into practical operation; nor was it necessary that
it should do so--the elements having already done its work. The corn was
well cut--the stubble a little too high.

"Another breadth or two having been cut, Hussey's machine followed, and
cut some breadths--somewhat wider than McCormick's, and closer to the
ground.

"Mackenzie, when we pointed out the shorter stubble of his rival,
admitted the fact, but said there would be no difficulty--not the
slightest--in bringing Mr. McCormick's knife nearer to the ground. In
America, however, where the straw is comparatively of little or no value,
the stubble is no object, and there are some advantages in cutting high.

"A backer of McCormick's machine (and many bets have been laid on the two
machines) urged that Hussey's would spoil clover when going among wheat.
The reply was, that Hussey's knife could be raised or depressed at
pleasure.

"The next test was cutting the crop across ridge and furrow, so that the
corn was lying neither to nor from the knife, but sidewise. Both the
machines cut the corn under these circumstances--Hussey's the cleaner of
the two.

"The jury then required the experiment to be made along the field, with
the corn lying from the knife.

"Mr. Hussey consented, and the machine succeeded in cutting the
corn--leaving a tolerable stubble, but not so short and regular as
before.

"McCormick's machine was then tried, and failed. As it scoured over the
corn, making sad havoc, there were loud cries of 'Stop! stop! you're
wasting it!'

"Barley was next cut, with much the same result. In this case, Mr. Hussey
adjusted his platform for discharging the corn at the side.

[Sidenote: Hussey Wins 6 to 4]

"The binders being summoned before the jury, and asked which of the two
machines they preferred, so far as their particular department was
concerned, decided, 4 for McCormick's, 6 for Hussey's.

"Clover was now to be tried, but at this stage of the proceedings we left
the field. Clover-cutting, we should state, formed no part of the
competition. The agreement merely refers to wheat and barley. McCormick's
machine is not intended for clover-cutting; but some of the land owners
and farmers were anxious to see clover cut by Hussey's machine. Mr.
Thompson, we understand, had requested his proxy to have the experiment
made. We were told on the ground that the machine had already been tried
on clover at Newport, near Middlesbrough, and 'cut it well--if the
wea