114     THE WISOONSIN FARMEB.



MECHANICAL & COMMERCIAL.



           Improved Harveter..
  In 1851, when Cyrus W. McCormick present-
ed his harvester to the wondering world at the
first Exhibition of the Industry of all nations,
in London, its trial was so complete a success,
that there were multitudes ready to declare it
"the very perfection of a harvester."  Even
Cyrus and not a few other geniuses of the
Yankee persuasion were inclined to believe it
about all that Agriculture would ever think of
asking.
  Not so, however. Progress is the watchword
of the age, and there is nothing so perfect now-
a-days but that we may reasonably expect it
to be improved after a time, if not very soon.
  Prominent among the improvers of the har-
vester in many respects, was William A. Kirby,
of New York. His machines were introduced
in 18I5, and have since been improved from
year to year, until they have gained a great
popularity in all parts of the country. It is
because we have faith in them as among the
very best tried and moot successful machines



of the day that we have adopted the Kirby
Reaper as the Prize for the largest list of sub-
scribers.
KIRBY'S AMERICAN MAXYVSTEE AS A MOWAL
  The above cut represents the American Har-
vester as a Mower.  It auts a swath 4 feet 10
inches wide, and is capable of cutting 10 to 15
acres per diem. The driver's seat is remarka-
bly safe, convenient and easy. It also acts as
a lever, whereby the weight of the driver bal-
ances the weight of the frame and throws the
whole upon the driving wheel, adding to the
power of the wheel, taking all the pressure
from the horses' necks, and lessening the draft
of the machine. By means of the lever in
front of the driver, he can throw the machine
out and in gear at will. With the lever at his
side he can raise either end or both ends of the
finger-bar to pass over obstructions, carry Wis
swath, or move from field to field. When the
machine is working, the independent action of
the finger-bar enables it to play freely up and
down, and follow the inequalities of the ground.
Whatever may be the position of the caUere,
the connecting rod is always in line.



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