"It is very painful to be compelled to inflict a private injury in the
discharge of a public duty; upon a particular system of cultivation we
can talk and write without restraint; but when we are called on to
discuss the merits of an invention, upon which the fortunes of the
originator may absolutely depend, it is a much more responsible and
delicate office. We are aware, too, that in introducing a subject of the
kind, we are opening the floodgates of a controversy that is often hard
to close; we have had the strongest evidence of that fact in the
controversy that once occurred in this paper between Messrs. McCormick
and Hussey, and yet it is to the relative merits of the reaping machines
of these two gentlemen that we are compelled again to draw the public
attention. Probably not less than fifteen thousand dollars has been spent
in Virginia this summer for reaping machines, and it becomes a subject of
great importance to the wheat growing community at least, to ascertain
how such a sum is annually to be dispensed to the greatest advantage. We
shall express no _opinion_ ourself in the discussion which must
necessarily follow the introduction of this subject, and we would greatly
prefer that neither of the gentlemen more particularly interested in the
subject would appear in our columns. We will publish statements of facts
for either, provided they are made over responsible names, and are short
and permanent. As one of these facts we feel bound to state that we acted
this year as the agent for McCormick's machine, and we have heard great
complaint of the manner in which it was gotten up; but it is but fair
also to state, that we believe Mr. McCormick himself has been
superintending the manufacture of his machine in the State of New York,
and that probably his work has not been as well done as it would have
been could he have seen to it in person. The following communication is
altogether in favor of Hussey's machine:
[Sidenote: Hussey's Machine "Vastly Superior"]
"I have had in operation on my plantation this year both Hussey's and
McCormick's reapers. Now, as you have asked me to furnish the
_Planter_ with the result of my own experience and opinion as to the
comparative merit of the two machines, it is now at your service. I have
had them both in operation (as the weather would permit) for the last
fortnight, and have cut with the two rather upwards of two hundred acres
of wheat. Both machines have been, I think, very fairly tested in all
qualities of grain, from wheat five feet and more in height, both
standing up, and lodged and tangled, and averaging, as is supposed, from
thirty and forty bushels, down to light, thin wheat, not averaging more
than four bushels (being some galled hills) and I am _candidly_ and
_decidedly_ of opinion that Hussey's machine is _vastly
superior_. I deem it superior, not only in the execution of its work,
but in the durability of the machine. So well pleased am I with its
performance that I have ordered another machine of Hussey's for my next
harvest, and also one, and probably two, for my father's plantation. I
consider this machine invaluable to the grower of wheat, and would
recommend every farmer who grows even fifty acres of wheat, to purchase
one. He may rest assured that he will be pleased with his purchase. I
shall probably be in Richmond shortly.
"Yours very respectfully,
"T. POLLOCK BURGUYN.
"Occonichee Wigwam, near Halifax, N. C.,
"June 20, 1846.
"For 1849 and 1850 we will return and see how the invention progresses
on the broad prairies and fertile lands of the West, where it first
operated--in 1833 and 1834--and where, too, although the most luxuriant
crops are _grown_ with comparatively but little labor, it would in
many cases be next to impossible to save _them_ without the aid of
this invaluable invention.
"These certificates embrace the mowing of large crops of grass as well as
grain, and in addition, the cutting of more than three hundred acres of
_hemp_ in the harvest of 1849 and 1850, by 'the same single machine.'
"Hussey's complete success in cutting grass and hemp was no new thing ten
years ago; but we suppose, like the grain cutting, in the view of Philip
Pusey, Esq., M. P., 'Its _perfection_ depended on its being _new_
only in England,' full eighteen years after it was effected in America.
[Sidenote: A General Opinion]
"Blackberry, Kane County, Ill.,
"August 28, 1849.
"This may certify that I have had one of Mr. Hussey's mowing and
reaping machines on my farm this year cutting wheat, oats, and grass
for a short time. I think nothing can beat it cutting timothy grass,
and I intend to purchase one for that purpose. While the machine was
cutting prairie grass in my field, I cut off a dry poplar stake, one
inch in diameter, which had been sticking in the ground after it had
been laid off for a ditch. I am of the opinion that it will cut
wheat well, where it is so much lodged, or so foul with stiff weeds
or corn stalks that it cannot be cut with any other machine I have
seen in this country. Some of my neighbors say that they intend to
have Mr. Hussey's reaper in preference to any other; and from what I
can learn this opinion is pretty general in my neighborhood amongst
those who have seen this machine work, and are acquainted with other
machines. My brother farmers have had great trouble with McCormick's
machine, by the breaking of sickles, and the great difficulty or
rather the impossibility of getting them repaired, or getting new
ones made when broken, whereas the blades of Mr. Hussey's machine
can be made by any common blacksmith. I have no doubt but Mr.
Hussey's machine will come into general use.
"D. W. ANNIS."
"Franklin Precinct, DeKalb Co.,
"August 13, 1849.
"This may certify that we have seen Mr. O. Hussey's machine cut
about an acre of wheat, so badly lodged that McCormick's reaper
could do nothing with it, nor could it be cradled. Said Hussey's
machine cut it handsomely, and laid it in very good bundles for
binding.
"JOHN SCHOOMAKER,
ALBERT FIELD,
JOHN M. SCHOOMAKER,
DANIEL MILLER,
ALBERT FIELD, JR.,
ISAAC CRILL,
JOHN MILLER."
"Berkshire, Kane County, Ill.,
"August 6, 1849.
"We, the undersigned, having seen Mr. Hussey's reaper work at
cutting grass and grain, think it preferable to McCormick's or any
other machine that we have seen. It cut wheat that could not be cut
with McCormick's reaper or a cradle. We are well acquainted with
McCormick's machine.
"P. A. HIXBY,
JOHN GRIGGS, JR.,
JOHN GRIGGS,
HARRY POTTER,
JOHN SHIRWOOD,
SETH SHIRWOOD,
DAVID SHANKS,
ABRAHAM SHIRWOOD,
JAMES HESS,
ALSON BANKER,
D. C. WRIGHT,
ELISHA WRIGHT."
"Oswego, Ill.,
"August 2, 1849.
"This may certify that I cut a lot of Black Sea Wheat with Mr. O.
Hussey's Reaper; the wheat was so badly lodged that no McCormick
Reaper or Cradle could cut it; Mr. Hussey's Reaper cut it clean and
laid the bundles out of the track in good order for binding. I have
seen the work done by this machine in grass; it was as good work as
ever I saw done by a scythe, or better. For my choice I should
rather have my grass cut by the Reaper than by the scythe. Every
farmer ought to have such a machine, and every farmer I hear talk
about it says the same.
"PHILIP YOUNG."
"Sugar Grove,
"August 8, 1849.
"This may certify that we have seen Mr. O. Hussey's machine operate
in clean grain, and where weeds were very tall, large and thick. In
the former, it operated as well as any machine we have seen; in the
latter, it worked to a charm, even where it was impracticable to cut
with one of McCormick's Reapers.
"HARRY WHITE,
L. B. SNOW,
CHAUNCEY SNOW,
SULLIVAN DORR,
HIRAM TUBS,
DWIGHT SPENCER,
SAMUEL WARD,
A. LOGAN."
"Springfield, Ill.,
"Dec. 25, 1850.
"_Mr. Obed Hussey, Baltimore, Md.:_
"Dear Sir:--I have used one of your Mowing and Reaping Machines, and
consider it the best machine I ever saw, and never intend to do
without one, if it is possible to get one, even if I have to go to
Baltimore and remain at the shop till one can be made. I do candidly
believe if I had had one ten years ago I would now feel like a much
younger man; and cheerfully recommend them to all who have grass or
grain to cut, as a machine that will do their work in perfect order,
neatness, and with ease to all employed.
"JOHN SIMMS,
"Four miles west of Springfield, Ill."
"Utica, Lasal Co., Ill.,
"Dec. 14, 1850.
"_Obed Hussey, Esq.:_
"Dear Sir:--I received your Reaping and Mowing Machine in time for
harvest, and used it for harvesting and for mowing. I am fully
satisfied that your machines are the best yet offered to the farmers
of this State. I have mowed about four hundred acres, a great
portion of which was wild prairie, very frequently running against
stones and ant heaps with sufficient force to throw both driver and
raker off the machine, without injury to the machine. Why your
machine is preferable to any other, is, after you have cut your
different kinds of grain, fully as well as can be done with any
other machine, with not over fifteen minutes' work, you can take the
same machine into your meadow or on to the prairie, and cut your
grass at the rate of ten acres per day, cutting closer and cleaner
than can be done with a scythe. With proper care, your machines will
last fifteen or twenty years, with trifling repairs.
"Respectfully yours,