a graver at this point. Another 50 lb. weight was now hung on, and the rod again marked. This was continued until eight 50 lbs, weights were suspended, the rod being marked as each weight was successively added. If now the rod is pulled out, to the first mark, we know that the force required to effect it is just 50 lbs.; if it is drawn out until four marks are visible, we know that the force applied is just 200 lbs.; and if eight marks are drawn out, then the force is 400 lbs. But the amount of force, stated in these terms alone, is not satisfactory. A clear idea of the amount of force, involves the three elements of time, during which it is exerted ; distance, through which it moves ; and weight. If relative, and not abso- lute force, is required, then weight and distance will be sufficient for practical purposes. This work is done by this machine, by methods which we will now endeavor to describe. 1st. The mode by which the distance traveled over by the machine, is ascertained and recorded. A socket projecting 2| inches on the left hand side of the box, and four inches behind its front edge, is cast on the same piece with it. A rod 16 inches long and | inch in diameter, passes through it, and is vertically adjustable in it by means of a set screw on the front of the socket. This rod terminates in two IDrongs 15i inches long, projecting forwards and downwards; the measuring wheel, exactly one yard in circumference, runs on a pin between these prongs. On the shaft of the axle of the mea- suring wheel, a pulley d^^ inches is hung, which has a triangular 145 groove cut in its face five- sixteenths inch deep, and is seven-six- teenths inch wide at the top. The top of the box containing the spring, is made of wood and is five inches wide. A steel shaft six inches long and | inch diameter, supported by brass bearings 3| inches apart, runs transversely across the middle of the box cover. On the left extremity of this measuring shaft, a pulley is hung corresponding precisely in size with the one on the axle of the measuring wheel and on a line with it. These pulleys are each made in two pieces, consisting of circu- lar disks of brass with the edges beveled ; when these disks are screwed together the beveled edges form a groove, as above stated. If on trial, it is found that these pulleys, which are connected by a round India rubber belt, do not exactly coincide in their revolutions, the larger one is unscrewed and one or more thick- nessess of paper is inserted between them until the diameter is reduced so that the exact coincidence of their revolutions is secured. On the middle of the measuring shaft is an endless screw. A steel plate having a vertical conical shaft is screwed to the cover near to, and in front of the center of the measuring shaft. A sleeve having two wheels with one hundred teeth at its upper and lower extremity, the lower one being 1| and the upper one 2| inches in diameter, revolves around this vertical shaft, being moved by the worm screw on the measuring axis which meshes into the lower wheel on the sleeve. The disk of the upper wheel is not perforated, and is graduated into one hundred divisions, corresponding to the teeth in its circumference. Another wheel with its rim three-sixteenths of an inch wide, with three arms, having 99 teeth and a fine index on the interior of the rim centers on the top of the sleeve and lies on the surftice of the graduated wheel. In front of the before mentioned vertical shaft, is another ver- tical axis, having a pinion upon the top of it | of an inch in diameter, with 25 teeth, lying in the same plane with the gradu- ated and index wheel, and meshing with both. When the arrangement above described is carefully considered, it will be seen that for every yard that the machine advances, one 10 146 tooth of the graduated disk will be slipped, and one hundred yards of advance will give it one complete revolution. Since the index wheel has one tooth less than the graduated disk, while both mesh into the same pinion, it is plain that the index will fall back one division of the graduated disk in every hundred yards of advance. If the index is set at zero on the disk at the beginning of the trial, and it has receded when it is ex- amined at the close of the trial seven divisions, we know that 700 yards have been passed over. If it has fallen back through 20 divisions, it has passed over 2,000 yards, &c. Unless the distance traveled exceeds 10,000 yards it will be unnecessary to make any registry on paper, or pay any attention to it during the progress of the experiment. To ascertain the number of yards traveled between the hundreds, the number of teeth between the index and the pinion must be counted, thus : if the index has fallen back two divisions and there are 23 teeth between the index and the pinion, the machine has advanced 223 yards. 2d. We are now to explain the arrangements for ascertaining and summing up the whole amount of force expended in advanc- ing the machine through the number of yards recorded on the measuring dial. A nut on the piston rod, fastened to it by a pin, and in contact with the rear of the spring when fully extended, is drawn forwards when it is compressed, and recedes when it is released from pres- sure. A connecting rod jointed with this nut at one end is jointed at the other with an upright lever, which oscillates on a pin at the bottom of the box, and passing through a slot in the top of the box, projects three-eighths inch above it. From the top of* this lever and jointed with it a rod runs backward, connecting with the index, which stands at zero when the spring is relaxed, and points out the intermediate forces on the graduated arc of a circle which lies beneath it, having a radius of four inches, and marked for every 10 lbs. from zero to 400 lbs. The force mo- mentarily exerted can therefore be read either on this arc or on the piston rod, as. may be most convenient. Near the back end of the box cover, and in the middle of it, a circular iron plate is screwed, having a socket in the center, in which a pivot plays: on the top of this pivot is a broad arm extending backward half an inch; then turning upwards a quar- 147 ter of an inch. Upon the top of this upright piece a steel vibrat- ing arm is fastened, extending towards the right side, 2| inches long, and triangular in shape, each side of its section being five-six- teenths of an inch long. On the right end of the measuring shaft, and outside of its bearings, is a circular plate of brass, 1^\ inches in diameter: on this another plate is fixed adjustably, by a screw and slot, so that a greater or less eccentricity can be given to the crank pin. On this outer plate a crank pin is affixed, a con- necting rod having a universal joint which connects it with the vibrating arm is affixed to the crank pin. As adjusted at the trial this arm vibrated through an arc of a circle whose chord was five- eighths of an inch in lens-th. A slide five-eighths of an inch long o o O o is fitted upon the vibrating arm, and moves freely backward and forward upon it. When the spring is at rest its position is at the extreme left end of the arm. Two ears project from the front of the slide by which it is jointed to a connecting rod which runs diagonally forward and to the left hand across the length of the box, and unites it with the arm of the lever which moves the pawls- A circular plate of iron 3| inches in diameter is screwed to the front end of the box cover: from this four conical pillars rise vertically seven-eighths of an inch high; one of them is in the center, one in front, and one behind; the other 1| inches high, stands seven-eighths of an inch to the left of the latter. A sleeve fits over the central pillar, having arms projecting on either side and in the same line half an inch above its base; the right of these arms is 1| inches' long from the centre, the other, two inches : ^^ o^ ^^ i^^^ above these arms is a horizontal pulley 1|^ inches in diameter, and -^^ of an inch in thickness, having a groove round its edge three-sixteenths of an inch deep. Above the pulley and lying in the same plane with the graduated measuring dials, are two dials for registering the forces which operate on the machine. From pins on the top of the two pillars on the front and rear of the plate, two wooden pawls are hinged, which fit into the groove of the pulley, and are placed at such an angle to it, as to resist its rotation from left to right, while they permit a free motion from right to left. Two pillars rise from the arms, on the tops of which are pins, on which two live pawls hinge, so arranged as to resist 148 motion from right to left, and permit a free motion from left to right. These four pawls are all pressed equally against the groove in the pulley by an india rubber band, into which wire levers from each pawl are hooked. The index wheel and regis- tering dial are exactly like those already described for measuring ; their teeth mesh into a pinion on the top of the fourth pillar, de- scribed above. The graduated disk makes one entire revolution when a force equal to the draft of 10,000 lbs. through a distance of one yard has been exerted. Since there are 100 teeth around the disk, the slipping of each tooth shows that force sufficient to draw 100 lbs. 1 yard has been exerted. If on inspecting the dial after an experiment, it is found that the index has fallen back 3 divisions, and that there are 15 teeth between the index and the pinion, we know that a force has been exerted equal to the draft of 31,500 lbs., for 1 yard ; or 15,750 lbs., for 2 yards ; or 7,875 lbs., for 4 yards, &c. If we would know the average draft •through the whole experiment, we must divide the indication on the draft dial, by that on the measuring dial, and we find what we seek for. We have already described the index which points the momen- tary fluctuations of the force required to operate the machine. We have now to state that an arm, radiating backward from the center on which the index turns, and forming an angle with it of 75 degrees, is 2| inches long; the index and this arm form a bell crank, so that when the index is drawn forward the extremity of this arm moves towards the right, and when it goes backward the arm moves towards the left. A connecting rod runs from a pin on the top of this arm of the bell crank to the ears on the front of the slide, and is jointed with them. This joint of the two con- necting rods is exactly vertical with the pivot on which the tri- angular vibrating arm moves ; hence the vibration of the arm in this position produces no motion, but when the slide is pushed forward on the arm it miDves through space just in proportion to its distance from the center. Thus when the index shows a force of 100 lbs., it will move the registering disk of force one tooth; when it indicates 200 lbs., it will move it two teeth for every vibration, and so on for every increment of force. In the same way, if the index shows that 50 lbs. of force is exerted, it will 149 require two vibrations to move one tooth; if it shows 25 lbs., it will take four vibrations, and so on. It will be understood that when the vibrating arm moves for- ward, the motion is communicated by the connecting rod to the arm of the pawl lever, the forward thrust of the vibration pro- duces no motion of the pulley, because the dead pawls resist motion in that direction and the live pawls slip on it; but the backward vibration moves the pulley forward through a space exactly proportioned to the amount of power exerted, as has already been explained. The machine is constructed in the most skillful manner, and the best possible workmanship has been applied to every part. All the joints fit so accurately that there is no discernible loss of motion A motion communicated at one point instantly produces motion in every other point with which it is connected. The results announced by it have been entirely satisfactory so far as they depended on its indications, and we are satisfied that its invention will be a valuable boon to all manufacturers of ma- chinery involving direct draft, leading them to much more certain methods of applying the power than they have ever possessed before. Each machine on trial was tested in the field of Mr. Reed, the grass being coarse timothy, rather thin on the ground, but suffi- ciently uniform in thickness to give satisfactory comparative results. The absolute value of these results was vitiated by the unequal lengths of the cutting bars used by the different machines. We made several experiments v/ith bars of unequal lengths which we hoped would enable us to equate these discrepancies, but, as we have shown above, these experiments when subsequently com- puted were shown to give contradictory results, and we were therefore unable to use them as we intended. Fortunately, however, the principal machines were tested a second time in Col. Wood's lot with bars of equal length, and cutting very nearly equal heights of stubble. A comparison of these results with those in the Eeed lot will enable those interested to arrive at tolerably close approximations to the relative power required to operate each machine. These results are all given in the tables annexed and in the " record" of each machine. 150 In making the trials, the driver in all cases walked upon the ground. Mr. W-atermau sat upon the driver's seat, so that his weight was a constant quantity for all the machines. When ready to start, Mr. Waterman made a signal to Mr. Harison, who stood at the other end of the field, which he answered, noting the time at the same instant. When the machine stopped at the other end, he again noted the time. Mr. Waterman noted the indications of the dials, and the surveyor measured the breadth of the swath in several places and took the average of the measurements. The power required to run the machine with the knife vibrat- ing out of grass, and the power required to run it out of gear, was next ascertained in the same way. These latter observations ought to be repeated several times in order to make them wholly reliable, and the light which such a work would cast upon the action of the machines would well repay the labor expended. THE MODIFICATION OF THE BATCHELLOE DYNAMOMETER. This is intended to measure the power transmitted from one pulley to another. It consists of three spur wheels 12 inches in diameter, and all having an equal number of accurately cut teeth, two inches long, and having five-eighth pitch, which mesh into each other. The bearings of the first and third wheels are firmly fixed upon the platform, and are 2| inches wide. From the cen- ter of the platform two standards rise, made of cast iron, one foot high and 2| inches wide, having a flange on their middle line at riffht ano;les to them, and terminatino- so that the section is in the form of an isoceles triangle. A gate, having an opening for the central wheel, which is supplied with bearings on its lower ex- tremities, has its edges grooved so as to correspond with the tri- angular terminations of the flanges, and slides upward and down- ward freely upon them. Either of the wheels A or C may be made the driving wheel, but whichever is selected, the power must be applied in such a way as to press the middle wheel B downwards. Suppose A to be made the driving wheel, the power being communicated to it through a shaft having a univer- sal joint from the source of power, another shaft from the wheel C will transmit the force to the machine to be moved; it is clear 151 that all the force with which A moves will be communicated to C through B. Since A revolves in the direction of the arrow, the tendency will be to depress the gate on which the wheel B hangs, and since the wheel B pushes the wheel C upward with the same force with which it is itself pressed downward, it is evident that a weight twice as great as the force employed will be required to counter-balance the downward motion of the gate. The force is measured by the dynamometer above described. A strap from a pulley on the driven shaft giving motion to it, one-half the force indicated by the dial multiplied by the velocity of the driven wbeel per minute, and this product divided by 33,000 lbs., will give the number of horse powers, and decimals of a horse power, consumed by the machine to which the power is transmitted. We intended to measure the power of threshing and straw- cutting machines with this instrument, but two of the teeth broke in the very first experiment, and we were therefore unable to continue them. The Prony brake used in the test of horse powers is too well known to require description. AWARD OF PREMIUMS. Having now given in full detail, all the particulars of the con- struction of each machine, and the record of their action under the various circumstances in which we have tested them, it now remains for us to consider which of them is shown to be the best. CLASS I. Mowers. Beginning with the record of the work in the Monson meadow, we find three machines which were then clearly pre-eminent, viz: Buckeye, entry No. 10; R. I. CliiDper, No. 18; and Wood's Mower, No. 8. Of these, the stubble of the two first was slightly the shortest, but for evenness and smoothness of cut, for adapta- tion to unevenness of surface, and to different kinds of bottom, to different weeds and grasses, and to the admirable way in which the grass was left for drying, the cutting of all these machines was nearly all that could be desired, and were all marked by the judges with the number 40, which denoted perfection of work, and they were the only ones thus marked. 152 Examining the record of these three mowers in the clover lots, we find the following marks indicating quality of work: Buckeye, entry No. 10, was marked. 40 E. I. Clipper, entry No. 18, was marked ._ 32 Wood's Mower, No. 8, was marked ... 29 The Clipper thus appears on the record very inferior as a mower of clover, to the Buckeye; and Wood's was inferior to the Clipper though in a less degree. The construction and workmanship of these machines are such, that they ought to make better work than they did. The Clipper especially has an excellent adjustment for rotating the finger bar so as to bring it to the very roots of the grass ; but we have no right to go behind the record in making our decisions, and as the Buckeye is the only one which made perfect work in both fields we are constrained to give the preference to the Buckeye No. 10; for quality of worh. Considered with reference to ease of draft we find the follow- ing record: In Reed's Lot. In AVood's Lot. Buckeye, No. 10 180. 5 '6 lbs. 227.19 lbs. R. I. Clipper, No. 18 199.00 lbs. 236.22 lbs. Wood's Mower, No. 8 186.74 lbs. 257.62 lbs. In the Reed lot, the true result was complicated by the dif- ferent widths of swath which were cut by the difierent machines. The Buckeye cut 3 feet 9i inches. The Clipper 5 feet. The Wood Mower, 4 feet 3^ inches. To obviate this source of ambio-uitv, the 2d trial was made in Col. Wood's lot, where the bars were of equal length. But even here we cannot be absolutely certain, since the stubble was some- what longer in the Buckeye swath than it was in the Clipper's, and considerably longer than it was in Wood's, and the bar of . the latter machine was new and rough. In view of all the facts, although the apparent draft Avas in fivor of the Buckeye, we cannot conclude that either of the machines had any very impor- tant advantage over the other in ease of draft. Considered with reference to durability, one of the most com- mon ways in which mowing machines are broken is by the sud- den arrest of their motion by running against a stump or stone. 153 It is therefore of importance, in determining this question, to study the different modes of resisting this shock. On the Buckeye a heavy iron hanger is bolted securely to the front of the frame. A wrought iron coupling, 4 inches broad by five-eighths of an inch in thickness, hinged at both ends, extends from two ears cast on the side of the front hanger to the ears on the inside shoe. A brace of one inch wrought iron extends from a point near the upper or fixed point of the coupling bar, for- wards and downwards, to ears cast on the front of the inner shoe; another brace of wrought iron, 2| inches wide by three-eighths of an inch in thickness, with a piece of wood bolted to it in order to strengthen it, is bolted at its forward end to the center of the coupling piece, and extends backward and upward to a casting underneath the back timber of the frame. On the Clipper, to a rectangular iron frame hinged on the axle, is bolted on the left hand front corner a quadrant shaped iron coupling piece; an arch piece of iron, having two circular slots on which it rotates, is secured by two three-quarter bolts to the coupling piece. The finger and knife bars play upward and downward on the shoe, the ears on which receive the lower ex- tremities of the arch piece, and are fastened thereto by bolts. In the Wood machine, a rectangular wooden frame, which in- clines forward and downward, is hinged to the axle. To the underside of the left hand corner of the front part of the frame an iron spring coupling bar is bolted, to which the shoe is at- tached by a joint, an iron rod suspended from the under side of the frame, and running parallel with it, is jointed to the rear of the shoe. On comparing these arrangements for resisting the shock of a sudden arrest of the motion of the knife, we are of opinion that those adopted by the Buckeye are the best, and that this machine is less liable to injury from such an accident than either of the others. We think, too, that Mr. Wood's very quick motion will cause his machine to wear out sooner than the other two. The drive wheels of the Clipper are made by casting a rim and hub on wrought iron spokes. This has been frequently attempted before, but hitherto without success in ensuring permanency. The proprietors claim that they have adopted nc^v methods by Avhich 154 the wheel will remain firm and solid. It may be so, but in our judgment, the Avheels of the Buckeye are more reliable, and may be expected to outlast considerably those of the Clipper. We commend the admirable finish of the Clipper — the mechani- cal accuracy with which all its joints are approximated to each other, the fiudtless cutting of its gearing, and the admirable style of its execution throughout. Although its journal bearings and gearing are very carefully cased, yet it is impossible to prevent the insinuation of fine grit to the journals, and as very few farmers have enough of mechauical skill to take the machine apart for the purpose of cleaning it and accurately replace the pieces, we are afraid that in practice, the journals and bearings of this machine would be found to wear more rapidly than those which, being more accessible, can be more easily cleaned. Ao-ain, it seems to us that when these bearings wear, it will I)c necessary to replace the lohole of that part of the machine with which they are connected ; the spur pinion and the bevel driver beino- on a shaft with very short bearings, a small amount of this wear will cause a great amount of derangement of the gearing, and thus diminish its durability. Experience may demonstrate that these views are erroneous, but until the question is thus de- cided, the views which we have expressed are the result of our best judgment. We think that the Buckeye is the most durable for another reason. It is well known that bevil gearing is not as accurately made as spur gearing, hence spur gearing is universally preferred for hish speeds, as it works more smoothly, with less wear, less vibration, and less tendency to mutual displacement. The Buck- eye takes a judicious advantage of this principle, and gets up the slower first motion with bevil gearing, and the second fast motion with spur gearing. For these reasons we award the verdict of greatest durability to the Buckeye. The Buckeye's record for side draft was 2^ lbs.; Clipper's was 5 lbs., and Wood's 6 lbs. The Buckeye, therefore, has the preference in side draft. We cannot see any considerable diflference in these machines with respect to simplicity of construction, except that the R. I. Clipper is put together with the fewest bolts. With the exception of the element of portability the three ma- 155 chines are very nearly alike, with respect to facility of manage- ment. But the Buckeye when moving from place to place, folds its bar completely over upon the frame, while on the others, it remains vertically on the side of the frame. This we think con- stitutes a strong claim to commendation on the score of jgorta- hility. The casing of the shafts and gearing of the Clipper makes that machine somewhat safer for the driver, but on the whole, the hori- zontal folding of the finger bar gives the Buckeye the preference iov facility of management. It follows clearly from this that the Buckeye excels in the greatest number of points. We may possibly err in our judg- ment on the question of durability, but in relation to the other points there can be no question whatever, and we therefore award the gold medal in the first class, to Adriance, Piatt & Co., for their Buckeye mower, entry No. 10. CLASS II. Reajpers — Hand-rahes. In this there were only two entries, viz. : D. M. Osborne k Co., No. 19, and C. Wheeler, jr., No. 20. Osborne cnt No. 11 in the Leach wheat field, and did it most admirably. We never saw this work surpassed in any field. His mark for quality of work was 40, which is the number of perfection. Wheeler cut No. 21, in the same lot. Letter G. His mark was 31 for quality of work. Osborne, therefore, receives the preference for quality of ivork. Neither machine was tested for draft as a reaper. But both were tested as mowers ; Osborne's No. 19 being the same as mower No. 2. The only difference in their draft as hand-rakers, would be caused by the increased weight of the platform, the extra chair and raker. As there would not be much diiference in these additions, we shall not probably err in assuming the dyna- mometer results as mowers, as representing their comparative drafts as reapers. Osborne, No. 2..- 212.41 lbs. Width of swath... 1,464 yds. Cayuga G 233.95 lbs. Width of swath. . . 1,423 yds. The width of Osborne's being 1^ inches greater, his draft was 156 lighter by 21.54 lbs. .We therefore, give the preference to his No. 19, for ease of draft. In point of durability "\^e were unable to perceive that either had a prefereuce over the other. In simplicity Osborne evidently excelled. In facility for cutting lodged grain we are of opinion that Wheeler's Cayuga G had the advantage.. With respect to side draft Osborne's showed 2 lbs., and Cayuga G 4 lbs. Osborne's No. 19, therefore has the preference in side draft. With respect to facility of management^ we find that in some of the elements, one machine, and in some, the other machine has slightly the advantage, but that on the whole, the balance is so even that we cannot give to either a very decided preference in this respect. D. M. Osborne & Co., entry 19, having the greatest number of good points, and no bad ones which counterbalance the good qualities, we award the gold medal of this class to them. CLASS II |. Self rakers. There were five competitors for the prize in this class. Of these Seymour, Morgan & Allen, entry No. 27i, received as the mark for quality of work in the Leach lot, 39, and C. C. Bradley & Son, entry No. 22, also received the same number, 39. None of the other competitors were marked as high. In the trial in Sheldon's lodged wheat, Seymour, Morgan & Allen's work was marked 38, and C. C. Bradley & Son, 37. None of the other competitors received as high marks as these. In the rye lot, Seymour, Morgan & Allen were marked 40, the highest mark of excellence, and they well deserved it. There was a high wind acting on the tall rye, and their gavels were laid in the most admirable manner, as was witnessed by the judges and the numerous spectators. C. C. Bradley & Son were marked 37. In the barley field, Seymour, Morgan & Allen was marked 40 ; C. C. Bradley & Son were marked 39. In one trial their marks were equal ; in the three remaining trials, Seymour, Morgan & Allen's marks were the highest, and we therefore adjudge them the preference for quality of work. 157 Without entering into an elaborate analysis of the macmnes, it may be sufficient to say, that we decided that Sej^mour, Morgan & Allen's machine was the strongest, and most durable. In regard to simplicity of construction, there was too little dif- ference to demand a decided preference for either. If there is any, it is on the side of C. C. Bradley' & Son. With regard to ease of draft, in the trial field, the draft of fSeymour & Morgan, was, up hill 367.9 lbs.; on a level, 25().9 C.'C. Bradley & Son, was, up hill. . 283.8 lbs.; on a level, 200.0 (^. C. Bradley & Son, therefore, have the preference for ease of draft. Seymour & Morgan's record for side draft, is 3 lbs. C. C. Bradley's, is 5 lbs. In neither case is the amount objectionable, but as Seymour & Morgan's ia the lowest, we must follow the record, and award them the preference for ease in side draft. With respect to facility of management, there is very little dif- ference between the two machines, in the several elements which go to constitute facility. We think C. C. Bradley's seat for the driver, is more easily accessible than Seymour & Morgan's, but this is counterbalanced by the superior outlook of S. & M.'s driver, by which he is better enabled to avoid obstacles, such as stumps, stones, and ant hills, that could not be discerned from Bradley's seat. There is one element of facility of management in which S. & M. are decidedly superior. By an arrangement of an eccen- tric collar on the axle, described elsewhere in this report, they are enabled to depress their sickle without changing the level of the platform, which is of the greatest advantage in lodged grain. Being nearly equal in other respects, the last feature alone induces us to give the preference iov facility of management, to Seymour & Morgan. Seymour, Morgan & Allen have, therefore, a decided prepon- derance in the qualities which constitute a valuable self-raking reaper ; the only objection to it, being its greater draft, which ig 56.9 lbs. in excess of Bradley's. This excess, in our opinion, is due to its greater weight, which is 218 lbs. more than Bradley's, and therefore, increases its surface draft. But as this greater weight is caused by greater provision to secure its durability, it is much more excusable than if the draft had been consumed by increased friction. We therefore, award the gold medal in this 158 class, to Seymour, Morgan & Allen, for their " New Yorker," entry No. 27^ ; especially with reference to its superiority in adaptation to various kinds of grain, and to varied circumstances of wind. CLASS m Combined Mowers and Reajpers — Hand-Udkers. There were seven competitors in this class. The machines having the highest marks for quality of work as reapers in this class were, in the Leach field, Cayuga Chief, H, entry No. 35: (36); Eagle, entry No. 29: (34); W.A.Wood, entry No. 30: (33). These machines in the clover lot were marked as follows : Cayuga Chief , H, 36; Eagle, No. 29: (38); W. A. Wood, No. 30: (19). Neither the Cayuga Chief nor W. A. Wood's No 30, mowed in the Monson meadow, but the Eagle did, the mark for quality of work being 37. In the lots where all competed equally, the Cayuga Chief and the Eagle appear to be on precisely the same level. The Chief being just as much superior to the Eagle as ^. reaper, as the Eagle was superior to the Chief as a mower. In the Sheldon lot, working in lodged wheat, the Eagle is marked 35, Wood 32, and Cayuga, H, 30. This latter result gives the preponderance to the Eagle, and we therefore ^v^q the preference to it for quality of luorJc. In the dynamometer field, Cayuga Chief, H, required a traction of 223.32 lbs.; Wood's Combined, No. 30, 203.22 lbs.; Eagle, No. 29, 219.43. Wood's machine has therefore the preference for ease of draft. The side draft of the Eagle was 5 lbs. ; that of Wood's, No. 30, was 3 lbs. ; that of Cayuga, H, was 5 lbs. Wood's, No. 30, therefore, has the pre-eminence for ease of side draft. Cayuga, H, is less simple in its construction than Wood's or the Eagle, but the two latter vary very little in this respect, and neither of them can claim pre-eminence over the other. The Eagle is pre-eminently adapted to uneven surfaces, and is adapted to a much wider range of inequalities than Wood's. This quality requires that it should have the preference iov facility of management. 159 On carefully comparing the Eagle and Wood's mower, we find them so nearly alike with respect to strength, that we cannot give to either any preference on the score of durability. In this condition of the comparison, we consider the superiority of Wood's machine, in ease of draft, will give it the decided pre- ference, and we therefore award the gold medal in this class to Walter A. Wood, entry No. 30. CLASS IV. Combined Reapers with Self-raJcing or Dropping Attachments. Ten competitors entered in this class. Williams, Wallace & Co., entry No. 42, was marked for quality of work in the Leach wheat field, 39, and in Sheldon's lodged wheat field, 36. Seymour, Morgan k Allen, entry 44, was marked for quality of work 38 in the Leach lot, and 38 in the Sheldon lot. In rye, 40. W. H. Halliday, entry No. 47, was marked for quality of work in the Leach lot, 37 ; in the Sheldon lot, 40 ; in rye, 38. W., W. & Co., No. 42, was marked for quality of work, 38, in the clover lot, and 38 in the Monson meadow. S., M. & A., No. 44, was marked for quality of work in the clover lot, 35, and in the Monson meadow, 39. . W. H. H., No. 47, was marked for quality of work in the clover lot, 28, but did not mow with this machine in the Monson meadow. It appears from these data, that Williams, Wallace & Co., are entitled to a slight preference for quality of work. The machine of Williams, Wallace & Co., is more simple than Seymour, Morgan & Allen's, but is entitled to no preference over Halliday's, for simplicity of construction. Seymour, Morgan k Allen's machine has the preference for durability. The draft of Williams, Wallace & Co., was 202.82 lbs. The draft of Seymour, Morgan k Allen, was.. 234.80 lbs. The draft of W. H. Halliday, was 252.93 lbs. Williams, Wallace k Co., are therefore entitled to preference for ease of draft. The side draft of Williams, Wallace & Co., was 11 lbs. The side draft of Seymour, Morgan & Allen, was 3 lbs. The side draft of Wm. H. Halliday, was 7i lbs. 160 Seymour, Morgan & Allen, therefore, have the preference ni case of side draft. We are of opinion that the machine of Williams, Wallace & Co., is entitled to the preference on account oi facility of manage- ment. Williams, Wallace & Co.'s machine having the greatest number of good qualities, we award the gold medal to them for their entry No. 42. CLASS V. Combined Readers, Self or Hand Rakers, as desired. The highest mark made by any competitor in the reaping field, was Dodge, Stevenson & Co.'s entry. No. 52, which was 36, and in Sheldon's lot, 35. The same machine was marked for quality of work as low as 29. As these were the best marks made in the class, we do not think that any of them is entitled to the gold medal. CLASS VI. One Horse Mowers. We awarded the gold medal in this class to E. L. Allen, entry No. 57. SECOND PREMIUMS. Class 1. — As the E. I. Clipper came so near to the first place, there can be no doubt of its right to the second place. We award to E. I. Clipper Mowing Co., entry No. 18, a prize of $25. Class 2. — We award to C. Wheeler, jr., entry No. 20, letter G., a prize of $25. Class 2|. — To C. C. Bradley & Son, entry No. 2, a prize of $25. Class 3.— To E. F. Herrington, entry No. 29, a prize of $25. Class 4. — To Seymour, Morgan k Allen, a prize of $25.. Class 5. — We award no second premium in this class. Class 6. — To D. M. Osborne, for his one-horse Mower, entry No. 56, a prize of $25. CLASS VII. Horse Powers — Inclined Endless Chain. E. & M. Harder, Cobleskill, Schoharie Co., N. Y., entry No. 1. Messrs. Horace L. Emery & Son, and Wheeler, Melick & Co.,. , 161 both of Albany, entered machines under this class, but finally concluded to withdraw them, and the trial was therefore re- stricted to entry No. 1 alone. Weight of the horse power, 1,850 lbs. Price, $190. As every farmer is acquainted with the general principles of endless chain horse powers, we will confine our description to points which are peculiar to this machine: 1st. It is somewhat wider and longer than other machines with which we are acquainted; the sides are also somewhat lower, admitting more air to, and under the horses in hot weather. The entire leno-th of the chain is IS^-^g" f^et; there are 31 links, each 7 inches long; it is 4 feet 7 inches wide from outside to outside of sills. 2d. The upper and lower parts of the chain are of course flat and parallel to each other; the two ends form arcs of a circle. Now, it is plain that when the chain consists of an even number of links, the center of two of the links must be upon the end of the versed sines of both arcs at the same period of time; the link (7 inches long), therefore forms a tangent at the arcs, which produces a strain upon the chain equal to twice the horizontal distance from the end of the link to the curve of the arc, which relaxes as soon as it passes the versed sines. It will be readily seen that this alternate tension and relaxation will cause a jerking and irregular action which consumes power uselessly, and wears out the machine rapidly. This difliculty is obviated in Messrs. Harder's machine, by putting in an odd, instead of an even number of links. In this way only one of the links can be a tan- gent at the versed sine at once ; the point of greatest tension at one end will always be met by the point oi greatest relaxation at the other, which equalizes the strain and causes it to move much more smoothly and with greater economy of power. 3d. The same principle is carried out in the arrangement of the reels. The usual way of constructing these powers is, either to carry round the lower end of t]ie chain on a curved railway, or on a reel having the same number of arms as the upper one. It will be readily seen that when both these arms are in the same straight line, the tension will be much greater than when they are not in the same line. To prevent the occurrence of this diffi- culty Messrs. Harder make their upper reel with seven clutch arms, while the lower one has only five. By this arrangement 11 162 the point of greatest tension in the upper reel corresponds with the point of least tension in the lower one. This equalizing feature of the links and clutch arms is a dis- tinctive feature of this machine, and the result is that it works more equally, more smoothly, and with less waste of ^ower, than any machine that we have ever met with. 4th. Most endless chain powers carry the chain and friction rollers around the curve at the lower end on a railway. When the upper part of the chain is moving downward towards the lower end, the friction rollers are rotating in the same direction as the hands of a watch; but when they pass the extremity of the curve, their motion is reversed, so that their rotation is opposite to the hands of a watch. The same change of direction of course occurs at their passage from the lower to the upper side of the chain. The power employed in overcoming the inertia of these wheels is therefore lost, and at the points where the change of direction is made, the surface of the railway is abraded, and the rollers themselves are more worn. The friction is therefore cumulatively increased, and after continued wear, it becomes very objectionable. In this machine the chain is carried round both the curves by the clutch arms of the reels, the upper and lower railways terminating when they cease to be parallel. On leaving the railway, the friction rollers revolve in their own axes in free space, and in passing the distance of 17 inches their motion of rotation is arrested by friction on their own axles, and when they re-enter the railway, there is no inertia to be overcome, their ad- vent is quiet and noiseless, and without injury to the rollers or the railway. We believe that this arrangement is peculiar to this machine, and in our opinion it is a great merit.* 5th. The construction of this machine is such as to produce a sufficient speed for threshing by a veiy slow and easy movement of the horses, as will be seen from the following statement: The large log wheel, which is keyed on to the large reel shaft, makes four three-seventh revolutions to one revolution of the chain. The pinion, which is keyed to the band wheel shaft, and is carried by the large cog wheel, makes 5 J revolutions to one revolution * N. B.— Since the above was written, Mr. G. Westinghouse, of Schenectady, has shown us letters patent granted to him more than ten years ago for a crooked link by means of which he inserts an odd number. The odd link introduced by Messrs. Harder is straight. 163 of the large wheel. The diameter of baud wheel is 38^ inches. The average number of revolutions of the chain in one minute, was, according to our observations while thrashing, 6| to 7. Assuming seven revolutions per minute as the true motion of the chain, we have 15 rods less than 1| miles travel of the horses in an hour. This slow rate of movement of the chain adapts it better to the use of oxen, as well as horses, than any others which require a more rapid rate of travel. 6th, The friction rollers in this machine have a greater diame- ter than most other machines, being six inches. The result of this is, that they make fewer rotations on their axes in traveling a given distance than those of a less diameter, and therefore the friction is proportionally diminished. 7th. The mechanical execution of this power is deserving of high commendation. A very careful examination of every part showed thorough and conscientious workmanship and material in every place ; nothing was slighted ; the strength of material was admirably distributed, and the gearing was very superior throughout. The boxes of the main shafts were of metal, which ran without heating. We have seen of late that some manufacturers build bridges without cross rods. We have had no experience ourselves of the effect of this omission, on the durability of the machine, but the fact that Messrs. Harder have retained these rods, gives us more confidence in its durability, and makes us feel more safe in com- mending it with assurance to the farmers of the State, as one which will be little liable to give them trouble by breaking. 8 th. The following experiments were made to test the friction and the useful power of the machine. The weight of the horses was 2,326 lbs. When the front end of the machine was elevated 56 minutes, it produced a motion of the platform sufficient to thrash grain, or seven revolutions of the chain per minute. A Prony's brake was screwed to the periphery of the band wheel, so tightly that it could not slip, the radius of the circle being 2.97 feet. It required 13 lbs. applied at the extremity of the radial bar to counterbalance the weight of the horses, when the angle of the machine was 13 degrees. The nuts were now 164 turned so as to permit the band wheel to revolve slowly in the brake, when it required 13| lbs. to counterbalance the radius. It follows from this, that the horses travel 127.75 feet per minute on the hypotheneuse of a right angled triangle, whose angle opposite to the perpendicular, is 56 minutes. By the usual trigonometrical process the perpendicular is ascertained to be 2.081 feet. This height 2.081 ft. X 2,326 lbs., the weight of the horses = 4,840.406 -r 33,000 = 0.146 horse power consumed by friction. Seven revolutions of the chain in one minute, X 4,428, the number of revolutions of the driver, to one revolution of the chain ; X 5|, the number of revolutions of the pinion, to one re- volution of the driver ; X 25 ft., the circumference of the circle formed by the revolutions of the brake ; X 13.75 lbs., sustained by the brake, = 58,601.81 raised 1 ft. high in 1 min., -^ 33,000 lbs., which is one horse power, = 1,776 horse power as the effec- tive force of the horses. This amount of useful effect exerted by the horses, added to 0.146 horse power consumed by the friction, amounts to 1.922 horse power. The remainder = .078 horse power probably arises from the fact that a higher angle than 13 degrees is required to exhibit the maximum power of the horses. We have no hesitation in awarding to this power a gold medal. CLASS VIIT. Horse Power — Lever or Sweep. Dow & Fowler, Fowlerville, Livingston county, N. Y., entry No. 5. Weight, 1,450 lbs. ; price, $180. This power is on the well known sun and planet principle, with only one pair of bevel gears. The sweeps are 22 feet in diameter, and so geared that one turn of the horses gives seventy-five revolu tions of the driving shaft. The ordinary gait of the horses when thrashing is two revolutions of the power in five minutes. It required a traction of four lbs., when the power was running Horse Power — Lever or Sweep. ■ j • •/ j. i j • empty, to- give it two revolutions per minute ; 6^ lbs. to give 6| revolutions per minute. 165 The workmanship is good. We have no hesitation in expressing our opinion that this is a valuable power, from its record here and from its performances elsewhere. We submit to the executive committee a recommend- ation to award it a gold medal. CLASS IX. Ten-horse Threshers and Cleaners. Dow & Fowler, Fowlerville, Livingston Co., N. Y., entry No. 5. Weight of machine and wagon, 1,850 lbs,; price of machine, $350; of wagon, $50; power, shafting, wagon and machine com- plete, $580. This is substantially the old Pitts machine, well known to the farmers of New York for many years, and which has won innu- merable prizes at our agricultural fairs. It is well built, and has improved rather than deteriorated in the hands of Messrs. Dow& Fowler. We have no doubt of its great excellence, but as the belts were loose, it did not do good work on this trial. Had there been time to adjust the belts properly, it would probably have made as good or a better record than it has made in times that are past. It thrashed 150 sheaves in 20 minutes, and pro- duced 7 bushels of wheat. Owing to the slackness of the belts, it did not get clear of the straw, the sieves were frequently choked, and the wheat was not as well cleaned as was desirable. We impute no fault to the machine for these mishaps, but as no premium can be given, except on an actual record, we are pre- vented from recommending that a premium should be awarded to it. CLASS X. Two-horse Combined Threshers and Cleaners. E. &M. Harder, Cobleskill, Schoharie Co., N. Y., entry No. 7. Weight, 1,100 lbs.; price, $210; dust flue, extra price, $10. This machine is one of great value, and has several features difierent from any thrashers and cleaners within our knowledge. 1st. The thrasher is overshot; the cylinder is of wood, covered with sheet iron and heavily banded; is heavier than usual; accu- rately balanced, so that very little vibration is produced when revolving at its highest speed. The cylinder revolves about 166 I^IOQ times in a minute, when the horses travel at the rate of 1^ miles per hour. 2d. The teeth, which are heavy, are not put into the cylinder with a screw, as is usual, but are driven in and clinched on the inner side. By this arrangement, if the tooth breaks, another can be replaced in the, same spot, which cannot so well be done when put in with a screw. 3d. The feed table ascends 2| inches next to the cylinder, at which angle the straw enters most readily between the teeth of the cylinder and concave, and stones or other hard substances which may be in the straw, roll downward without injury to the teeth of the thrasher. 4th. The ends of the cylinder shaft are of cast steel, and are a quarter of an inch more in diameter than ordinary machines, as claimed by Mr. Harder, giving a wider bearing against the boxes. 5th. A dust flue is attached to the thrasher, when ordered, which is a very great relief to the operator, and which it is claimed is peculiar to this machine. 6th. The concave is so adjusted, that'in raising it by means of the nuts, the front edge rises somewhat more rapidly than the hinder one, thus o-ivino; more room in front to receive the straw easily in its stiff, unbroken condition, and allowing the back teeth to do the most threshing when the straw has been bruised and softened; consequently, less power is required to take through the same amount of straw. 7th. The feed table is easily removable, and can be as easily replaced. 8th. The cylinder shaft is provided with a ratchet coupling, by means of which the cylinder continues to revolve freely when the horse power is suddenly stopped, which avoids the dangerous wrench which Avould ensue if the great velocity of the cylinder were suddenly arrested. 9th. It can be changed from the right to the left hand by a very simple and easy adjustment. 10th. The arrangements for separating the grain from the straw are unusually good; two forked arms in the separator are continually rising and falling, which keep the straw loose and facilitate the separation of the grain. It has a quick vibration of 4 inches. The end most remote from the cylinder is hung 4| 167 inches higher than that which is nearest to it, and by a peculiar arrangement of the hangers, the motion is materially improved. 11th. The sieves are larger than usual; they are five in number, shaken laterally, and are supplied with a very powerful stream of wind. 12th. The mechanical construction and execution are of the very best kind, and we have no hesitation in saying that, in our opinion, this machine embodies the greatest advances that have yet been made in the act of separating grain from the straw. In our trials, it thrashed 250 bundles of wheat in 40 minutes, producing 11 bushels of clean wheat. It delivered the grain in a very clean and excellent condition. We fully believe it to be admirably adapted to meet the wants of the farmers, and we therefore recommend to the Executive Committee to give a gold medal to this machine. CLASS XIII. Horse-RaJces. Seven horse-rakes, differing essentially from each other in structure and arrangement, were entered for competition. These were subjected, under varying circumstances, to very severe tests, calculated to develop their durability, their successful working in various crops, and their facility of management with ease and comfort to the driver. . The result showed that they were all equally able to rake clean, and without injury to the turf. All of them delivered their loads equally well, except the Bay State Horse-Eake, No. 14, which, being constructed especially for working in the fine grasses found in the low-land meadows of New England, was un- provided with cleaning rods, which are required to throw off the load when working in heavy green clover. The only questions, therefore, which were left for the judges to decide were those which related to the durability of the ma- chine, and the safety and comfort of the driver. The rakes were tested on the clover field of Wheaton Leach. On the dynamometer field, in raking coarse timothy; on the field of Mr. Monson, at Sennett, in raking fine grasses; and on several stubble fields, in gathering the scattered grain. 168 The manner of their operation is described below in connection with eacli competing machine. Titus & Bostwick, Ithaca : Sharp's Independent Steel Tooth Horse-Rake; entry No. 10; weight, 270 lbs.; price, $45; no extras. The teeth are held firmly to the ground by a cam. "When the rake is to be lifted, this cam is released by the action of the driver on a lever ; the horse then raises the rake. The machine is simple in construction, the materials excellent, and the work- manship very good. The only objection to it is, that the driver is required to twist himself into a constrained and unnatural posi- tion, every time the rake is lifted, in which he releases the cam, holding down the teeth, which requires considerable efibrt. Barber, Sheldon & Co. : The Hollingsworth Adjustable Steel Tooth Sulkey Horse-Rake; entry No. 11; price, $45; with extra tooth and wrench. This machine has many peculiarities which strongly individu- alize it, and mark the line which separates it from other machines in a very clear manner. It has adjustable teeth, each of them being quite independent of the others, passing through its own rock-shaft to which it is secured by a set screw several inches below its upper extremity. The upper end of the tooth plays against a spiral spring. In conse- quence of this arrangement, when the tooth is caught in a stone, or other obstruction in the ground, the strain does not fall upon the tooth, but on the spiral spring at the head ; it is only when the obstruction requires more force for its removal than is con- tained in the elasticity of the upper spring, that any strain comes upon the substance of the tooth or tries its temjjer. Again, by this arrangement, if one or more teeth are caught in a bog, they fall, when released, perpend icularlj^ downward, and begin to rake again immediately. By virtue of their adjustability, the rake may be set so that the teeth will not touch the ground, and to present a very firm and rigid resistance in raking green and heavy clover; or it may draw lightly over the surface, as in raking stubble fields, or may be extended to its full length so as to be exceedingly elastic in raking peas. In a word, this principle of adjustability adapts it to a wider range of circumstances and adaptations than any other. If a tooth breaks in the field, it may be replaced in a few minutes l)}^ turning the set screw. If one 169 of the teeth gets out of range with the others, it may be set in line with great ease. Its high wheels enable it to gather larger windrows than others. The rake is raised by means of a compound lever, aided by a balancing frame, the weight of which, when once tipped, aids in raising the rake. The labor of raising the rake is not great, but the arc through which the lever moves is long, and is therefore rather straining to the arm. The workmanship and material of the rake are good, and we should suppose it would be durable. A. B. Sprout's Patent Steel Tooth Horse-Rake ; entry No. 13; price, $45 ; without extras ; weight, 250 lbs. The chief peculiarity of this rake is the form of its tooth, which has a triangular section, the sides of the triangle being concave. When we consider what strain will be brought to bear upon a sickle formed tooth, when its extreme end is caught in an obstruction, and its opposite end is carried forward progressively, we shall readily see that certain portions of it are more likely to break than others. In the construction of the teeth of this machine, much attention has been paid to this point, and the makers have been very suc- cessful in distributing the metal, both as respects form and sub- stance, so as to bring the greatest strength to bear against the greatest strain. We have no doubt whatever that the teeth of this machine are decidedly stronger than any other. The teeth of this machine, like those of No. 11, work against a spiral spring, but while on that the pressure is on the spring perpendicularly, pressing the spirals together; in this it operates laterally', and by its action twists and untwists the spring. The rake can be raised by the driver with considerable ease, though we think not quite so easily as with No. 11. The teeth, like those of No. 11, are hung near the center; the weight there- fore of that portion above the center serves as a counterbalance in raising the teeth. Buckeye Mowing Machine Co., West Fitchburgh, Mass.: Bay State Horse-Eake; entry No. 14; price, $45; weight 250 lbs. Each tooth, like No. 11, is hinged to the axle, and is pressed down by spiral springs. A ratchet and pawl is affixed to the end of the axle, which is kept out of mesh by a spiral spring. As soon as this spring is touched by the foot of the driver, the pawl falls into the ratchet, and the rake is lifted by the horse. 170 Ix^is macliiue can be worked with greater ease to the driver than any other, and we think the material and workmanship exceeded all the rest. In raking the heavy and tangled clover it failed to drop its load, making, therefore, irregular and straggling windrows. This failure was manifestly due to the want of cleaning rods. They were afterwards supplied, when it worked admirably in all res- pects. The other exhibitors protested that it was now a different ma- chine from what it was when first entered ; the sub-committee in the field were reluctantly compelled to acquiesce in this view of the case, and it was, therefore, excluded from competition. The machine worked as well as could be desired, in fine grass, without cleaning rods. S. B. Whitney, Coxsackie, Greene county, N. Y. ; Eevolving Wheel Horse-Eake, entry No. 12 ; price. This is the ordhiary wooden revolving rake, with an attachment on which the driver can ride. This machine, though entered in due season, did not arrive on the ground in time to participate in the regular trials in clover. It worked a little afterwards, but did not rake clean. We think that this was owing to the carelessness of the driver, rather than to any fault of the rake itself. It was sold immediately afterwards, and did no more work to illustrate its action. H. N. Tracy : Warner's Eevolving Wheel Horse-Eake ; price, with iron tips, $38 ; without them, $35. This is a wooden revolving rake, with a sulkey attachment ; the teeth are tipped with malleable iron ; the sulkey is connected with the rake by two bolts, which can be removed in three minutes. When it is desired to remove the rake from one place to the other, a hinge joint allows it to be thrown over the driver's seat, where the ends of the teeth are inserted in a recep- tacle provided for the purpose. The whole apparatus is then in a very compact form, and may be transported to any distance, with the greatest ease. When working, the driver jjresses on a spring with a force of eight pounds, which draws the catch in the rake head ; he then depresses the lever slightly, when the teeth catch in the ground 171 and the rake revolves. The machine leaves little to be desired in a wooden rake. All the preceding machines are arranged for their driver to ride on the machines. P. S. Carver, Honeoye Falls, Monroe county : Carver's Improv- ed One Handle Horse-Kake ; price, $15, with iron tips ; $12 with- out : weight, 100 lbs. This machine is arranged for the driver to walk after the horse. Considered simply as a rake, this exhibits several real and valua- ble improvements. The heels of the teeth are braced so as to increase their strength very much. Instead of dragging the whole surface of the rake over the ground, it is mounted on steel shod runners, which di- minishes the friction. It is well known to those who have used horse rakes, that they are liable to wind so that while one side has if tendency to run into the ground, the other side points into the air and runs over the grass without raking it. A slight alteration of these shoes corrects this difficulty, and keeps the line of the teeth always even. A weighted lever behind the rake, trips the catch of the rake and causes it to revolve with great ease to the raker. This rake is a very great improvement over all its predeceir sors, and is worthy of the highest commendation. NAMES. Titus & Bostwick, No. 10 Barber, Sheldon & Co., No. 11 A. B. Sprout, No. 13 Bay State Rake, No. 14 H. N. Tracey, No. 16 P. S. Carver, No. 15 24 min 24i 30 21 334 270 lbs. 317 " 250 " 250 " 240 " 100 " 45t 45 45 35* 12t 8 ft. Oin. 7 ft. 6 in. 7 ft. 7 in. 6 ft. 11 in. 9ft. Oin. 7 ft. 11 in. a a> !2i 21 20 20 22 18 16 The distance of the rake heads from the ground, was about 28 inches in all the wire rakes. The distance between the cleaner rods was about 16 inches. The teeth were all made of l| steel * With malleable iron points on the teeth, t With malleable iron points, $15. J Gives one extra tooth and a wrench. 172 wire, with oil temper. The lift of all the wire rakes was about two feet. The wire-toothed rakes were taken into a field full of stumps and stones fastened in the ground; after driving about some time among these obstructions, the rakes were examined and found to be very little injured by the rough usage they had undergone; but Sprout's rake was evidently the least strained of all. We give the preference to the wire rakes over the wooden re- volvers, because they have a wider range of usefulness. As a simple hay rake, nothing can be better than Tracy's, but it is not well adapted to raking in stubble fields nor in peas; the wire rakes not only rake hay well, but are invaluable in gleaning the stubble fields, and can work uninjured in stony and stumpy grounds. We give the preference to Rake No. 11, entered by Barber, Sheldon & Co., on account of its adjustable tooth, which enables it to work well under a greater variety of conditions than either of the others, and on account of its greater ease of management by the driver. We are of opinion that the next best, is that entered as No. 16, by A. B. Sprout. Tracy's rake is the best sulky revolving horse rake that we have ever seen, and is worked with more ease and facility. Many farmers, who desire to use it for no other pur- pose than for raking hay, would doubtless prefer it to any other. Carver's rake has many very valuable improvements which, we think, will before long be adopted by all revolving rakes. Many farmers prefer to walk after their rakes, and for these Carver's rake is better than any that we have seen. As there is but one class for which premiums on horse rakes are offered, we award To Wenzer & Cromwell, 60 West Lake street, Chicago, entry No. 11, a gold medal. To A. B. Sprout, entry No. 13, a premium of $25. As a revolving rake, with a Sulky attachment, and without one, are greatly desired by a large class of farmers, and as H. N. Tracey, entry No. 16, and P. S. Carver, entry No. 15, have pro- duced rakes with great improvements, admirably calculated to meet these wants, we recommend to the executive committee to award a premium to each of them equivalent to a second pre- mium, Wanzer & CromweU.-lst Prem. Horse Hay-rake (HoUingwortli Patent). A. B. Sproiit.-2d Prpuilum Horse Hayrrake (Steel Teeth). ( ira ) 173 CLASS xrv. Hay Tedders. Two machines were entered under this class. One of them did not appear, but another which did not enter in time made its ap- pearance and was tried in connection with Herring's, under the impression that it was the machine which had been detained, but as soon as the mistake was discovered, it was of course excluded from competition. Buller's Patent Hay Tedder, entry No. 18, was very thoroughly tested in clover, in timothy, and in fine grass — in windrows as well as in swath — it received the unanimous approval of the judges, and we believe of all the farmers who saw it in action. We think the introduction of tliis machine will be of the greatest im- portance to hay makers. It certainly fitted the clover for going into the barn at least one day earlier than would have been safe for clover which had not been subjected to its action. And every kind of hay, when worked over by the tedder, was cured with much less exposure to the sun than would otherwise have been possible. The machine is admirably contrived to accomplish the work it was designed for, though we should have been glad to bestow a higher compliment upon its mechanical execution than candor will permit us to do. The two-horse machine weighs 525 lbs., and is sold for $85. It also has a pair of thills, which are always sent with it, so that it may be used as a one-horse machine at the pleasure of the owner. The one-horse machine is sold at $75. Two extra forks, a wrench and an oil can, are sent with each ma- chine, and are included in the price named above. The tedder is mounted on a pair of wheels, 30 inches in diam- eter; a spur wheel is attached to the arms of each wheel, being cast in the same piece with it; an intermediate wheel connects it with a pinion on the crank shaft, so that the latter shaft makes 5 revolutions for every 7^ feet that the machine advances; this shaft has eight cranks of 7 inches rise, set spirally around it, so that the forks successively pass through every possible angle of eleva- tion and depression at each revolution. Each fork is attached to the end of a jointed lever, which is worked by the cranks, giv- ing the forks when in-motion, the appearance of a hen's leg in 174 the act of scratching up dirt, and throwing it spitefully behind her. This singular motion never failed to elicit peals of laughter from the spectators whenever it appeared in the field. The machine tedded an acre of heavy clover, easily, in 15 min- utes, while the horses were working at a natural gait (for the dri- ver was not aware that we were taking his time), and 4 acres an hour was the average time in all the trials which we made with it. The great difficulty with all the tedders we have been acquainted with, has been the tendency to clog by the winding up of the grass on the machine. On one occasion we saw one of the cranks somewhat clogged by hay, which, however, was easily pulled off. With this single exception, it worked quite free, without clogging or giving any trouble to the driver. The stirring of the hay was very complete, every portion of it was tossed rapidly into the air, and left on the ground where it fell in a light fleecy condition, just as a farmer would desire to have it. When this machine is built with more care, both with respect to materials and workmanship, so that the ingenuity of the con- trivance shall have an adequate mechanical expression, we have no doubt that it will be deemed as necessary by farmers as a mowing machine or a horse rake. At least forty thousand of these machines ought to be sold the ensuing year, each of which would fully repay the cost of it before the season closes. We recommend to the executive committee to award a gold medal to Silas C. Herring, for Bullard's patent Hay Tedder, entry No. 18. Action of Executive Oommittee on the above. The judges of the implement trial at Auburn, having recom- mended the award of a gold medal to Herring's machine for ted- ding hay, on the ground of the excellence of its design, but stating at the same time that the mechanical execution was defective, and by no means equal to the ingenuity of the design. It was resolved, that considering that no badly manufactured machine should ever receive a premium from this society, a sense of duty compels this committee to withhold its assent to the recommendation of the judges ; while at the same time they cor- dially approve of the ingenuity displayed in the plan of the machine, and agree with the judges in their views of its utility. 175 CLASS XV. Machines for Gathering and Loading Hay. The astonishing abridgment of the farmer's labor, which has been effected by the invention of the mowing machine, the horse rake, and the power fork, has stimulated the ingenuity of the in- ventors of agricultural implements to complete the labors of the hay field by horse power, by the addition of a loading attachment to the hay wagon, so that the horses can take the hay from the cock or windrow and deposit it on the wagon. Two machines for this purpose were ofiered for competition. Niles & Gillette, Little York, Cortland county, entry No. 19. The apparatus consists of a platform in front of the axle, which is hooked to the rear axletree of the wagon. The running wheels are 28 inches in diameter, having a spur wheel on their inner face which drives the pinion of the counter shaft at the rate of two to one ; a pulley is adjusted to the end of the counter shaft ; directly over it is a vertical gas pipe, which is secured in its position by braces extending from it to the edges of the platform. On the top of this pipe is a rotating arm ; a cord passing round the pul- ley, runs through the gas pipe and the horizontal arm ; the other end of the cord is fastened to a large power fork somewhat like Gladding's. This is thrust into a cock and the counter shaft thrown into gear : the forward motion of the wagon causes the Gord to roll round the pulley, which of course raises the fork until it is high enough, when the clutch box is disengaged and the hay is dropped upon the load ; the fork draws out the cord by its own gravity, when the same circle of motions is repeated until the load is completed. If it is desired to load from a windrow a rake is attached to the side of the machine, which bunches up the hay until a forkful is gathered, which is put on the load in the same way that has just been described for loading cocks. With the aid of this apparatus, three men put a load of hay on a wagon, in twenty-two minutes. Foust's Hay Loader : Foust & Stratton, Evansburgh, Crawford county. Pa. This machine, like that of Niles & Gillett, consists of a platform on wheels, hooked on to the rear axletree of the wa^on. Around 176 the axletree is a reel, with hooked iron teeth in each arm, which pick up the hay from the ground, transferring it to an endless apron, working on an inclined plane, from the top of which it falls into the rear of the wagon. The angle of the inclined plane traversed by the endless apron, can be raised or lowered, or it can be thrown out of gear with great ease by the loader. With three men a load of hay was put upon the wagon in nine minutes. Two of these men were employed in spreading the hay upon the load, and one drove the wagon. A very active pitcher and loader might put this load upon the wagon in about forty minutes, from the windrow, or two men would load fifteen loads in ten hours. This machine would put on sixty loads in the same length of time. If we estimate the wages of the men at one and a-half dollars each, the cost of load- ing by hand would be twenty cents a load The cost of loading by this machine would be seven and a-half cents a load. The farmer who has one hundred loads of hay to get in would there- fore, save twelve and a-half dollars in the labor of loading. But from this must be deducted five dollars^nd sixty cents, the interest on the first cost and at least eight dollars a year for repairs, which put the balance on the wrong side of the account. There are, however, cases when the rapidity of its action would save enough in a few hours, to pay the whole cost of the machine. We are of opinion that both of these machines show a gratify- ing progress in the right direction, but that they are not yet suf- ficiently mature, either in contrivance or in mechanical execution to warrant the award of the gold medal of the Society. CLASS XVI. Horse Poioer Hay Forks. There are four kinds of horse forks, difi'ering very materially in their construction, each of which was represented at the trials. These are, the Long Handled Fork, the Short Handled Fork, the Double Fork and the Harpoon. The trial took place at the barn of Mr. Monson, at Sennett, on Tuesday, July 24th, and continued all of that day and part of the next. The hay was fine and had been wet by a heavy rain ; it had been imperfectly dried, and was very heavy and compact in the load. 177 A. B. Sprout, Muncy, Penn., Hayfork and Knife, entry No. 21. Weight, lllbs : Price, |9 for fork alone ; $11 for fork and 3 pulleys ; $15 for fork, 3 pulleys and 80 feet of rope. 1st trial : pitched 1,810 lbs. of hay over the beam in 5 pitches, in 2 minutes and 30 seconds. 2d trial : 2,360 lbs. in 6 pitches, in 2 minutes. The fork enters the hay with great ease, and is tripped with celerity and certainty. It gathers a single pound of hay from the barn floor as easily as an ordinary hand fork, and holds it more securely. It is one of the best hay knives that we have ever seen. As a knife it will rapidly cut hay in the mow, into solid blocks, and as a fork remove it to any place that may be desired. It is appa- rently indestructible, and will last a life time. Wheeler, Melick & Co., Albany: Walker's Improved Horse Hay Fork, entry No. 23. Weight, 10 lbs.; price, $10, and $1 for each pulley. Pitched 2,735 lbs., over the beam, in 15 pitches, in 12 minutes and 50 seconds. 2d trial : pitched under the beam, 2,115 lbs. of hay, in 7 pitches, in 2 minutes. Enters the hay with some difficulty ,• trips easily. When the hay is entered, the point is turned sideways. D. Hinkston, Le Eoy : A Power Horse Fork, manufactured by D. B. Eogers & Sons, Pittsburgh. Weight, 13 lbs.; price 1st trial : pitched 2,575 lbs. of hay, under the beam, in 17 pitches : the remainder by hand. The time occupied in pitching by the power fork, 12 minutes, 50 seconds, and 2 minutes by the hand. 2d trial : pitched 2,415 lbs. of hay, in 23 pitches, in 14 minutes. 3d trial : pitched over the beam, 2,160 lbs. of hay, 20 pitches off of the wagon, and 1 pitch off the floor. When this fork enters the hay, two barbs spring out near the point, one on each side. All the preceding are harpoons. Chapman, Hawley & Co., Utica : Raymond's Hay Fork, entry No. 22. Weight, 34 lbs. ; price, $20, with 3 hooks and pulleys ; grap- ples, $3. 12 178 Pitched 2,720 lbs. of hay, in 13 pitches, in 5 minutes 2,485 lbs. of hay, in 11 pitches, in 5 minutes, 10 1st. trial 30 seconds. 2d trial: seconds. 3d trial : Over the beam, pitched 2,360 lbs. The lever broke at the fourth fork-full. The remainder of the load was pitched off successfully by A. B. Sprout. This consists of two three pronged forks connected to- gether by a hinge. This du- plication of the forks enables it to pitch over a beam, with- out nailing up boards. It is less liable to drop the hay, and especially oats and bar- ley, than the single fork, but our experiments showed that the single forks were very Its €lisadvantage is, that it is Hay and Straw Fork. little liable to drop their load, necessary to enter two forks instead of one. The advantag-es claimed for this fork seem to us rather to result from the arrangement of the blocks and tackle, than from the con- struction of the fork itself. As this arrangement may be equally well applied to all the forks, we do not think that we are justi- fied in allowing any special credit to it on this account. We do, however, award unqualified praise to the clamps which are used with this machine, and which we understand to be secured to them by letters patent. By the aid of these, the blocks can be attached to the rafters from the floor, without a ladder, and can be removed with the greatest facility from place to place at any time. Their mode of rigging the fork will be readily understood by an inspection of the wood cut. 179 The Fork just after dropping ita load. Hook to be screwed into the floor. Clamp by which the blocks are hooked to the rafters. It will be readily seen that by this arrangement of the cord and pulleys, hay may be taken from the load, through a window, and deposited at the farthest extremity of a shed, or from one end of a barn to the other. J. L. Mansfield & Co., Clockville ; " Gladding's Long Handled Self Sustaining, Horse Power Fork, entry No. 25. Weight, 24 lbs. : price, $11 with ball rope and supporter, or $16 with full rigging. . 1st trial : pitched 2,120 lbs. of hay, in 3 minutes, 10 seconds, in 13 pitches. 2d trial : pitched 1,985 lbs., in 2 minutes, 10 seconds, in 10 pitches. 3d trial : pitched over the beam 1,500 lbs. of hay, in 3 minutes, 20 seconds, in 11 pitches. 4th trial : pitched over a beam 22 feet, 5 inches above the floor, and 5 feet 8 inches below the rafter, 1,990 lbs. of hay, in 8 minutes and 50 seconds. None of the forks attempted this feat, except Wheeler & Melick, but the space was too small to allow their harpoon fork to work to advantage, and they did not persevere. The cut below gives a very correct idea of the fork when raising a load. 180 This cut represents the fork when it has dropped its load. The cut above gives a very correct idea of the arrangement for tripping the ferk. In watching the operation of the fork, it occurred to us that the flying about of the long handle, might be dangerous to the operator, unless he were more skillful than most farmers were likely to be. On expressing our fears upon the point to the inventor, he showed us a very simple arrangement, illustrated in the cut below, which at once converted it into a self-sustaining fork and obviated the difficulty of which we complain. This fork shows great perfection of material and workmanship. It mows away the hay very evenly, and seems adapted to every kind of work, and in any place that a farmer would desire to use a fork in. Its long handle enables the pitcher to enter it into the hay with his foot, with- out stooping, and to guide it in difficult places with great ease and certainty. The bail to this fork is of rope, which being flexible will pass through any space J. li. Mansfield & Co.— 1st Premium Horse Power Hay Fork (OIadd£nj liOna-Handled Self-Sustaiuiiig Horse Power Fork.) (ISO) 181 where the fork can enter, and returning, is of course more easily passed over hay or beams to the pitcher, without catching, as metallic bails are very apt to do. Having now given the record of all the forks entered for com- petition, it remains for us to ascertain which is the best adapted to the farmer's use. A great variety of these forks have been brought into the market within the last few years, but in principle, they are all reducible to five kinds, viz. : The short handled forks, of which Palmer's is the type. The long handled fork, represented by Gladding's. The double fork, like the Raymond. The mixed kind, in which the central tine only, is duplicated, like the Little Giant, which was entered for exhibition only and not for competition. And the Harpoon fork, like that of Walker. The latter kind of fork is simply a straight spear, when it enters the hay : after it has been thrust in as far as desired, a bolt is drawn at the handle which throws out at the side one or more lateral hooks which seize upon the hay and thus lift large quanti- ties from the load. There is no doubt that a greater amount of hay can be removed from the load, by the harpoon, than by any other kind of fork. A. B. Sprout pitched two loads containing 4,170 lbs. of hay, at the rate of 15^^ lbs. per second, and averag- ing 379 lbs. to each pitch made, which was much faster than either of the tine forks could do. Walker's improved harpoon, measured by the average of his two loads, worked, it is true, more slowly than the tine forks, but one of his loads was pitched at the rate of ll-f-Q lbs. per second, and 305 lbs. to each pitch. In the other load he attempted to work too fast, and the horse, while he loosened the hay, was unable to raise it, thus losing time, and disarranging the layers, so that the folk would not grasp so well afterwards. But this great capacity of the fork is an objection to it, in our minds, where only one horse is employed. The opera- tor has no means of judging how much the horse can lift, and he is constantly tempted to overload him, this was the case repeated- ly in our trials, and we have no doubt that the difficulty will always exist ; great as Sprout's work was, he would have done it still more rapidly, if he had not in two instances, overloaded his 182 horse, -which obliged him to drop the load ancl re-enter the fork. His form of the harpoon, enables him to gather the scatterings from the barn floor, quicker and better than either of the other forms ; his never dropped any hay which was once lifted, while the others frequently dropped more or less of their load, before it was deposited in the mow. We had no opportunity of testing the forks in barley or oats, but in our judgment the harpoon, would not be well calculated to work successfully in pitching the straw of these grains. The short handled forks can work well in barley and oats, aa well as in hay. The objection to them is, that they sometimes catch in windows, or on beams, and trip prematurely, and they cannot be steered on their course as well as the long handled forks. They also require the operator to stoop while entering them into the hay, in which position the use of the foot to press it in, is difficult and jiainful. The double forks do not catch in windows or on beams. They can pitch over a beam, or into a window without catching ; they deposit the layers of hay more level, and with less interlacing of the locks than the other kinds, which makes it easier to pitch it from the mow. We think these are all the advantages which can be legitimately claimed for the double fork, though the exhibitors insisted on many more. They especially claimed the arrange- ment of their ropes and pullies for filling sheds and stacking, but as their arrangement is not new and can as well be applied to any of the other forkg, we do not consider ourselves justified in including it in a comparison with the others. It is heavier and more costly than any of its competitors. The long handled Gladding fork is in our opinion, the best for the general purposes of the farmer. It is light, cheap, durable, and rapidl}'^ and conveniently operated ; it is adapted to various situations ; can be used in narrower places than any other ; it distributes hay in the mow better, and takes ofi" the load as rapidly, and with greater ease to the operator. We therefore award the gold medal for the best fork, to J. L. Mansfield & Co., of Clockville, entry No. 25. The second premium of $25, to Chapman, Hawley & Co., Utica, entry No. 22. We give the second premium to the Raymond fork, because it 183 is applicable to barley and oats, as well as to hay, which has not been proved with respect to Sprout's harpoon fork. But we are much impressed with the value of this com- bination of the hay knife and fork. For farmers who have nothing but hay to pitch, who have plenty of horse power, and sufficient room to swing it in, we think there is no instru- ment in use better adapted for their purposes ; while its excellence as a hay knife is unsurpassed, and as a whole, will prove a valua- ble instrument for any far- mer. We therefore recom- mend to the executive com- mittee to give a premium equal to a second premium, to A. B. Sprout, entry No. 21, as a mark of their appreciation of the value of the instrument. The annexed cut will give a clear view of the fork when open and when shut. CLASS XVII. Portable Stemn Engines. There were no competitors for premiums in this class. CLASS XVIII. Hay and tStraw Cutters. Sandford, Wasson & Co., of Fulton, Oswego county, N. Y. : Cummings' patent Straw and Hay Cutter, entry No. The machines are adapted to hand and horse power, specimens of each being presented for our inspection. Price of No. 2, (hand machine) _ |35 Price of No. 4, (power) _. 65 Price of No. 6, (large power) 200 Fork open. Fork shut. 184 The frames of these machines are very strongly built. The fly wheel on the main shaft, is 28 inches in diameter, and weighs 70 lbs. The spiral knives are bolted on arms, radiating from the main shaft. The upper feed roller is 5| inches in diameter, and smooth, the lower one is 4| inches in diameter, and fluted. They are kept in contact by the elastic action of wooden springs. The gearing of these feed rollers is so adjusted to the rotation of the knife, as to cut the feed either -^^ or l|- of an inch, at pleasure, but if any other lengths are required, gearing is furnished as de- sired. The cut is upward, and the feed roller gearing extends one foot beyond the side of the machine ; the shaft of the lower roller is furnished with an universal joint ; the boxes are of Babbit metal. Dow & Fowler, Fowlerville : Power Hay Cutter, entry No. 26. Price of No. 4, (hand power) $25 Price of No. 3, (horse or hand power) ._ 40 Pi'ice of No. 2, (horse or steam power) 60 The portion of the frame which holds the knives and gearing is a continuous iron axle. The cut is downward. It has an inter- rupted bottom, to allow dirt and stones to pass through. The gearing is all on the same side of the machine. In other respects it seems to be the same as Sandford, Wasson & Co.'s. Both are very excellent machines, and admirably adapted to the purpose for which they are designed. After a very careful examination and trial of them both, we could find no grounds of preferance for one, more than the other, excepting that the machines of Dow & Fowler are the cheapest. (The Executive Committee directed a gold medal to Dow & Fowler's machine, their machine being the cheapest; in other respects, the machines equal. Second premium, Sanford, Wasson & Co., $25.) CLASS XIX. A. Draper, Excelsior Wheat Cleaning machine, erroneously entered in the list as Class X, No. 6. Price, $40 : Weight, 300 lbs. The grain enters a hopper, where it is agitated by a revolving cylinder, armed with six rows of teeth, half an inch long ; from thence it passes between a drum 2 feet in diameter and five adhe- sive rollers, each of which is driven by a cog wheel and interme- 185 diate pinions ; the rollers carry round the drum which is pressed against them by a spring ; the surface of each roller is brushed by a brush, with three-quarters inch bristles. The wind is sup- plied by a fan with four arms, 2 feet in diameter. The grain leaves the rollers in an even sheet. When thus stricken by the blast, the light grain and cockle falls in front of a separating board, while the pure wheat falls behind it. The machine cleaned at the rate of 20 bushels per hour, while working in our presence, but the inventor claims that when it is in good order, it will run through, by hand, 250 bushels in 10 hours. The machine, when exhibited to us, was in very bad order; nothing fitted to its place, and its best results could not, there- fore, be expected. We have no doiibt that it will clean thoroughly when in good order, but as it was not in order, and we did not have an actual test of its merits, we do not feel authorized to confer a premium. IMPLEMENTS FOR EXHIBITION. Beside the implements exhibited for competition, there were others which were presented for exhibition only, some of which were of very great merit, and will be found, as we think, to be of the greatest value to farmers. Among these are the " Self Regulating Wind Mill," manufactured by the Empire Wind Mill Company, Syracuse, N. Y., and sold at prices varying according to size, from $60 up to $6,000. It is strong, durable, and relia- ble, and will answer very admirably, as we think, for pumping, ventilating, grinding, cutting, and many other purposes, for^^ which power is required by the farmer. When large numbers of animals are kept in a barn, especially in the underground stables, now so common in our dairy districts, we think that one of these mills, attached to an exhausting fan, would do more to keep the animals healthy and vigorous, than any other contrivance within our knowledge, while at the same time it would give an abundant supply of water for cattle within the barn ; grind their feed, cut their hay, and shell their corn. Hicks' Elevator and Carrier also seems to us to supply cheaply and certainly one of the most pressing wants of the farmer. It consists of a track made of 2 by 5 inch plank fastened to the rafters a few inches below the ridge of the barn by 1| inch square strips and twelve-penny nails. Upon this track runs a 186 car, a rope passes through it and through a catch pully at^ tached to a horse hay fork, then back to the car 5 the other end passes back to the end of the barn, and returns through pully wheels to the barn floor, to which end a horse is attached. By a peculiar arrangement of the car, it is held in position on the track over the load to be unloaded until a fork full of hay is elevated to it, when it is liberated from its position and the fork made fast to the car in one operation, then it moves oif on the track very easily and any distance you may choose to have it carried : the operator by pulling a cord trips the fork, and the horse, turning around, walks or trots back to the place of starting ; the car is pulled back to its position by the trip cord, when the fork descends for another load. The fork comes back so easily and quickly that the horse can be kept in motion continually, elevating from 300 to 400 pounds of hay, and carrying it 40 to 50 feet in a horizontal direction, and returning for another load in less than a minute. Its advantages over the old mode are : 1st. The hay can be carried into the' second, third and fourth bays from the wagon as easily as into the first, thus saving a large amount of labor in the mows. 2d. The hay is elevated perpendicularly from the load, thus obviating the friction caused by dragging the forkful of hay over and against the beam ; also the danger of tripping or breaking the fork as it is drawn over the beam. 3d. The car and fork return so easily, the fork dropping in the middle of the load ready to be thrust into the hay immediately ; whereas, in the old method, it is very hard work to get the fork back if the hay has been carried any distance. 4th, The horse turns around and walks or trots back to the place of starting, instead of backing, thus saving much labor and vexation to both horse and driver. 5th. The hay need be elevated only high enough to clear the highest beam, when it can be carried horizontally until the mows are more than half full, when, by shortening a rope, the fork ciiu be made to pass along only 16 inches below the very peak of the barn. 6th. It requires but very little force to carry the hay horizon- 187 tally, wliereas, by the old methods, it requires more force to carry it horizontally than to elevate it. 7th. By extending the track four feet beyond the end of a building, hay can be elevated and carried into long low hovels, or cow barns, where no other arrangement would work at all. The car is small and the track light and simple ; a weight has been lifted of 1,080 pounds by it at one time, with a pair of mules. Jacob Brinckerhoff, Auburn, exhibited a Corn Sheller, which in our opinion is an improvement upon all preceding machines for this purpose. G. W. Boynton & E. P. K. Smith, Auburn, exhibited an apara- tus for feeding hens and sheep, which was simple and useful. The hay or grain is put into a tight box, which is opened when the hens or sheep tread upon the end of a compound lever ; the animals soon learn the mode of getting at their food, and when they are not feeding, it is closed from the weather, and from the depredations of the rats and other vermin. In the course of our investigations we obtained, some results with Pittsburgh cold rolled iron, so remarkable and unexpected that we deem it our duty, to record them in this report. The bar of iron which was the subject of our experiments, was rolled cold, from three-quarters of an inch, down to half an inch in thickness. It was 4 inches wide at the base, and 2| inches at the point. The heel was securely clamped to a platform, and extended 57^ inches beyond the edge, hanging in free space. It was in fact a finger bar made for the Cayuga Chief, such as is made by Barber, Sheldon & Co., and was perforated by 20 holes of j7g of an inch in diameter, pretty equally distributed through the entire length of the bar. 1st. 126 lbs. were placed upon the extreme or free end of the bar. The amount of deflexion produced by this weight, was 7| inches. A straight-edge being applied from the heel to the point of the bent bar, it was found that at a point 30 inches from the free end, the bar was 1| inches from the straight line joining the heel and point. On removing the weight, the amount of perma- nent deflection at the outer end of the bar, was -^^^ of an inch. 2d. 177 lbs. were now placed upon the end of the bar, when the deflexion was found to be 111 inches. The distance from the 188 straight-edge, to the bar, was 2 inches at the maximum pomt. Amount of permanent deflexion -^-^^y of an inch. 3d. 228 lbs. were now placed upon the end of the bar. The deflexion was 16 inches, and the permanent deflexion was three- fourths of an inch after the removal of the weight. A bar of exactly the same size, made of Naylor's, best English steel, was subjected to the same series of experiments. 1st. Weighted with 126 lbs., the deflexion was 7| inches, or one-fourth of an inch more than the Pittsburgh iron. The per- manent deflexion -^J-^ of an inch, or ^^q- of an inch more than the Pittsburgh. 2d. Weighted with 177 lbs., tlie deflexion was much more than the Pittsburgh iron, and the permanent deflexion was 1.09 inches greater. 3. Weighted with 288 lbs., the end bent down to the floor, and the amount of permanent deflexion was 15^ inches greater than the Pittsburgh iron. The great superiority of the Pittsburgh cold rolled iron over English steel, for the finger bars of mowers and reapers, was thus clearly demonstrated. A knife bar for a mowing machine seven-eighth wide, made of Pittsburgh cold rolled iron, and 5 feet 2 inches long, was bent round a cylinder 4 feet in diameter, by means of clamping screws. When they were removed the versed sine of the arc was found to be -^-^^ of an inch. Another bar l| of an inch wide, by quarter of an inch thick, and 4 feet 6 inches long, was bent round the same cylinder. When taken off, the versed sine of the arc measured 3| inches. The finger bars made of the Pittsburgh cold rolled iron, are acurately made to any required pattern by the manufacturers. Their surfaces are perfectly smooth, and the metal is homogene- ous throughout. As this is a matter of great importance to all the manufacturers of agricultural implements, we give the follow- ing table of results obtained at the U. S. Ordinance department, by Mr. Wm. Wade. 189 SUMMARY Of the average results obtained frotn num&rous experi'ments made with Bar Iron, rolled lohile Hot, in the usual manner, compared with the results obtained from the same hinds of iron, rolled and polished while Cold, by LautNs patented process. Iron Rolled WHILE Ratio of in- crease by cold rolling. Average rate per cent of in- crease. Hot. Lbs. Cold. Lbs. Transverse — Bars supported at both ends, load applied in the middle, distance between the sup- ports 30 inches. Weight, which gives a permanent set of one- 3,100 5,200 6,800 750 13,000 21,000 20,500 37,250 42,439 55,760 50,927 5,000 10,000 11,100 15,600 1,725 34,000 .31,000 37,000 68,427 87,396 83,156 99,293 7,500 3.451-) 2.134^ 2.294) 2.300 2.615 1.476) 1.804 5 1.837) 2.059 5 1.491 ) 1.950 5 1.500 Eound bars, 2 in. diam. Round bars, 2| " Torsion — "Weight which gives a permanent set of one degree, applied at 25 inch from center of bar. Round bars, Ig inches diameter, and 9 inches 162^ 130 Compression — "Weight which gives a depression, and a permanent set of one -hundredth of an inch, to columns 1| inches long, and | inch diameter. . . "Weight which bends and gives a permanent set to columns 8 inches long and | inch diameter. Viz.: Puddled iron Charcoal bloom iron .... Tension — "Weight per square inch, which caused rods 1 inch diameter to stretch and take a per- 161^ 64 Charcoal bloom iron .... "Weight per square inch, at which the same 95 Charcoal bloom iron .... Harbnbss — "Weight required to produce equal in- 72 50 Note. — Indentations made by equal weights, in the center, and near the edges of the fresh cut ends of the bars, were equal ; showing that the iron was as hard in the center of the bars as elsewhere. Nineteen of the mowing and reaping machines exhibited at Auburn, used cold rolled finger bars. In conclusion we desire to express our most sincere thanks to the committee of the citizens of Auburn, for their unwearied kindness. To Mr. D. M. Osborne, for the facilities afforded by him in giving us the use of his shop for making adjustments and repairs to our instruments ; he also most generously allowed all exhibitors from other places to use his shop and tools for repair- ing and fitting their machines. Much of our success is due to the admirable manasrement of Mr. H. W. Dwight, our chief marshal. The police under his di rection were very efficient, and performed their duties with punctuality and fidelity. To all the citizens of Auburn, who in various ways assisted us, and contributed to our social enjoyment, we return our sincere thanks. In examining critically so many machines, and in performing so many dificrent experiments, we can hardly dare to hope that we have avoided all errors ; if we have made mistakes, none will regret it more heartily than ourselves. The record of each ma- chine is accurately given, and if we have erred in our conclu- sions, this record will enable the public to apply the needed corrections. We shall always gratefully remember the courtesy with which we were treated by the exhibitors, throughout the trial, and our best wishes for their success and their constant progress in the path of improvement, will ever attend them. JOHN STANTON GOULD, Hudson, JV. T. B. P. JOHNSON, Albany, N. Y. SANFORD HOWARD, Lansing, Michigan. E. R. POTTER, Kingston, R. I. Prof. BENJAMIN PIERCE, Cambridge University. ELISHA FOOTE, Washington, D. C. HENRY WATERMAN, Hudson, N. Y. 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