Montgomery County Sentinel

The "Kirby Reaper" and Horatio Trundle.

Editor Sentinel: The following letter from Mr. Horatio Trundle, one of the best farmers of the country, and whose judgment and opinion as to the relative value of Reapers and Mowers is exceedingly valuable to the farmer, speaks for itself. Respectfully, yours,

JESSE T. HIGGINS.

Exeter, near Leesburg, Loudoun Co., Va.,
May 22d, 1860.

Mr. Jesse T. Higgins: Dear Sir: Hearing that my name is being used in Montgomery, in connection with the "Kirby Reaping and Mowing machine," as having purchased one, and as giving it preference over the "McCormick," I hasten to write to you and state how far and in what way I have had any thing to do with this machine.

The agent of the Kirby machine called on me and proposed to send me a machine to use at the coming harvest—expecting that if it worked satisfactorily, I would give him a certificate to that effect, he supposing that this might be of advantage to his machine, and neither he nor myself having any idea of my purchasing the machine.

I told him I owned three McCormick machines, and was perfectly satisfied with them as Reapers and Mowers, but that he might do as he proposed; that the machine should have a fair chance, and that if there was any thing better than what I had, I would like to see it.

He sent the machine and had it set up in the Court-House yard at Leesburg, where I have seen it and examined it thoroughly. Since which upon being pressed by the agent to give my opinion of the machine, I have told him frankly that I considered it, in many IMPORTANT FEATURES, very decidedly inferior to my "McCormicks," and in regard to one or two minor points, where advantages were claimed, I felt satisfied from what I had learned of "McCormick's Improved Machine for 1860," that in those points "McCormick's" was ahead of it. Inasmuch as I promised the agent I would use the machine, I will do so, if it should remain till harvest, though I doubt if, after hearing my opinion, he will leave it, if any other good farmer will try it. I have not yet seen the "Improved McCormick for 1860" but have no doubt from what I have been told by those who have seen it, that it is a magnificent machine, and very far ahead, in all the most important features of a good Reaper and Mower, of all others now before the public.

The farmers of Loudoun are going in for the "McCormick" this year.

You are at liberty to make such use of this as you think proper.

In haste, very respectfully, yours,

HORATIO TRUNDLE.