Home › Implements Of Agriculture › Mowers and Reapers
Mowers and Reapers
The Great National Field Trial of Mowers and Reapers held at Auburn, N. Y., in July, 1866, under the patronage of the Legislature and supervision of the New York State Agricultural Society, was the most thorough and extensive ever held in this country. Fifty-nine machines were entered for competition, and over two weeks occupied in subjecting the machines to every variety of severe tests. The Legislature of the State appropriated $5000 towards the expenses and premiums.
The Committee of Judges was composed of practical and scientific agriculturists, and included some of the first men of the State. The following synopsis of their report will be found to embody the main results of their investigation, and cannot fail of being of great use to Farmers.
Invitations were extended to all the prominent Agricultural Implement Makers of the country.
The following points were to be considered and determined by the Committee on trial. 1. Which is the cheapest machine. 2. The most simple in its construction. 3. The most durable. 4. Which requires the least power. 5. Which has the least side-draught.
All of which is to be determined, and the capacity to perform a given amount of work in a workmanlike manner, in a given time, in the most economical way. 6. Which does the most work in the least time. 7. Which does the best work. 8. Which is managed with the most facility.
When the Judges have determined the above 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.
No exhibitor shall furnish other machines for trial than those which they habitually furnish from their shops to their customers.
The following were the class divisions for entry of MOWERS and REAPERS.
No. 1. Mowing machine for two horses.
No. 2. Reaping machines, (hand-rakers.) No. 24. Self-rakers.
No. 3. Combined mowers and reapers, (handrakers.) No. 4. Combined reapers, with self-raking or dropping attachment.
No. 5. Combined reapers for use as self-rakers, or hand-rakers, as may be preferred.
No. 6. One-horse mowers.